BIOTECanada Staff
Vice President, Industry Relations
(613) 230-5585 ext 225
Dr. Lynn Buchanan recently joined BIOTECanada as Vice President, Industry Relations and is responsible for health, agricultural and industrial biotechnology policy and sector affairs, and international outreach. Lynn brings extensive research and senior management experience with leading multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and industry associations in Canada and the USA. Her background includes a unique combination of scientific business and regulatory expertise in global development, commercialization and marketing of innovative products. She has worked with BIOTECanada on policy issues in the past in her former role as Vice President, Life Sciences for Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation.
Previously she was with MDS Nordion as Director Biotechnology Business Development, and subsequently Chief Scientist R&D. Prior to that Lynn was Head of Experimental Pathology and Toxicology at Wyeth Research in New York, and Scientific Director In Vitro Toxicology & Metabolism at BioResearch Laboratories in Montreal.
Lynn holds a Ph.D. in Anatomy & Experimental Pathology from the University of St. Andrews, U.K. and completed postdoctoral research at McGill and Queen’s universities.
Cate McCready
Vice President, External Affairs
(613) 230-5585 ext 230
With fifteen years of practical experience in the field of communications and public affairs Cate McCready joined BIOTECanada in November of 2001 and currently serves in the role of Vice President, External Affairs.
Her current role with BIOTECanada encompasses the development of national programs designed to inform and highlight the value of biotechnology innovation in Canada. This includes leading advocacy, media relations, and public awareness activities of the association to showcase the industry.
Her experience includes more than eight years of service within the federal government. This included roles for federal ministers and to the Prime Minister of Canada. Prior to her federal government experience she served in corporate and non-profit roles for national organizations.
Dr. Ron Boch
Senior Director, Life Sciences
(613) 230-5585 ext 233
Dr. Ron Boch has joined our team as Senior Director, Life Sciences. Before joining BIOTECanada, Ron was the Director, Pharmaceutical Development at Variation Biotechnologies Inc. in Ottawa developing vaccines. He is experienced in CMC and drug formulation, particularly regarding sterile biotechnology products including vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. Prior to VBI, Ron worked at QLT Inc. in Vancouver for over ten years where he contributed to the development of Visudyne (approved for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration) and as the Associate Director, Formulation, he directed the development activities of a wide variety of preclinical and clinical products. As a named inventor of over sixty US and international patent applications including nine different patent families, Ron developed technologies for new business opportunities and managed relationships with key opinion leaders in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry. Ron has a Ph.D. in Chemistry and B.Sc. in Biochemistry, both earned from the University of Ottawa. Ron will be our staff lead for the Vaccine Industry Committee, the Health Advisory Board and the Biologics Regulatory Affairs Group.
Gibril Muddei
Director, Industrial Biotechnology
(613) 230-5585 ext 259
Gibril Muddei joined BIOTECanada in 2009 and has recently moved into the role of lead staff support for the industrial and agricultural biotech space working with members in this growing sector. Gibril is also lead staff for our Emerging Companies Advisory Board where he has managed work on the flow-through shares initiative, the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit program, and other capital formation efforts. A graduate of the Telfer School of Management (Honours Finance) at the University of Ottawa Gibril is currently working toward the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Management (FRM) designations.
Matt Aleksic
Manager, Health Policy
(613) 230-5585 ext 234
Matt’s focus at BIOTECanada will be on the Subsequent Entry Biologics Task Force, the Patient Access Working Groups (CADTH, pCODR), the Commercial Practice Standards Committee, and the PMPRB Working Group. Matt comes to us with formal training in Public Policy via a Masters degree from Georgetown University and an Honours BA in Political Science from the University of Toronto. He has worked as an analyst for Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services, as a research coordinator at St. Michael's Hospital, and as a political consultant.
Kira Pejemsky
Director, Marketing & Programs
(613) 230-5585 ext 226
Kira Pejemsky joined BIOTECanada in December 2008. She is responsible for defining and implementing the marketing programs and strategies of the Association, project management of the creative, production and distribution of BIOTECanada pieces, the association website, the Gold Leaf Award programme, and management of the association brand.
Previously, Kira was at the Canadian Institute of Planners, where she headed the association's marketing and communications activities. She has also worked for the Canadian Real Estate Association, where she managed the Graphic Services section of the association's Communications Department. She has also worked in the high-technology sector in corporate communications for Plaintree Systems Inc. Her background includes graphic design, investor relations, trade show management, publications and awards programs, strategic communications and sales and marketing. Kira has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Major in Design) from Concordia University.
Nadine Lunt
Senior Manager, Communications
(613) 230-5585 ext 257
Nadine has worked over the past decade in the field of communications. She has the ability to break down complex material offering a straightforward story for the audience. Early exposure to the political system was earned as Nadine had the privilege of working with two federal Ministers in the capacity of press secretary. She spent five years in the corporate communications department with a crown corporation in Ottawa where she engineered daily news events, developed messaging for the national audience, and managed longer term activities such as the annual report to Parliament. Most recently Nadine was the Communications and Marketing Manager for a professional association of emergency physicians. In her position as Senior Manager, Communications Nadine will be sharing the story of biotechnology in Canada with those far and wide.
Senior Manager, Finance and Administration
(613) 230-5585 ext 223
With 15 years financial experience in non-profit organizations, Janice Burke joined BIOTECanada in January 2004. In her current role as Senior Manager, Finance and Administration Janice manages the day-to-day fiscal and physical resources of the association. Other responsibilities include administration of group benefits and human resources, overseeing capital acquisitions and service contracts, facilities management as well as some business solutions benefiting our membership.
Prior to joining BIOTECanada, Janice served for 9 years as Information Systems Manager for South Asia Partnership Canada, a non-profit organization working in human development. In this capacity, she managed financial reporting as well the LAN and IT systems for the Partnership, and was responsible for government and partner reporting for several overseas development programs. Janice also oversaw database design and maintenance.
Janice has also served as board director of a national non-profit, has extensive experience in organizational restructuring, strategic planning, information technology management and working with volunteers. She has training in conflict resolution and human rights.
Aurelina Arruda
Executive Assistant
(613) 230-5585 ext 227
Aurelina joined BIOTECanada in August 2006 as the Executive Assistant to Peter Brenders (President & CEO). Her responsibilities encompass managing the President's schedule, coordination of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and ACCORD Committee meeting, teleconferences and all related communications. She also oversees other administrative support functions for the Senior Management team and assists in the coordination of internal and external meetings, conferences and events. Aurelina takes a lead role in the maintenance of the internal contact database including select aspects of website maintenance and new member services.
Winnie Han
Administrative Assistant
(613) 230-5585 ext 222
Winnie joined BIOTECanada in 2008. As the Administrative Assistant, Winnie's main tasks include managing the organization's database of members and contacts, coordinating the distribution of external communications such as BioWorld Today and BioWorld Insight, and to assist Finance and Administration with membership renewals and creating invoices and receipts.
