Meet the Judges

Charles Lammam is an economist and public policy professional with two decades of experience spanning government, business, think tanks, and non-profits. He is the principal of Lammam Economics & Advisory, an independent consulting practice focused on policy research and strategic advice. He recently served as VP of Public Policy for a major professional regulatory organization, and previously held senior roles in the Ontario government, including Executive Director of Policy and Budget at the Ministry of Finance, where he advised two Ministers and the Premier on fiscal and economic policy. A recognized voice on fiscal and economic issues, Charles has authored widely on taxation, productivity, and economic competitiveness, and has testified regularly before parliamentary committees and government panels. He holds an MA in Public Policy and a BA in Economics.

Jeff Adamson is the co-founder of Neo Financial, the fastest growing company in Canada three years in a row. Before Neo, he co-founded SkipTheDishes, one of the most successful tech exits in Canadian history. Prior to Neo and Skip, he was also a world-class wrestler who ranked in the top ten globally and competed internationally for Canada for over a decade. Outside of Neo, Jeff sits on the board of Build Canada, a non-partisan movement with the goal of making Canada the most prosperous country on earth. Proudly based in the Canadian Prairies, he is married and the father of two young boys.

Zita Cobb is a Canadian business leader and social entrepreneur who helped transformed her birthplace into a model for community-driven economic development. Born on Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador in 1958, her family was forced to leave when the cod fishery collapsed. After studying business in Ottawa, she became CFO of JDS Uniphase, a global leader in fiber optics technology.

Following her retirement in 2001, Cobb returned to Fogo Island and founded the Canadian registered charity Shorefast in 2004 with her siblings, Alan and Anthony, with a mission to strengthen the community’s resilience through place-based economic development. In 2013, Shorefast opened Fogo Island Inn, now a Michelin Three Keys property and an internationally acclaimed example of regenerative tourism.

Cobb’s pioneering work has earned her a membership in the Order of Canada, and recognition as the first social entrepreneur inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

In December 2025, Cobb launched the Shorefast Institute for Place Based Economies, which brings together communities, governments, and markets to develop and expand place-based approaches to economic development, with the mission to create prosperity and dignity for more people and more places.
Learn more at: The Shorefast Institute – Shorefast

Lucy Hargreaves co-founded and now leads Build Canada, an initiative working to make this country the easiest place in the world to build new companies and scale bold ideas. Her path here runs through federal politics—where she served as Chief of Staff to a cabinet minister—and through climate-tech, most recently as an executive at Patch. Along the way she has advised the UN, OECD, and Fortune 500 leaders on sustainability and competitiveness.

Bram Belzberg is the Chairman & CEO of KEV Group Inc. KEV provides payment and funds management software to over 26,000 schools across the United States and Canada. Prior to KEV, Bram worked at Amaranth Advisors in Toronto and at Goldman Sachs & Co as an investment banker in New York. Bram graduated from McGill University with a BA (Great Distinction) and from Harvard Business School with an MBA.

Bram and his wife Ilana have two sons, Brody (‘28) and Reid who is in grade 7. They have been involved in Jewish philanthropy for many years including chairing the UJA Launch, founding the Annex Shul, founding and chairing the CJPAC Action Party, Chairing the Ben Gurion Society at UJA and much more.