Alison Lawton
| Alison Lawton | |
|---|---|
| Born |
May 20, 1970 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Alma mater | Concordia University, Simon Fraser University |
| Notable work | Uganda Rising |
| Spouse(s) | Frank Giustra (2000–2007) |
Alison Lawton (born May 29, 1970) is a Canadian entrepreneur, social advocate and philanthropist. She is the producer of the documentary Uganda Rising and founder of Mindset Social Innovation Foundation.
Lawton graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Concordia University in 1995 and then joined Investor First Financial. In 1997, Lawton founded the Winfield Venture Group, a private angel investment firm along with IdeaPark Ventures. In 2000, Lawton married Frank Giustra, Vancouver-based financier and philanthropist.
In 1995, Lawton joined Investor First Financial and began her business career in private equity sales. She focused on the areas of syndicated software, film, television, real estate and tax shelter offerings. In 1997, she founded her own investment company, Winfield Venture Group; a private angel investment and corporate finance boutique.
She also founded IdeaPark Ventures, an internet incubator company that she sold in 2000 to Goldcorp mining magnate, Ian Telfer. At the same time, she became an early stage investor in Vision Critical. Angus Reid, known for social research in Canada, is the company’s CEO.
In 2000, she married financier and philanthropist Frank Giustra and had her first child, a son. She had a daughter three years later, then she and Giustra separated in 2008.
Lawton returned to school in 2002 to do a master's degree in Applied Sciences from Simon Fraser University. Her thesis focused on “the role of the media in creating value in financial markets.”
Lawton kept active business while working on her MA and continues to do so. She’s an investor in several BC-based software start-ups, including Sosido Networks, Strutta and Tyze Personal Networks. She was also an early stage investor in YYOGA (yoga health and wellness centres started by Nettwerk Music Group founder and CEO Terry McBride).
While Lawton focused on business ventures, she was also involved in Humanitarian work. She has served on the board of the Positive Women’s Network and Pacific AIDS Resource Centre (PARC) and worked one on one with HIV-positive kids in home settings and helped to organize retreats for HIV-positive women and children.
In November 2005, Lawton was appointed Chair of the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign for UNICEF Canada. Some of her campaign initiatives included producing the Unite against AIDS concert series and UNICEF’s first Canadian art auction, Unite with Art. The events raise funds for UNICEF, as well as the consciousness around HIV/AIDS and how it has redefined childhood for millions of children worldwide. Lawton also produced a 25-minute educational documentary for UNICEF; Hope in the Time of AIDS featured Stephen Lewis and was narrated by Pierce Brosnan.
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