People

Management Team

The Longbow management team has over 130 years of dedicated energy investing experience across energy technology, exploration and production, energy infrastructure and services.
Larry Birchall
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

Larry has nearly 40 years of venture capital and private equity investing experience. Larry and his wife Ruth founded Longbow in 1997.

Tyson Birchall
Managing Director

Prior to joining Longbow in January 2009, Tyson was Vice President, Investment Banking at Tristone Capital Inc., a global energy specialist investment bank. While at Tristone, Tyson was directly involved in the execution of advisory mandates with total value exceeding $10 billion relating to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate restructurings, fairness opinions and equity financing transactions.

Tyson is a CFA Charterholder and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) degree from Acadia University where he graduated as a member of the Dean’s List and as a University Scholar. Tyson has completed the Canadian Securities Course and Partners, Directors and Senior Officers Course through the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI).

Art Robinson
MANAGING DIRECTOR

Art has been a professional private equity investor for approximately 25 years and has participated in over 150 energy-related transactions during his career.

Prior to joining Longbow, Art spent seven years with a Canadian mid-market energy focused private equity investment firm and prior thereto Art was Vice President, Corporate Development with EnerMax Services Inc., a North American fluid management company. Prior to EnerMax, Art was a Vice President at SCF Partners, one of the largest energy-services & technology private-equity firms in the world.

Art received a Bachelor of Management degree from the University of Lethbridge and a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University.

Chandra Henry
CFO & CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICE

Chandra has more than 20 years of progressive experience in finance, treasury, risk, taxation and operations within the dynamic financial services industry crossing multiple geographic and business segments. Chandra was previously Chief Financial Officer at FirstEnergy Capital Corp., a boutique investment dealer, and was instrumental in the completion of the sale of FirstEnergy Capital Corp. to GMP Capital Inc. in 2016.

Chandra has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, and has earned the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) designations.

Matthew Cunning
VICE PRESIDENT

Prior to joining Longbow in 2018, Matt was Director of Commercial Strategy at Parkland Fuel Corporation, one of North America’s fastest growing independent marketers of fuel and petroleum products. He started at Parkland as a member of the corporate development team and executed several acquisitions, divestitures, and other corporate growth initiatives exceeding $1.8 billion. Prior to Parkland, Matt was a strategy consultant where he advised clients in the energy, health care, and non-profit sectors on strategic and operational matters.

Matt earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, where he graduated as a member of the Dean’s List.

Michael Ciaramella
VICE PRESIDENT

Prior to joining Longbow, Michael was the Financial Lead at KANATA Energy Group, a midstream company backed by Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan, ARC Financial and Energy Spectrum Capital. As a key member of the corporate development team, Michael participated in evaluating over $7 billion in infrastructure related investment opportunities within the energy sector.

Prior to KANATA, Michael was an M&A Advisory Manager with Deloitte where he advised domestic and international clients across the full M&A lifecycle including involvement in both buy-side and sell-side transaction services, integration, and corporate finance mandates.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a CFA Charterholder.

Curtis Birchall
Vice President

Curtis has been with Longbow for 19 years, investing across the energy, power and technology sectors.

In 2017, Curtis co-founded Ryde Financial a B2B fintech company, which is one of the leading and powersport and marine financing companies in Canada; he is a director of the company.

Curtis earned his Bachelor of Arts from Bishop’s University and Master of Business Administration from IAE Nice. He has completed the Canadian Securities Course and Behavioral Finance through the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). Curtis is a member the Institute of Directors (UK) and a member of the A100.

Myles Shedden
VICE PRESIDENT​

Prior to joining Longbow, Myles co-founded and was the CEO of a consumer fintech company, Chroma Technologies. Prior to Chroma, Myles was the Vice President of Global Delivery at JustEatTakeaway via SkipTheDishes, one of the largest food delivery companies outside of China. Prior to JustEatTakeaway, Myles was an Associate at TriWest Capital Partners and an Analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

Myles has participated in more than $30 billion in M&A, equity and debt transactions throughout his career and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a M.Sc in Finance, both from the University of Saskatchewan.

Tom Farran
ASSOCIATE

Prior to joining Longbow, Tom was an Investment Banking Associate at TD Securities in the Power & Utilities group. While at TD, Tom was directly involved in the execution of advisory mandates with a combined value exceeding $6 billion relating to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and equity financing transactions.

Tom earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, where he graduated as a member of the Dean’s List.

Pouyan Shojaei
ANALYST

Prior to joining Longbow, Pouyan was an Investment Banking Analyst at RBC Capital Markets in the Global Energy group where he was directly involved in the execution of a variety of M&A, equity, and debt financing transactions. Prior to RBC, Pouyan was a Strategy Consultant at Monitor Deloitte where he focused on large scale transformations and corporate strategy mandates across the Energy, Resources, and Industrials sectors.

Pouyan holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a double minor in Petroleum Engineering and Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development from University of Calgary.

Erin Armstrong
OPERATIONS MANAGER

Erin has over 15 years experience in operations and finance. Prior to joining Longbow in April 2023, Erin held long term roles in operations and as an Investment Advisor. In her previous roles Erin was responsible for overseeing business and fund operations including all fund accounting, banking, reporting and compliance as well as Limited Partner support and communication. Later, as an Investment Advisor, Erin took on the responsibility of advising clients in relation to their overall investment portfolios, proving a track record for client retention and gaining valuable experience in the public markets.

Erin has completed the Canadian Securities Course, Conduct & Practices Handbook Course and Wealth Management Essentials through the Canadian Securities Institute as well as the Life License Qualification Program through IFSE Institute, Canada.

Barbara Brown
CONTROLLER

Barbara has more than 30 years of accounting and taxation experience in industry and public practice. Prior to joining Longbow in 2001, Barbara operated her own consulting practice providing accounting, audit and tax services to professional accountants, public accounting firms and small businesses. Prior to 1998, Barbara worked as a senior accountant in public practice providing client full cycle accounting and tax services and training accounting staff.

Barbara has a Bachelor of Management with Distinction degree from the University of Lethbridge and has earned the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) designation.

Margie Gal
Fund Accountant

Margie joined Longbow in 2023 and has over 25 years of experience in boutique investment banking and private equity fund accounting.  Prior to joining Longbow, Margie was the Controller for a private equity firm and was responsible for financial reporting, tax, accounting and investor reporting.

Margie earned her Bachelor of Management with Distinction from the University of Lethbridge and is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).

Kamila Shir
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Prior to joining Longbow, Kamila was a Legal Assistant at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP: a leading international business law firm, where she worked with lawyers who specialized in the capital markets, securities, mergers, and acquisitions group. Her role focused on conducting and reviewing due diligence searches, drafting documents, attending to registrations, managing payables/receivables, and developing operational initiatives to achieve financial goals. Before her employment with Fasken, Kamila was employed with Dunn and Associates Criminal Defence firm as a paralegal, where she developed extensive knowledge of the legal realm and court proceedings. Her responsibilities included case law research through CanLII, compiling legal and financial evidence for trial preparation, managing client billing, and overseeing office operations. 

Kamila has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Lethbridge.