Stewart Flink is a Founding Member and CEO of Next View Global Water Technology Fund, where he oversees strategic direction, portfolio development, and capital deployment across the fund’s investments.

Stewart brings nearly 40 years of experience in securities, private equity, and hedge fund management, with a career spanning firms such as O’Connor Partnership, Goldman Sachs, Bear Stearns, and CIBC Oppenheimer. From 1999 to 2012, he co-founded and managed two hedge funds, deploying over $900 million across more than 500 companies—primarily in the micro- and small-cap sectors.

As the Founding Managing Partner and CIO of Crestview Capital Partners (2000–2008), he grew assets under management from $5 million to $250 million, focusing on PIPEs and growth-stage equity. He currently leads Dillon Capital LLC and serves as CEO and board member of Timbrey Hydrogen Technologies, a clean hydrogen company based in Chicago.

Stewart earned his MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management and a BA in Economics and Psychology from Vanderbilt University, where he also captained the varsity tennis team. He is the author of For All the Water (2023) and regularly publishes commentary on the global water and hydrogen economy. Outside of his professional work, he is a father of four and grandfather of five.

Melissa Paradise leads operational strategy, project execution, and investor readiness for the Fund. She also supports R&D alignment and compliance for a clean energy company in early-stage development, bridging technical innovation with commercial execution.

Her background includes supporting defense and national security programs across all military branches and intelligence agencies, securing over $30 million in federal awards. As a senior analyst and functional strategist, she developed intelligence products and system requirements critical to national defense missions.

A retired U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Specialist (2007–2014), Melissa coordinated high-security events like presidential landings and nuclear summits, earning over 300 commendations—including one from the Vice President of the United States. She holds a degree in Philosophy and Communications with a minor in Asian Studies from the University of Tampa, along with a TESOL certification.

Peter Lamb serves as Chair of the Advisory Board, bringing over 30 years of global strategy and marketing experience. A former professional tennis player who competed at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, Peter transitioned into business leadership after earning his MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University.

He is the founder of Lamb Consulting, a firm renowned for helping media organizations worldwide diversify revenue and reach untapped markets. Peter has advised global brands such as The Wall Street Journal, Google, Facebook, and regional leaders across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

A frequent keynote speaker and industry panelist, Peter delivers strategy workshops to leading international media associations and business groups. His global perspective and cross-sector expertise support Next View’s vision for growth, adaptability, and long-term value creation.

Private Equity | Institutional Fund Governance | Early-Stage Investment Strategy

Erik Brown is the Senior Director of Private Equity at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the Founder of Red Cedar Capital, an investment firm focused on early-stage technology companies. He previously served as Principal and Co-founder at Aspire Capital Partners, an investment firm that deployed over $1 billion in capital, with a dedicated track record in clean tech and emerging technologies.

At Aspire, Erik led investments in micro- and small-cap public and private companies, often navigating complex capital structures and market cycles. His dual experience in institutional fund operations and private investing allows him to contribute valuable insight on deal evaluation, portfolio construction, and LP engagement strategy.

Erik holds a BA in Finance from Michigan State University and an MBA from Kellogg. His hybrid expertise in traditional fund governance and frontier tech investments supports Next View’s dual focus on financial return and scalable impact.

Global Water & Climate Strategy | Media & Policy Engagement | ESG Storytelling

Carl Ganter is Co-founder and Director of Circle of Blue, a leading center for frontline reporting and data-driven analysis of water, food, and energy issues in a changing climate. An award-winning journalist and broadcaster, Carl has contributed to publications such as Time, National Geographic, and Rolling Stone, while also serving as a visual and editorial advisor to global water policy institutions.

He is the former Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Water Security and has contributed to its Global Future Councils on Environment and Agriculture. Carl frequently moderates and presents at Davos, Aspen Ideas Festival, World Water Week, and global innovation summits. His work earned him the Rockefeller Foundation’s Centennial Innovation Award.

Carl holds an MSJ from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, and his ability to contextualize water investment within broader economic, environmental, and geopolitical narratives makes him a key thought leader at the intersection of sustainability, media, and policy.

Legal Governance | Regulated Industries | Banking & Impact Capital

Melissa Widen is a legal executive and banking innovator with deep experience in regulated sectors and strategic capital deployment. She currently serves as Chief Legal Officer and Head of Impact Deposits at First Women’s Bank, a mission-driven financial institution focused on advancing gender equity in lending and investing.

Previously, Melissa was Managing Partner at Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum, and held legal leadership roles at Arthur Andersen LLP and Jenner & Block. She also clerked for the Hon. Norman P. Ramsey in the U.S. District Court of Maryland.

Melissa holds a BA from Duke University and a JD from the University of Maryland School of Law. Her ability to interpret legal frameworks in mission-driven finance, combined with her experience in firm governance, risk, and impact lending, strengthens the fund’s approach to both compliance and ESG-aligned capital deployment.

Life Sciences Commercialization | Deep Tech | M&A & Scientific Due Diligence

Dr. Stan Rose is a seasoned life sciences executive, board advisor, and commercialization expert with over 30 years of leadership in biotech, genomics, and diagnostics. He is currently President of Rose Ventures, Inc. and has served as Director at firms including Invenra, Xeno Bioscience, and Serum DPT.

Stan was Co-founder and CEO of Transplant Genomics, which was acquired by Eurofins in 2019. He previously led NimbleGen Inc. as CEO until its acquisition by Roche, and co-founded Genetic MicroSystems, which was acquired by Affymetrix. Earlier in his career, he directed the PCR business at PerkinElmer/Applied Biosystems and held executive R&D roles at Collaborative Research.

He holds a BA from Cornell University and a PhD in Biology from MIT. His history of building, scaling, and successfully exiting pioneering life sciences companies underscores his ability to bridge cutting-edge science with commercial strategy.

Hardware Entrepreneur | Regulatory Strategy | Product Innovation

Dr. Santhi Analytis is a startup advisor, investor, and experienced hardware entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of Moxxly, Inc., where she led the design and engineering of a smart breast pump system that achieved FDA 510(k) clearance and was later acquired by Olle Larsson Holding AG, parent company of Medela and Bravado.

Santhi also served as the founding Vice President of Engineering at Treau, Inc. (now Gradient Comfort), where she directed engineering operations and regulatory strategy for HVAC innovations. She has worked across Asia and Latin America, solving complex manufacturing and product validation challenges in highly regulated environments. Her collaboration with companies such as Intuitive Surgical, along with her authorship of 10+ peer-reviewed publications and 20+ patents, reflects her deep technical fluency and executional rigor.

She holds a BA in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and both an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. A recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Santhi brings a sharp perspective on innovation, risk management, and regulatory complexity—particularly in the fields of water, health, and advanced technology.