Mr. Williams has more than four decades of experience in Global Capital Markets. He has held leadership roles in marketing, trading, risk advisory & execution as well as securitization. Over the years, he has developed a wide expertise in Cash and Derivatives products in multiple asset classes, including Infrastructure Financing, and Mortgage Finance Companies (MFC) and Financing & Hedging of Securitized Product.
His client base has included multinational corporations, Financial Institutions, Federal, Crown and Provincial governments, Mortgage Institutions, Credit Unions, Asset & Investment Managers & Pension Funds.
Drawing on his achievements within major financial institutions in the London, Toronto & New York markets and increasing senior management roles, Mr. Williams until recently (Nov 2023) held the position of Vice Chairman, Financial Markets at National Bank Financial. In this capacity, he facilitated engagement with the Bank’s strategic accounts, working closely with all the Financial Markets business lines to promote the Bank’s client-centric approach. In addition, he also represents the Bank in several Sustainable Finance forums and transition initiatives. He is also a key contributor in the elaboration and articulation of the Bank’s Affordable Housing commitments.
Ray Williams is committed to community engagement around diversity and inclusion efforts. He serves on leadership boards for various organizations, including 100Strong Foundation. He is an outspoken champion of workplace diversity and is a Past & Founding President (2000) and continuing member of The Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP), the preeminent professional trade organization for minorities in the financial services industry. He has been actively involved at all levels since its inception in 1997, and in that capacity acts as a mentor to numerous individuals.
Mr. Williams is a Co-Founder & Chair of the Black Opportunity Fund, established in 2020 and designed to be the largest fund in Canada addressing anti-Black racism through social & economic empowerment. He is a member of Centennial College’s Financial Services Program Advisory Committee and has been a past Guest Lecturer at both Centennial and McMaster University, De Groote School of Business.
He also sat on the Pension Investment Management Committee (PIMC) of the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Canada and was also a member of the Pension Investment Management Committee (PIMC) of the United Way of Greater Toronto (2008-2013). He is currently an Executive-in-Residence (EiR) at Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, where he engages with the MBA student body on a variety of experiential projects.
He also sits on the George Brown College Foundation (GBCF) as a Board & Investment Committee Member and is a Board Member and Investment Committee member of the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP), one of Canada’s top think tanks, as well as Canadian Ditchley.
In June 2021, Women in Capital Markets (WCM) nominated & awarded him as a Champion of Change. In 2019, the BBPA presented him with the President’s Award at the Annual Harry Jerome Awards. In 2018, Mr. Williams was awarded The Ontario Black History Society’s (OBHS) Rev Addie Aylestock Award – “Paving the way for others to follow” as the organization celebrated its 40th year.
He has been the recipient of various awards from the community, including the Planet Africa Award for Professional Excellence in Dec 2012. In October of 2013, Mr. Williams was nominated by the Canadian Diversity Business Council (CDBC) as part of the second cohort of 50 individuals deemed Board ready.
A firm believer in inspiring change within his community, Mr. Williams volunteers in various capacities as a mentor and has sat on the Board of various organizations, including the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR 2007-2012). Mr. Williams was also Co-Chair of CANFAR’s Investment Committee and was an Advisory Board Member.
Between 2005 and 2008, Mr. Williams was instrumental in engaging the National Bank’s participation in the BankSETA International Development Program, which each year brought to Canada up to 16 senior South African banking executives from previously disadvantaged groups. The six-week development program (part of the South African Financial Services Charter) combined academic learning with on-site workplace days at leading Canadian financial institutions, including National Bank Financial.
From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Williams was an advisor to the federal government as part of an External Advisory Group (EAG) on Embracing Change, a program designed to reconcile the evident disparities of visible minorities within the federal public service and federally regulated industries. He advised specifically, though not exclusively, the President of the Public Service Commission (PSC), the President of the Public Service Human Resource Management Canada (PSHRMAC), and the Clerk of the Privy Council (at the time, Alex Himmelfarb).
Mr. Williams is married to his wife Georgina of 34 years and has two adult children.
Service Leadership
- Board Member, Canada Mortgage Housing Corp (CMHC) (2024 – current)
- Board Member, Governance, Communications for 100Strong Foundation (2012 – current)
- External Advisory Group Member, “Embracing Change,” Federal Government of Canada (2000-2006)
- Past & Founding President, Mentor, & Advisory Board Member, Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP) (1997 – current)
- Member, Pension Investment Committee of the United Way of Greater Toronto (2008-2013)
- National Bank Representative, The Toronto City Summit initiative & BankSETA International Development Program (2005 – 2008)
- Board Member, Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) (2007-2012) – Advisory Board Member & Co-Chair, CANFAR’s Investment Committee
- Co-Founder & Chair, Black Opportunity Fund (June 2020 – current)
- Member, Centennial College’s Financial Services Program Advisory Committee (PAC)
- Member, Pension Investment Management Committee (PIMC) of the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Canada (2016 – 2021)
- Member, Board & Investment Committee, Audit Committee George Brown College Foundation (GBCF) (Jan 2021 – current)
- Member, Board & Investment Committee, Institute for Research & Public Policy (IRPP) (Mar 2022 – current)
- Member, Board of Canadian Ditchley Foundation
Teaching
- Guest Lecturer, Centennial College (past)
- Guest Lecturer, McMaster University De Groote School of Business (past)
- Executive in Residence (EiR), Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto (current)
Awards
- 2024 Honorary Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
- 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Award – University of the West Indies (UWI)
- 2021 Champion of Change – Women in Capital Markets (WCM)
- 2019 President’s Award, Annual Harry Jerome Awards (BBPA)
- 2018 Recipient, Rev Addie Aylestock Award, Ontario Black History Society (OBHS)
- 2013 Nominee, Canadian Diversity Business Council (CDBC)
- 2012 Recipient, Planet Africa Award for Professional Excellence
- 2012 Co-Valedictorian – Rotman School of Management – ICD Programme
Education
- BA in Economics (Honours), North Staffs University, UK
- Master of Arts, Coventry University, UK
- Culinary Certification, George Brown College (2011)
- ICD.D Designation, Institute of Corporate Directors/Rotman School (2012)