Eric Kelusky, Ph.D., has undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemistry and molecular biophysics and did a postdoctoral fellowship in surface science. He held R&D and manufacturing roles with DuPont. From 1995 until retiring in 2010, Dr. Kelusky held a variety of executive roles with NOVA Chemicals in research, new technology commercialization, business management for performance …
Pam Banks is the Executive Director of Altitude Accelerator, a RIC Centre innovation hub and business incubator dedicated to providing coaching, connections, and tailored programs for ambitious tech founders, and helping to bring the most impactful new Canadian technologies to the global market. Pam founded the RIC Centre (Research Innovation Commercialization) in 2007 with the …
Jim Banting is the Assistant Vice-Principal (Partnerships and Innovation) at Queen’s University. His career began as a co-founder of the Queen’s spin-off company named Vaxis Therapeutics. Vaxis was venture capital-funded, grown, and sold to a U.S. specialty pharmaceutical company. A large portion of Jim’s career has entailed a focus on partnerships, licensing, and M & …
In 2003, David Berthiaume participated to the foundation of OLEOTEK inc. (now Centre Kemitek), a College Center for Technology Transfer specialised in oleochemistry. Starting from 2006, he was nominated Executive Director and, under his direction, Kemitek could establish itself as a center of expertise of international caliber in green chemistry and chemical process scale-up. The …
Lee Braaten (B. Comm, FCPA FCA, ICD.D) joined the Board of Directors in June 2023 and is from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In his 38-year public accounting career, Mr. Braaten worked with private companies and public entities across various industries through mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, succession planning and transition — providing assurance and related services to management, …
Dr. Karnik retired as Vice President Innovation/R&D for NOVA Chemicals in 2022. He is based in Calgary, Alberta and was responsible for the development and implementation of game changing technologies for the Ethylene and Polyethylene business, providing innovative solutions that enable safe reliable operations and providing sustainable polyethylene application developments. He was a member of …
Shelley King is a strategic, decisive, and highly respected leader in the Canadian technology commercialization, innovation, and investment space. For 25 years, she has married her scientific background in academia with her in-depth knowledge of entrepreneurship and industry to help Canadian innovations go from bright idea to market-ready product. As founding CEO of NPC, Shelley …
Andrew Pasternak (PhD, Northwestern University. MBA, Rotman School of Business) has been with GreenCentre Canada since its inception (2009) and was recently appointed Executive Director. He has over 25 years’ experience directing early-stage technology commercialization and product development in both small and large company environments. In his most recent GreenCentre role of Business Development and …
Jordan Thomson (PhD, Chemistry) brings over 14 years experience working in industry, non-profit and academic sectors. He possesses deep technical and business knowledge in the chemical and biotechnology industries coupled with experience in strategy, startup and business support, and R&D funding. He is currently the Associate Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Resource Development at Ontario …
Derek Webb is President and Chief Executive Officer for a global group of environmental biotechnology companies and is responsible for all aspects of operation. He has intimate knowledge of air emissions abatement applications and has conceived and commercialized a variety of technologies for addressing municipal and industrial problems both domestically and abroad. With over two …
