OUR TEAM

John Wilson, PHD

President & CEO

John Wilson is responsible for managing Innovate Calgary’s technology transfer and commercialization activities, and to work...

Shannon Stahl, BSc

Associate Director, Head of Operations, Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Shannon Stahl directly supports Innovate Calgary's CEO, management team, stakeholders ...

Adam Cragg, MBA

Executive Director, New Ventures

As the Executive Director, New Ventures, Adam is responsible for helping startups achieve scale.

Peter Santosham, MBA

Executive Director, Seed Funds

As the Executive Director, Seed Funds, Peter's role is to manage and develop seed funds...

William Szczepaniak, BSc

Director, Economic Development, Life Sciences Innovation Hub

As the Director, Economic Development, Life Sciences Innovation Hub, William is responsible for leading, establishing, and evolving...

Jessie Kubes, MBA, PhD, MSc

Director, Industry Liaison Office (ILO)

Jessie Kubes oversees the commercialization activities and industry partnerships for the University of Calgary. Expertise and background...

Tara Barnas, BA

Associate Director, Head of Marketing & Communications

Tara Barnas leads Innovate Calgary's corporate marketing and communication activities. With over 15 years of diverse experience...

Sherry Wei, BComm., CGA

Associate Director, Head of Finance

Sherry Wei is responsible for managing the financing and accounting functions for Innovate Calgary and its company formation portfolio of...

Tony Wigglesworth, PhD

Associate Director, Technology Transfer Office

As the Associate Director of the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) for Innovate Calgary, Tony oversees the TTO operations leading a multidisciplinary team of professionals...

Maris Apse, PhD

Associate Director, Life and Medical Sciences, Technology Transfer

As the Associate Director for the Life and Medical Sciences portfolio within Innovate Calgary, Maris is responsible for the technology transfer operations...

Krista Nguyen, BA

Associate Administrator, Operations

Krista Nguyen acts as a key support to the Office Operations in managing the day-to-day activities within the Innovate Calgary office. Krista also...

Bradley King, B.Mgt.

Business and Data Analyst

Bradley helps advance the organization through business initiatives, IT related projects, and...

Shannon Stahl, BSc

Associate Director, Head of Operations, Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Shannon Stahl directly supports Innovate Calgary's CEO, management team, stakeholders ...

Andrei Edwards, MBA, J.D.

Associate Director, Corporate Counsel

Andrei Edwards works with Innovate Calgary’s senior management and business departments on a wide range of legal, operational...

Tara Barnas, BA

Associate Director, Head of Marketing & Communications

Tara Barnas leads Innovate Calgary's corporate marketing and communication activities. With over 15 years of diverse experience...

Sherry Wei, BComm., CGA

Associate Director, Head of Finance

Sherry Wei is responsible for managing the financing and accounting functions for Innovate Calgary and its company formation portfolio of...

Jenny Zhang

Senior Administrator, Finance

Jenny Zhang supports the accounting functions, including accounts payable and receivable, for Innovate Calgary and its portfolio companies...

Venessa Manaloto

Associate Manager, Intellectual Property Management

Venessa Manaloto is responsible for providing support for Innovate Calgary’s contract and intellectual...

Bradley King, B.Mgt.

Business and Data Analyst

Bradley helps advance the organization through business initiatives, IT related projects, and...

Kelly Markevich

Senior Administrator, IMPACT program & Life Sciences Innovation Hub

Kelly Markevich provides senior level administrative support for the IMPACT program and the Life Sciences Innovation Hub

Krista Nguyen, BA

Associate Administrator, Operations

Krista Nguyen acts as a key support to the Office Operations in managing the day-to-day activities within the Innovate Calgary office. Krista also...

Tushar Rishi, BA, LLB Hons

Administrative Assistant, Legal

As the Administrative Assistant for the Legal department, Tushar Rishi serves as a key support resource for the Associate Manager as well as...

Esther Ludeki, BSc - Applied Accounting

Accounting Administrator, Finance & Admin

As the Accounting Administrator for the Finance & Admin Unit, Esther serves as a key support resource for the financial department...

Maris Apse, PhD

Associate Director, Life and Medical Sciences, Technology Transfer

As the Associate Director for the Life and Medical Sciences portfolio within Innovate Calgary, Maris is responsible for the technology transfer operations...

Morgan Guo, PhD

Innovation Manager, Medical & Life Sciences

Morgan Guo works with University of Calgary researchers to manage intellectual property and commercialization of new...

Megha Bajaj, PhD, MSc

Innovation Manager, Medical & Life Sciences

As an Innovation Manager for Medical & Life Sciences, Megha works with University of Calgary researchers to manage intellectual property...

Himani Nailwal, PhD

Associate Innovation Manager, Clinical & Social Innovation

As an Associate Innovation Manager, Himani Himani provides strategic guidance to University of Calgary researchers to...

Tony Wigglesworth, PhD

Associate Director, Technology Transfer Office

As the Associate Director of the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) for Innovate Calgary, Tony oversees the TTO operations leading a multidisciplinary team of professionals...

Rishi Batra, M.Eng

Senior Innovation Manager, Science & Engineering

Rishi Batra is responsible for managing a portfolio of new technologies and discoveries in the fields of oil and gas...

Jelena Matic, BSc

Senior Innovation Manager, Science & Engineering, CFREF Commercialization Advisor

Jelena is responsible for performing detailed assessments for patentability, technical...

Sahar Salimi, MSc, MBA

Innovation Manager, Engineering & Physical Sciences

Jordana Armstrong, BA

Associate Director, Clinical & Social Innovation

As the Associate Director for Social and Clinical Innovation, Jordana leads Innovate Calgary’s social innovation portfolio...

Phil Grace, MSc

Senior Innovation Manager, Clinical and Social Innovation

As the Senior Innovation Manager, Clinical and Social Innovation , Phil works closely with UCalgary students and faculty to provide strategic guidance and support...

Adam Cragg, MBA

Executive Director, New Ventures

As the Executive Director, New Ventures, Adam is responsible for helping startups achieve scale.

Pej Ghanipour, B.Sc., MASc.

Senior Innovation Manager, Science & Engineering, CFREF Commercialization Advisor

Pej Ghanipour works with independent and University of Calgary researchers to manage...

Jane Desrochers, PhD, MSc

Senior Innovation Manager, New Ventures

As the Senior Innovation Manager for New Ventures, Jane helps advance life sciences startup Fellows through their respective development phases by...

Chelsea Yu, BSc, MBA

Venture Manager

Chelsea is responsible for managing a portfolio of life science startup companies, providing market, technology and in...

Liam Harrison, MBT

Junior Analyst, New Ventures

As the Junior Analyst, New Ventures, Liam is passionate about deep technology startups and is committed to helping them advance into established companies.

Peter Santosham, MBA

Executive Director, Seed Funds

As the Executive Director, Seed Funds, Peter's role is to manage and develop seed funds...

Gregory Mack, PhD, MBA

Senior Business Analyst, Seed Fund

As the Senior Financial Analyst, Gregory manages Innovate Calgary's portfolio of...

Travis Inlow, CFA

Senior Portfolio Manager, Seed Funds

As the Senior Portfolio Manager, Seed Funds, Travis is responsible for the execution and management of Innovate Calgary’s equity investments...

Mo Hamour, MBT, BScH

Junior Analyst, Seed Funds

As the Junior Analyst, Seed Funds, Mo works closely with UCalgary-based startup clients...

William Szczepaniak, BSc

Director, Economic Development, Life Sciences Innovation Hub

As the Director, Economic Development, Life Sciences Innovation Hub, William is responsible for leading, establishing, and evolving...

Nima Najand, PhD

Associate Director, Business Development

Nima oversees the incubator space for the LSI Hub. He is the main point of contact for companies looking to access the shared labs and equipment available at the LSI Hub.

Silvana Dipalma

Manager, Facilities and Leasing

Silvana is responsible for the provision of client facing services at the LSI Hub. In a...

Kimberley Penney

Coordinator, Facilities and Building Services

As the Coordinator, Facilities & Building services for the Life Sciences Innovation Hub, Kimberley is responsible for the provision of client facing services.

Alla Bondareva, MSc, PM

Senior Lab Manager, Molecular Biology

Alla is responsible for managing the operations of the shared lab space while acting as the safety and compliance officer for ...

Anthony Blythe, MSc

Lab Manager, Engineering Workshop

Anthony is responsible for the operation and oversight of the prototype development and testing workshop at the Life Sciences...

Carlos Castillo, PhD

Lab Coordinator

Carlos will assist the Lab Manager in overseeing the operations of the shared lab space. In his role, he will support companies...

Chantal Palmer, BComm, BA

Community Engagement Coordinator, Life Sciences Innovation Hub

As the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Life Sciences Innovation Hub, Chantal coordinates events and communications to...

Jessie Kubes, MBA, PhD, MSc

Director, Industry Liaison Office (ILO)

Jessie Kubes oversees the commercialization activities and industry partnerships for the University of Calgary. Expertise and background...

Puneet Mannan, MBA, P.Eng.

Senior Innovation Manager, Science & Engineering, CFREF Commercialization Advisor

Puneet Mannan is a member of the Energy Technology Accelerator team that manages the...

Paul Mintchev, MSc.

Equipment & Research Concierge

As the Equipment & Research Concierge, Paul is responsible for assisting tenant research initiatives at....

Sarah Topps, MPH, MBA

Industry Liaison/Mitacs Specialist - Specializing in Life Sciences and Social Innovation

As an Industry Liaison and Mitacs Specialist, Sarah Topps supports the work of the Industry Liaison Office (ILO) through building research partnerships between academia and industry...

Annie Hoang, MSc

Business Development Specialist, Calgary

As an Industry Liasion and Mitacs Specialist, Annie supports the Industry Liasion Office by developing industry partnerships including Mitacs internships for the University of Calgary.

Derek Exner, MD, MPH, FRCPC, FACC, FHRS

Director, IMPACT

As the Director of the IMPACT program, Derek oversees the development, strategic planning, and governance for this program...

Karen Cowan, RN

Venture Navigator, IMPACT

As a Venture Navigator within the IMPACT program, Karen guides startup companies through the several processes required to start, execute, and complete a clinical trial ...

Michelle Nelson, PhD, CAPM

Senior Manager, Business Development and Strategic Planning

As the Senior Manager, Business Development and Strategic Planning, Michelle is responsible for program's day-to-day business operations...

Caitlin Lambe, CCRP, BSC

Venture Navigator, IMPACT

As the Venture Navigator within the IMPACT program, Caitlin guides startup companies through...

Alessandro Biglioli, MSc, PEng, MBA

Founder and CEO, Elsius Biomedical. Calgary, Alberta

Areas of Expertise: Startups, Strategy, Financing, Medical Devices, Business Development

David Cree

Co-founder, CEO, CommonGood Linens

Areas of Expertise: Social Enterprise (Poverty, Homelessness, UNSDG, Meditation, Mental Health), Marketing, Branding and Advertising, and Sales.

Ali Ardakani

Founder & Managing Director, Novateur Ventures Inc. Vancouver, BC

Areas of Expertise: Therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, executive leadership, corporate partnerships, regulatory, board governance.

Andreas Wissmann, PhD

Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical

Areas of Expertise: Startup team development, financial modelling, sales & revenue forecasting, business planning, fund raising, investor relations and presentations, negotiating partnerships and agreements with external partners, market research, competition & threat analysis, business development, grants and funding.

Andrew Murdin

President, Murdin Biotechnology Inc. Toronto, ON

Areas of Expertise: Corporate partnering, strategic planning, therapeutics, vaccines, M&A, licensing, and R&D

Brad Thompson

CEO & Founder, Wyvern Pharmaceuticals and Kickshaw Ventures Ltd. Calgary, AB

Areas of Expertise: Immunotherapy, oncology, infectious disease, autoimmune disease, corporate partnering, strategic planning, M&A, capital raising

Dr. David Chalack, DVM

International Sales Manager, Alta Genetics Inc., Owner/Partner & President, Rocky Mountain Holsteins Ltd.

Areas of Expertise: Strategic planning, governance, and sales and marketing in the agricultural industry

Deborah Livneh

Entrepreneur-in-Residence, WEtech Alliance, Windsor, ON

Areas of Expertise: Startups, Finance, Angel Investors, Med-tech, Regulatory, Board Governance

Dennis Niebergal, ICD.D

Expert Advisor at Innovate Calgary

Areas of Expertise: Digital health, board governance, business development, business operations, strategy.

Eileen Ashmore, MBA, CMC

Owner, Strategic Timelines Inc.

Areas of Expertise: Innovation funding procurement, marketing and sales planning.

Elliot Gatt

Director, Business Development Boast Capital

Areas of Expertise: Traction, Branding, Marketing and Commercialization, Customer Acquisition, Partnerships, Product Development, Strategy, Medical Devices, SaaS, eCommerce, US Market Entry

Eric Mogensen, MBA, PEng

Founder and Chief Consultant, TENZING Strategic Consulting Inc.

Areas of Expertise: Strategic planning, Engagement & Culture, Innovation, Coaching, Process Automation/Optimization

Gary Bantle

Advisor

Areas of Expertise: Corporate finance, venture capital, fundraising, board governance, corporate strategy, life sciences, AgTech

Jana Boyko, BComm, BA

Independent Business Strategist

Areas of Expertise: Strategic planning, market research, competitive benchmarking, customer journey mapping, brand strategy and pitch presentations.

Dr. Jehangir Appoo, PhD

Founder & Partner, AIoTHealth, Associate, Creative Destructive Labs -CDL Rockies...

Areas of Expertise: Venture Capital, Medicine, Impact, Matching the algorithm to the right clinical problem.

Joe Elliot

Principal, Biopharm Management Inc. (BMI), provider of short and long-term management services to the biopharmaceutical industry

Areas of Expertise: Startups, Strategic, Financing, Therapeutics, Oncology, Pitch Coaching

John Person, MASc, PEng

Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical and Founder, Principal Engineer, Box 13 Engineering

Areas of Expertise: Mechanical design engineering, mechanical system simulations, new product development (especially biomedical devices), patent filing, technology commercialization, project planning and execution, regulatory clearance, lecturing and public speaking, and securing grant funding.

John Simon, BSc., RAC, CQA, RQAP-GLP

Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical

Areas of Expertise: Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, FDA and Health Canada Submissions, Medical Device and Drug Manufacturing Audits, Cannabis Cultivation and Processing

Jordan Ramey, PhD

Prof. Brewing Science, Olds College, COO/Owner, Burwood Distillery

Areas of Expertise: Fermentation Science, Food Science, Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverage Production

Kathleen Davy

Senior SEO Manager, Docebo

Areas of Expertise: SEO, CRO, Acquisition, Product-Led Growth.

Dr. Lauren Killip

Director, Business Development, Harmonic Medical Inc.

Areas of Expertise: Startups, Strategic Planning, Operations, Business Development, Fundraising, Medical Devices, Medical Imaging

Ling Bai, M.Eng, MBA

Managing Partner at VL Energy Ltd.

Areas of Expertise: Regulatory Compliance, Government Relationship, board governance, capital raising, business development.

Marvin Cervantes

Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs Consultant

Areas of Expertise: Design & Development, Production, Clinical Studies, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Marketing & Commercialization, Post-market Remediation

Maximilian Kerz, PhD

Co-founder and CTO, Cherry Health

Areas of Expertise: Go-to-Market, Product Design, Technology Compliance, Strategy

Meg Bregazzi, BSc, CPA, CA

President, Tredea Capital Corp

Areas of Expertise: Business consulting with expertise in financial reporting, tax, accounting, and corporate governance.

Michael S. McGee, MSF

Director of Innovation, Bioenterprise Corporation

Areas of Expertise: Ag-tech, Corporate Finance, Venture Capital, Fundraising, Board Governance, Corporate Strategy

Michael Wellwood, BSc, CSC

Managing Director, 88 Street Capital Inc.

Areas of Expertise: Start-up financing, strategic planning, financial modelling, private equity

Mike Spear

Director of Corporate Communications, Genome Alberta. Calgary, Alberta

Areas of Expertise: Marketing, communications, public relations, branding, media relations, social media

Nader Soltani, MBA, BASc

President, Sectra Canada Inc., Founder, Principal Consultant, Enterprise Imaging

Areas of Expertise: Medical Imaging, Radiology, Digital Pathology, Product Development, Software Sales, Corporate Partnerships, Regulatory, AI integrations

Peter Fenwick, MBA, BMSE, CHE

Managing Director, Fenwick & Associates, VP Strategy, Green Shield Canada

Areas of Expertise: Startups, Business Strategy and Execution, Pivots, Revenue Model, Public Policy, Health Reform and Economics

Peter Zyla

Founder and Chief Strategist, Ventrek

Areas of Expertise: Corporate Strategy, Business Planning, Coaching, Mentoring, Executive Development

Robert Verhagen

CEO, Centre for the Commercialization of Antibodies and Biologics (CCAB)

Areas of Expertise: Corporate leadership, Fundraising, Board Governance, Strategic Planning, Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Regulatory, Clinical, Business Development

Robin Boschman, MBA, CMP

Communications Consultant, Instructor & Facilitator

Areas of Expertise: Corporate communications, strategies and tactics.

Sharon Barker, PhD (Medicine), MBA

CEO, WWiKY BioSciences Inc

Areas of Expertise: Health/medical/wellness (pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, health IT, med devices, diagnostics), Business Development, Business Strategy, Pitch Coaching.

Sharon Ho, BASc, JD

Owner of IPEAS Intellectual Property Law & Consulting

Areas of Expertise: IP education and IP strategy assistance; Patentability, infringement, validity, and freedom-to-operate assessments; Branding assistance and advice; Patent application preparation; IP Licensing

Stuart Kozlick, MASc

Executive-In-Residence, Emerging Technology & Startup practice at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Areas of Expertise: Medical technologies, devices, and healthcare systems

Sujatha Kamma, M.Sc, MBA, PMP

Founder, Santellect

Areas of Expertise: Digital Health, Canadian Healthcare Systems and Sectors Strategy, Leadership, Board Governance.

Vivian Hindbo, BA

Contract grant writer, editor.

Areas of Expertise: Writing and editing a wide range of documentation, most recently specializing in grant applications for non-profits and corporations.

Wayne Poll, MD

Medical Device Development Consultant

Areas of Expertise: Urology, Commercialization of Surgical Products, Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery

Dr. Paul Addo, PhD, Chemistry

GreenSTEM Fellow (First Cohort), Co-founder, President/CEO & Director, See02 Energy

See02 Energy aims to develop a symmetrical solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology...

Dr. Roger Mah, PhD, Chemistry

GreenSTEM Fellow (First Cohort), Founder, ZoraMat Solutions Inc.

ZoraMat Solutions aims to prototype and scale Zoralite, a solid sorbent for carbon dioxide capture from large industrial emitters, natural...

Dr. Abdallah D. Manasrah, PhD, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

GreenSTEM Fellow (Second Cohort), Founder, Carbon Oxytech Inc.

Carbon Oxytech Inc. is commercializing a new green technology that provides non-combustion utilization pathways for residual feedstocks...

Dr. Beatriz Molero, PhD, Chemistry

GreenSTEM Fellow (First Cohort), Co-founder, CTO & Director, See02 Energy

See02 Energy aims to develop a symmetrical solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology that efficiently converts carbon dioxide...

Apostol Radev, Masters, Sustainable Energy Development

GreenSTEM Fellow (Second Cohort), Founder, SolarSteam Inc.

SolarSteam Inc. addresses the problem of high-cost and high-emissions associated with process heat.

Ulian Shahnovich, Masters, Electronics Engineering

GreenSTEM Fellow (Second Cohort), Founder, WiDR Inc.

WIDR Inc. specializes in digital image sensor design for specific applications where invariant light conditions apply.

Shahrukh Shamim, Masters, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

GreenSTEM Fellow (First Cohort), Founder, Envicore Inc.

EnviCore Inc. is developing a novel nanoparticle/biopolymer treatment for sustainable tailings treatment. The technology has applications in...

Dr. Ali Telmadarreie, PhD, Petroleum Engineering

GreenSTEM Fellow (Second Cohort), Founder, Cnergreen

Cnergreen Corp. aims to improve oil recovery efficiency and reduce infill drilling related to well damage, while synergistically reducing C02 emissions.

Dr. Mina Zarabian, PhD, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

GreenSTEM Fellow (First Cohort), Founder, Carbonova.

Carbonova, is an engineering company developing a technology to produce massive, pure carbon nanofibers (CNF) from...

Jeremie Bourqui, MSc, PEng, RF Engineering

Life Sciences Fellow (First Cohort), Founder, Wave View Imaging

Wave View Imaging is developing a novel imaging technology to monitor breast cancer treatment.

Chenchen Bing, MSc

Life Sciences Fellow (First Cohort), Founder, NovusTX Devices

NovusTX Devices is developing transducers to improve the current ultrasound...

Cody Doolan

Life Sciences Fellow (First Cohort), Founder, Illucidx

Illucidx strives to positively affect clinical and patient outcomes by...

Chris D'Esterre, PhD

Life Sciences Fellow (First Cohort), Founder, Andromeda Medical Imaging

Andromeda Medical Imaging develops advanced backend neuroimaging...

Raied Aburashed

Life Science Fellow (Second Cohort), Founder, Vibratus

Vibratus is developing hardware and software analytics for measuring human movement...

Christopher Bladen, PhD

Life Science Fellow (Second Cohort), Founder, Zymedyne

Zymedyne aims to develop safer, more effective treatments for chronic neuropathic pain by...

David Katz, JD, PhD

Life Sciences Fellow (Second Cohort), Founder, Alndlit Medical Aesthetics

Alndlit Medical Aesthetics is developing software tools to improve facial plastic surgery...

Lin Tang, PhD

Life Science Fellow (Second Cohort), Founder, AnthoBio

AnthoBio is a natural product company dedicated to developing plant-derived, safe, scientifically proven...