Jigna has over 15 years of incentive-based consultative service experience in the private sector. She has a scientific background with a Bachelor of Science in Science and Business with a major in Biology from the University of Waterloo.

In her current role at EY, Jigna leads the business development efforts by building client and partner relationships to help grow the Business Tax Incentives practice, with a focus on the private clients. She leads the relationships and sponsorships of various incubators and accelerators to provide value-based training on relevant topics of interest. She also leads the sponsorships of relevant technology conferences and events such as Collision, Dx3, Canadian Innovation Exchange, and others.

Jigna co-leads EY’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women program in Ontario and works with a team of 20 volunteers to nominate and lead women entrepreneurs through the prestigious and competitive Winning Women program that helps them accelerate the growth of their business. She is also a champion of the Entrepreneur of the Year program nominating and leading entrepreneurs in this competitive program.

Relevant experience

►        Mentor early stage start-up companies on how the SR&ED program can benefit them. Also work with companies to identify other incentive programs to provide a comprehensive and holistic overview of programs that they can take advantage of.

►        Organize and present the SR&ED program and government grants and incentives to many different organizations and at several events.

►        Successfully prepared and defended SR&ED claims in wide ranges of industries, including the manufacturing industry, machinery production, chemical and plastic industry, textile, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors among numerous other industry sectors.

►        Worked with small and medium-sized companies to evaluate and prepare their SR&ED claims, validate the client’s eligibility to receive SR&ED refunds, prepare scientific reports on client R&D activities detailing the innovation and experimental process involved in particular projects, and attends audits conducted by CRA auditors to defend the claim