Building great relationships
Derek Smith (’05)
As a student-athlete and Acadia Axemen football player, Derek Smith (’05) stood out from the crowd. He was recipient of the George Wilbert Cox Cup and Medal, presented to the male student in each college year who has made the most outstanding record in intercollegiate athletics, other extracurricular activities, and scholarship.
“I love Acadia and was fortunate to enjoy a rich experience across academics, athletics and student life generally,” he says. “I built great relationships with coaches, teammates, admin, professors and students. Wolfville is a tight-knit community, and the beautiful setting of the Annapolis Valley and the Bay of Fundy is unmatched. The education has served me well, and I look back with fond memories on an experience for which I will be forever grateful.”
After earning a BBA with Computer Science from Acadia, Smith spent more than 12 years in energy investment banking with Canadian independent banks in Canada and London, UK. He joined Dundee Corporation in 2013 and became head of the company’s London office in 2016. Two years later, he established Dundee Global Energy & Infra Capital, a firm based in London and Toronto that partners with, invests in and advises companies leading the energy transition across the energy and infrastructure sector, where he is a Managing Director.
“I have an enormous appreciation for the education and development Acadia provided. The campaign is a wonderful opportunity to ensure Acadia’s strong traditions and vision are fulfilled”
Being confident, having courage, working hard and being honest with people are all life lessons he learned at Acadia, Smith says. “Life is more about the journey and less about the destination,” he adds. “Enjoy it, smile, and make a memory.”
Smith holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, a globally recognized standard for financial analysts, portfolio managers and investment advisors, and is a member of the UK CFA Society.
“I have an enormous appreciation for the education and development Acadia provided,” he says. “The campaign is a wonderful opportunity to ensure Acadia’s strong traditions and vision are fulfilled. As a recent graduate, I look forward to engaging with younger alumni who have established themselves and are looking for ways to reconnect in a meaningful way to support Acadia’s future.”