Leadership and Team

Jennifer Block is a highly experienced executive leader with a deep background in public sector strategy and cross-industry partnerships. Jennifer previously held the role of Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Administrative Officer for the Corporate and Policy Services Division in the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. She was responsible for developing cross-cutting policies and strategies, centered on deploying advanced analytics, and business intelligence to address complex competitiveness challenges across Ontario’s economic landscape, driving high-impact results in collaboration with cross-ministry and external partners. A central figure in guiding Ontario’s investment decisions, Jennifer has played a key role in supporting and securing approvals for significant provincial economic initiatives over the past several years.

Jennifer’s twenty-year career in the Ontario’s Public Service has spanned multiple portfolios, including Education, Municipal Affairs, Housing, Energy, and Innovation. She is known for her collaboration and people-focused change management expertise and brings strong relationships with Ontario public sector executives and leaders with her to Invest Ontario.

Jennifer holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from York University, a Master of Arts from Queen’s University, and has completed doctoral coursework at York University’s Faculty of Education.

Khawar Nasim is the Vice President of Business Development for Invest Ontario. Khawar brings over 25 years of international experience in both the private and public sectors, most recently, as Canada’s Acting Consul General in New York. He leads the business development teams in Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing and Technology to ensure best-in-class investment attraction for Ontario.

Khawar joined the Canadian Department of External Affairs in 1993. His overseas career has included postings in Rome, Barcelona, The Hague and Minneapolis. Khawar also spent four years in Toronto as Vice-President of External Affairs for Yamana Gold.

Khawar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Carleton University) and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (McGill University). He is married to Lise Beaulne Nasim; they have two children, Nico and Olivia.

Chris is the Interim Vice President of Strategies and Business Solutions for Invest Ontario and leads the delivery of transactions as well as business intelligence & investment planning for the organization. Chris brings two decades of experience in the delivery of strategic and complex transactions requiring deep technical and financial due diligence. He has led the development of over twenty sector strategies, has authored economic policy articles in widely circulated publications, and regularly guest lectures on foreign direct investment and innovation policy at the graduate school level.

Prior to working in economic development, Chris worked in investment banking, food manufacturing/distribution, and semiconductor design.

Chris has an MBA and a B.A.Sc. (Systems Design Engineering). He lives in Toronto with his family and extended family and is musician, a (very!) amateur tennis player, and is always on the lookout for great places to eat.

Erfa Alani is an experienced executive with over two decades of experience crafting and executing strategic initiatives across a spectrum of industries including aviation, telecommunications, finance, and public policy. Erfa has an established track record in the development of innovative delivery models, including her pivotal role in the establishment of Invest Ontario.

Currently serving as Chief of Staff and Director of Corporate Affairs at Invest Ontario, Erfa leads strategic planning ensuring initiatives align with agency priorities and government mandates. In her previous role as Deputy Head of Mission at the Aga Khan Development Network, she secured fiscal concessions, negotiated land grant agreements, led government relations and strategic issue resolution for 13 agencies across 6 countries. Erfa’s experience also includes a decade as a Managing Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Canada, where she transformed functions to enhance performance and alignment with business goals, including the establishment of alternative service delivery models for government functions in multiple jurisdictions.

Erfa Alani’s career underscores her commitment to driving strategic change, institution building, and effective governance in diverse sectors, making her a respected leader known for her impact on organizations and communities. She holds an LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School and an LL.M from the American University in Washington.