Meet The Team
Founder
David Heden
David Heden has never been afraid to take the road less traveled. He is both a dreamer and a manifestor, yet an expert in mitigating and managing risk. He first deviated from the marked path when he dropped out of school at the age of 17 to become a research analyst at K2 and Associates Investment Management Inc. After 13 dedicated years with K2, culminated with 6 years as managing partner, he led the firm's event-driven, distressed debt and energy strategies until his early retirement at age 30. One year later, he founded HGC Investment Management Inc., best known for managing over $1B in its HGC fund, an award-winning, flagship fund that has been recognized for its consistency and low volatility.
David is the proud father of two children. Inspired by their future and his experience as an industry visionary, he founded 5D World Inc., 5D Ventures, 5D Angel and 5D Gives. The foundation of David’s success lies in his vision for continual self-improvement and inquiry. Blending energy with professional work has inspired David to do things differently and bridge the worlds of capital and consciousness creating impact.
In addition to his lively professional life, David is passionate about all things conscious living and total well-being. He currently lives between Toronto and Nosara, and his mission is to contribute to raise the vibration of the collective.
CEO
Rebecca Nicholson
Rebecca Nicholson is the CEO of 5D World and a founding partner of 5D Ventures. Her vision and creativity are balanced with a grounding force that allows her to oversee executive leadership and operations in the fast-paced and ever evolving industry of impact investing.
Rebecca brings over 20 years of experience managing high-level teams and projects, leading transformation into all that she does. She is responsible for running all facets of the business at 5D World including bringing her passion, patience, and persistence to investor relations, driving company growth, development of corporate culture, team-building, projections and goal-setting, events, and fundraising. She is an advisor, panelist and a founding member of Women Advancing Psychedelics.
Before joining 5D World she excelled as an industry leader in the marketing and wellness sectors. Rebecca currently resides in Toronto and she is passionate about her two sons, exploring deep nature and building strength through her dedicated yoga practice.
Operations
Emily Johnson
Emily Johnson has managed operations, finance, HR, event planning, property management, customer and technical support, and project and fund management teams for over a decade. She is versatile, collaborative and highly organized. With a high level of integrity and a keen eye for detail, Emily is truly motivated to elevate workplace interactions and communications at 5D World.
Her valuable experience and expertise enhance workflow, promote organization, improve overall company discipline, yet also leave space for the creative aspects of business.
Holding a BFA Honours from McMaster University with a focus on painting, exhibiting her art locally, along with having written two collections of poetry, artistic creation is a large part of Emily's life. She strives to achieve higher consciousness in her work by blending her artistic energy with her operational and administrative tasks.
Communications
Shauna Ireland
Shauna Ireland is a Communications and Creative Concept Specialist who brings a multidimensional approach to all of her work. Shauna employs conscious integrity to combine her devotion to energetic work with her 20 years of experience in public relations, marketing, branding, and business development. She is keenly and abundantly passionate about helping people and organizations activate their divine design. Deeply skilled in the arts of storytelling, communications and brand revitalization, Shauna’s decades of industry experience and expertise have earned her a position on PR Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40” list and solidified her as a renowned name in the global industry.
Shauna is uniquely equipped to develop and deliver methods for aligning companies with consciousness, resulting in increased revenue and amplified brand awareness. As a master connector, the marriage of Shauna’s professional intelligence with her personal energy, humor and spirit allow her to create the perfect environment to connect with audiences and partners, and to achieve overall brand and company goals.
General Counsel
David Tucker
David Tucker is a Canadian-based lawyer with a sharp eye for recognizing opportunities, protecting organizational interests, and achieving business-oriented results. He began his career at one of Canada’s top business law firms in corporate and environmental law, he then spent nearly two decades as General Counsel for an engineering, consulting and technology firm. David’s breadth of knowledge has seen him provide business and legal advice to Boards of Directors and senior management teams for over 20 years. He holds extensive expertise in the areas of contracts, risk management, corporate governance, negotiation, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property law, employment law, ethics, dispute resolution, and much more. His knowledge and experience also allows him to understand and connect with global issues in both business and law.
Indigenous Leadership
Nicole Van Stone
Nicole Van Stone is a second generation residential school survivor. She is of the Turtle Clan, her spirit name is Warrior Woman with the Grandmothers Behind Her. Nicole's passion and purpose is being a bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and believes understanding the past will help us move forward together.
Nicole is an Indigenous Outreach Consultant, the past President of BEL Rotary Club, Chair, Indigenous Focus for District 7010 and District Coordinator for HIP (Honoring Indigenous Peoples). She sits on the Community Voices For Manoomin (Wild Rice) committee and works with Anishinaabemowin TEG and Ininimo - Speak Cree to bring language learning to her community. She is also a member of the Board of Directors at Camp Kawartha. Nicole is also a successful real estate agent and is currently with Chestnut Park Real Estate in cottage country, and has been featured on HGTV's Big City Broker.
Executive Assistant
Ashley Ientile
Ashley Ientile is a high-performing and passionate professional who is dedicated to helping and making a positive impact on the lives of others. Her deep-seeded connection and reverence to Mother Earth keep her grounded as she uses her leadership and multitasking skills to maintain organization and develop efficiencies. With focus and integrity, Ashley works closely with the Executive team and supports event planning, finance, property management, and daily operations.
An entrepreneur at the age of 11, Ashley understands hard work and brings over 15 years of experience in the administrative field. Her creative spirit shines through her art, upcycling projects, and love of gardening. Her commitment to continual learning is focused on quantum mechanics, bio healing, and raising her daughter to know her own truth to allow for a higher level of consciousness.
Consultant
Cory Firth
Cory is a human-impact community builder, communications entrepreneur and plant medicine advocate who has spent the last 5 years building communities in the mental health and wellness space.
After a 20 year battle with depression, Cory has committed his career to a vision of the future where the stigmatization of mental illness is replaced with compassion, transformation and community connection; a world where we work together to reunite with our innate abilities to heal, overcome and actualize our full potential.
As the former Executive Director of the Canadian Psychedelic Association, Cory is passionate about collaborating with other psychedelic advocates to expand education, equity and access across the globe.
Consultant
Jesse Hanson
Dr. Jesse Hanson, PhD is a Registered Psychotherapist specializing in addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, and family/couples work. He is trained in neuroscience, somatic psychotherapy, and trauma resolution. Jesse believes in the healing potential of modern scientific interventions, and timeless healing practices of the indigenous people, bringing them together to create a new healing paradigm.
After many years as a therapist and coach at Passage Malibu addiction treatment center, he helped to co-found Helix Healthcare Group in Toronto, Canada, where he served as clinical director for 4 years. Jesse has been featured as an Interventionist on A&E's Intervention documentary series. He is a clinical advisor at Rehab.com. Currently Jesse serves as chief clinical offices for Dimensions Health Centers, and as a clinical advisor at Holos Global, two new integrative treatment centers focused on combining ancient and modern treatments to support client's healing and evolution.