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At Best Startup Canada we track over 100,000 Canadian startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top British Columbia based Director operating in the Biotechnology space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.ca.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Andreas von Flotow
Director of Aurin Biotech
Dr. Andreas von Flotow is a successful serial technology entrepreneur, with interests ranging from aerospace to agriculture. He is also an accomplished researcher and inventor. Dr. von Flotow earned a PhD in aerospace engineering from Stanford University and joined the faculty of MIT where he taught and conducted research in spacecraft control and dynamics from 1985 to 1992. He then moved to the Columbia Gorge with his family and founded Hood Technology Corporation and other companies. Dr. von Flotow was the founding chairman of Insitu Inc., a pioneer in unmanned aircraft systems, which was acquired by Boeing in 2008 for a reported $400M. He is author and co-author of over 100 technical papers in refereed journals and conferences, and is the holder of over 25 patents. During his academic career, he supervised 7 PhD and 20 MS students. He currently serves as the President and Chairman of Hood Technology and is involved in numerous other business and investment interests.
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About Aurin Biotech: Aurin Biotech Inc. is a private company established to advance the development of a remarkable collection of small molecules.
Hagen Kennecke
Director of Aurin Biotech
Dr. Hagen Kennecke is the Professional Practice Leader of Medical Oncology at the BC Cancer Agency Vancouver Centre, and is also an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He received his MD from Dalhousie University in 1997 and subsequently did residency training in internal medicine and oncology. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and an executive member of the National Cancer Institute of Canada CTG GI Site Committee, and a member of the US Neuroendocrine and Rectal Tumor Task Force of the NCI GI Steering Committee. He is a strong advocate of patients with gastrointestinal cancers and has worked to improve education, treatment and outcomes for those affected by the disease. He founded the BCCA Colorectal Cancer Outcomes Unit and BCCA Colorectal Cancer Awareness Day. He is the author of 52 peer reviewed scientific articles as well as numerous invited presentations. He is passionate about finding new therapeutics for cancers and is currently conducting vital research into new therapy options for colorectal cancer patients. Dr. Kennecke has extensive experience in developing and conducting clinical trials with new therapeutic agents and brings this important expertise to the Board.
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About Aurin Biotech: Aurin Biotech Inc. is a private company established to advance the development of a remarkable collection of small molecules.
Douglas Bell
Director of Aurin Biotech
Dr. Douglas Bell is a retired physician who received his MD from McGill University in 1955. After several years of general practice he entered post-graduate training in head and neck surgery. In 1975 he became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Canada (FRCS), the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS). He was offered a position in the Head and Neck Surgery Department of the Scripps Clinic & Research facility in La Jolla, California. He was also appointed Assistant Clinical Professor at the University Hospital and the Veteran’s Hospital at the University of San Diego where he taught medical students and residents. Following lithotripsy treatment for a kidney stone at age 58 he developed a severe autoimmune disease which devastated him physically and ended his medical career. As a result he became extremely interested in researching autoimmune disorders. After reading journal articles regarding low molecular weight aurintricarboxylic acid synthetic complex he concluded it might be effective for him. He synthesized his own material and, after self-treatment, he and his family were ecstatic with the response. It provided him with the first positive relief from the overwhelming muscular fatigue he had endured for the previous 26 years.
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About Aurin Biotech: Aurin Biotech Inc. is a private company established to advance the development of a remarkable collection of small molecules.
Edith G. McGeer
Foounder,Vice President & Director of Aurin Biotech
Dr. Edith McGeer is a professor emerita in the Faculty of Medicine at University of British Columbia (UBC). She is the former director of the Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research at UBC. She received her BA from Swarthmore College and her PhD in chemistry from the University of Virginia at the age of 22. She worked for the DuPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware, winning three patents and a citation from the Delaware section of the American Chemical Society before moving with her husband to UBC’s medical school. She has served on the editorial boards of 15 international journals in the neuroscience field. She has recently been on numerous scientific review boards, particularly for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, and was one of the initial members of the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Neurology Group on the Dementias. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a member of the Order of British Columbia and the recipient of three honorary degrees. She is the author of 525 scientific articles, 10 patents, an author of the textbook Molecular Neurobiology of the Mammalian Brain with her husband Dr. Patrick McGeer and Sir John Eccles. The McGeers were both original members of the Highly Cited Researchers database of the ISI, being among the world’ top 100 most highly cited neuroscientists.
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About Aurin Biotech: Aurin Biotech Inc. is a private company established to advance the development of a remarkable collection of small molecules.
Konrad Walus
Co-Founder & Member of Board of Directors of Aspect Biosystems
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About : Biotech company combining the power of microfluidics & 3D bioprinting to fuel medical research and development of bioprinted therapeutics
Konrad Walus
Co-Founder & Member of Board of Directors of Aspect Biosystems
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About : Biotech company combining the power of microfluidics & 3D bioprinting to fuel medical research and development of bioprinted therapeutics
Christopher Barbosa
Director of Technology Development of Acuitas Therapeutics
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About Acuitas Therapeutics: Acuitas provides delivery solutions for molecular therapeutics using lipid nanoparticles (LNP).
Casper Bych
Board of Director of Sirona Biochem
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About : Sirona Biochem is a biotechnology company developing diabetes therapeutics, as well as skin depigmenting and anti-aging agents.
Alex Sandro Marazzi
Board of Director of Sirona Biochem
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About : Sirona Biochem is a biotechnology company developing diabetes therapeutics, as well as skin depigmenting and anti-aging agents.
Craig Goodwin
Founder, President and Director of Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd.
Craig Goodwin has over 30 years of sales and marketing experience including Senior Account Executive for one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the world, The Jim Pattison Sign Group. While with The Jim Pattison Sign Group, Craig was one of the most successful sales executives in Western Canada and received numerous awards for outstanding achievements. Craig held the position of Western Regional Manager for a grass roots division of the Jim Pattison Group, Kimberlite, focusing on electronic outdoor advertising. The groundwork and forward thinking vision established in part by Mr. Goodwin can now be seen in the way of large electronic advertising boards at major thoroughfares around Greater Vancouver. In addition to sales and marketing Craig has consulted for a number of public companies providing services from Investor Relations to raising Venture Capital.
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About Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd.: A multifaceted biotech company spanning many industries surrounding hemp. People, Planet, & Profit!
Hisae Nakamura
Director of Reseach & Development of RepliCel Life Sciences
Dr. Nakamura has more than ten years of research experience in cell biology. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Simon Fraser University. Dr. Nakamura subsequently completed her PhD at the University of British Columbia, where she conducted her research work at the British Columbia Cancer Agency and the Vancouver Prostate Centre. Her doctorate research focused on hormone receptors and their association to endocrine-linked diseases. Following graduate studies, Dr. Nakamura worked in the field of knowledge translation, her responsibilities included bridging the activities of research scientists, clinicians and key opinion leaders to identify research needs and to develop effective therapies.
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About RepliCel Life Sciences: RepliCel Life Sciences is a regenerative medicine company using cell therapy products for healing tendinosis, aging, and pattern baldness.
R. Lee Buckler
President & CEO, Director of RepliCel Life Sciences
Lee is Managing Director of and a consultant the Cell Therapy Group.Lee is the founder and managing director of Cell Therapy Group – a leading, boutique consultancy focused on the cell therapy and regenerative medicine industry.Through CTG Lee works with companies of all sizes to help position them in the cell therapy regenerative medicine space by focusing on business development including strategy development, competitive intelligence, market research and analysis, deal-making, marketing and communications, profile-building, sale-lead generation, etc. The core value Lee brings to CTG and its clients is a rare breadth of understanding of the entire spectrum of the cell therapy and regenmed industries primarily around who is doing what with whom. This knowledge of the industry players, what they have, and with whom they are working is both driven by and drives his proprietary industry database. Additionally, Lee leverages for his clients the relationships he has with executives in many of those companies. Since early 2000, Lee has been an executive in the cell therapy regenerative medicine industry. He has significant experience in both for-profit companies and non-profit organizations including Progenitor Cell Therapy, Malachite Management, Stem Cell Technologies, and the International Society for Cellular Therapy. Before transitioning to biotech, Lee earned a law degree (cum laude) and was a practicing commercial attorney for several years.Lee founded Cell Therapy News, created Cell Therapy Blog where he continues to blog, and serves on the Editorial Board of the journals BioProcess International and Regenerative Medicine. Lee founded and served as Chair of ISCT’s Cell Therapy Commercialization Committee (2006-9), founded and administers the LinkedIn Cell Therapy Industry Group, and has served as an advisor to dozens of groups and projects in the regenerative medicine space. He is a frequently invited speaker and moderator at conferences in the industry. Recent publications include a book chapter entitled, “State of the Regenerative Medicine Industry” in The Delivery of Regenerative Medicines and Their Impact on Healthcare (CRC Press) and “Opportunities in Regenerative Medicine: The Global Industry and Market Trends” in BioProcess International, March 2011 Supplement.
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About RepliCel Life Sciences, Restructur Advisors: RepliCel Life Sciences is a regenerative medicine company using cell therapy products for healing tendinosis, aging, and pattern baldness.
Lesley Esford
Executive Director of LifeSciences British Columbia
Lesley is the Executive Director of LifeSciences BC, a not-for-profit, industry association that supports and represents the Life Science community of British Columbia through leadership, facilitation of investment and partnering, advocacy, and promotion of our world-class science and industry. Lesley received her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from UBC and has spent many years in academia, industry and government in positions supporting the growth of the Life Sciences sector. Since 2006, she has worked as an ITA for NRC-IRAP, helping over 100 entrepreneurs developing a wide array of products and services, at every stage of the innovation process, from concept to commercialization. Lesley is a Kauffman Fellow, which is a Silicon Valley-based international leadership program for venture capitalists and innovators.
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About LifeSciences British Columbia, Phoenix Molecular Designs: LifeSciences British Columbia supports and represents the biopharmaceutical, medical device, bioproducts and bioenergy, and greater life
Hugh Wellman
Director, BD, Licensing & IP of GenomeDx Biosciences
Hugh Wellman is currently the Director, BD, Licensing and IP at GenomeDx and has been with the company since 2013. His responsibilities include, business development, licensing with both academic and commercial partners and management of the IP portfolio. Recent notable transactions include a companion diagnostic project with Astellas, and exclusive distribution deals with both Color Genomics and Pathnostics. He has spent the last 10 years working with venture capital funded biotech companies. Before GenomeDx he worked at Sirius Genomics, a commercially focused, pharmacogenomics company. While working with Sirius he built a SNP selection pipeline, managed 3 major genotyping initiatives and was the scientific lead in the largest pharmacogenomic trial ever completed in sepsis. Wellman has played a key role at both companies in establishing broad strategic partnerships and licensing arrangements with pharma/biotech companies and academic institutions for the purpose of biomarker discovery, services and commercialization. Hugh received his undergrad and MSc in Genetics at the University of British Columbia.
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About GenomeDx Biosciences, PFS Genomics Inc., Veracyte: GenomeDx discovers, develops, and commercializes genomic-based laboratory tests for the personalized medicine revolution in cancer care.
Michael Weedon
President and Director of Phytonix
Michael Weedon is the President and Director at Phytonix Corporation.
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About Phytonix: Phytonix is an industrial biotechnology company producing sustainable chemicals directly from carbon dioxide.
Jennifer Armen
Director – Business Development & Marketing of Arctic Apples
Jennifer, a 30-year veteran in the specialty crops arena, has spent many years in the post-harvest crop protection and vegetable seed industries. Trained as a botanist, mycologist and plant pathologist, she has relied on her technical training to support her business and marketing functions in the industry. A lover of the outdoors, Jennifer spends as much time as possible on skis and bicycles, has volunteered for many years at the local children’s prison and celebrates our abundance of great produce by getting creative in the kitchen. Jennifer has operated independently for the past four years and has worked with OSF for the last two of those years. Introducing the company and the Arctic apple to the tree fruit industry, members of the produce supply chain, as well as trade and government officials is her primary responsibility. Jennifer also oversees the marketing and communications activities for the company.
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About Arctic Apples: Arctic Apples develops safe, high-quality tree fruit cultivars that provide growers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, foodservice.
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