Melanie is the founder of Kalex Valuations Inc. and began professional practice in 1985, which includes several years of industry experience. Throughout her professional career she has been involved in many assignments for a variety of public and private companies of various sizes and across many industries, obtaining her training at two of the largest international accounting firms in the industry. Melanie placed second in Canada on the CICBV membership examination. She founded Kalex Valuations Inc. in 1996.

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Ms. Russell has been active in teaching business valuations and related topics since 1987 at various universities and professional organizations, and runs the premiere preparatory course for CBV students in Canada taking their national Membership Qualification Examination. She has written various articles, taught professional courses and had many public speaking engagements on matters relating to business valuations and related topics.

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Ms. Russell has qualified as an expert witness in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Ontario Superior Court, the Federal Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (“CPAO”, formerly Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario)’s Discipline Committee (which determines whether members should be charged with offences as brought by the CPAO’s Professional Conduct Committee) and the Investment Dealers’ Association. She has qualified as an expert in the areas of business/asset valuation, quantification of damages, income determination and forensic accounting. She has also acted as an accounting expert in arbitration, mediation, mediation/arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings (e.g., collaborative practice), and negotiated a number of buy/sell transactions.

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Professional Designations

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• Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA)

• Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) – second highest mark in Canada

• Certified Investment Manager (CIM)

• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

• Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)

• Accredited in Business Valuations (ABV)

• Certificate Program in Dispute Resolution

• Collaborative Family Practice

• International Valuation Standards (IVS)

• Certified Specialist in Family and Estate Valuation (FDRP Val)

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Memberships

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• CPA Canada

• CPA Ontario

• Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators

• National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

• Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario

• Estate Planning Council of Toronto

• ESOP Canada

• Turnaround Management Association of Canada

• Ontario Expropriation Association 

• Collaborative Practice Toronto

• York Collaborative Practice 

• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals 

• M&A Club Toronto

• Association for Corporate Growth 

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 

• McMichael Canadian Art Foundation Board

• Collaborative Practice Durham Region

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Education

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• Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) – University of Manitoba

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Other

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• President of GTA Accountants/Finance Network

• Frequent presenter, lecturer and author on various topics: Valuations, income analysis, financial reporting, finance, accounting, auditing/assurance, personal financial planning for various organizations. 

• Author of the Business Valuation content of CPA Canada’s Practice Management, Advisory, Compilations and Tax Guide (“PACT”)

• Co-author of “Understanding Valuation Reports – A Guide for Legal Professionals”, published by Thomson Reuters, 2021 and co-author of “Financial Crimes in Canada: An Overview of Money Laundering & Fraud”, published by LexisNexis, 2022

• Melanie Russell’s quotes in National Post article

• MQE Insight – CBV Prep Courses

• ESOP – Builders

• Volunteer fitness instructor in Boxfit, Arriba, muscleworks, etc

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