Board of Directors
Charmaine Noonan
Senior Director and Site Head PEI, Merck Animal Health
Charmaine is the Senior Director and Site Head for Merck Animal Health PEI facility, which manufactures aquatic vaccines. Merck is a publicly-traded global animal health company, with a focus on healthier pets and healthier farm animals.
Charmaine holds a MSc in Pharmacology & Toxicology from the Atlantic Veterinary College and a BSc in Biology from the University of New Brunswick. Prior to joining Novartis/Elanco, Charmaine gained several years experience in human health research with the National Research Council of Canada. She has spent the last decade with Elanco in Quality management at the local and global levels, gaining experience in GMP sterile manufacture, lifecycle management, technical development/transfer and people development. Charmaine resides in Rose Valley with her husband and three golden retrievers.
Charmaine Noonan
Chair
Senior Director & Site Head PEI, Merck Animal Health
Cheryl Stewart-Walsh
Vice Chair
Senior Vice-President of Public Affairs, FleishmanHillard Highroad
Ron Keefe, QC, FCPA, CA, ICD.D
(Past Chair, PEI BioAlliance)
Councel, Stewart McKelvey Law Firm
Partner, Island Capital Partners
Ron has been a member of the PEI BioAlliance since its inception and served as its chair for a number of years. He is currently counsel to Stewart McKelvey having previously been a partner in the firm. He is also a partner in the general partnership of Island Captial Partners, a venture fund providing equity funding to early-stage life science and other companies. He is the former CEO of BioVectra Inc. and Diagnostic Chemicals Limited (now Sekisui Diagnostics), two of the largest businesses in the PEI BioAlliance. Ron is a present and past board member of many companies, several of which are engaged in life sciences. He also spends a considerable amount of time mentoring founders of new businesses.
Ron Keefe
Treasurer
President, Regis Duffy BioScience Fund Inc.
Katelyn Godfrey
Senior Relationship Manager, Farm Credit Canada
Katelyn Godfrey is a Senior Relationship Manager for Farm Credit Canada. She is an experienced banking professional with a demonstrated history of business development.
Katelyn has worked in the World of commercial banking for over ten years starting her career with Farm Credit Canada in Ottawa, before moving home to the Island and joining the Provincial Credit Union in Charlottetown in 2014. Katelyn joined BDC in March of 2019. Katelyn is skilled in finance, commercial banking, and relationship management and is passionate about helping businesses succeed.
Katelyn holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from the University of Prince Edward Island. She resides in Earnscliffe with her husband and two daughters.
Katelyn Godfrey
Secretary
Senior Relationship Manager, Farm Credit Canada
Stefanie Corbett
Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Trade, Government of PEI
Stefanie has been helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals for the last 12 years. With a background in strategic planning, financial analysis, and leading high-performing sales teams, she is passionate about pushing entrepreneurship forward and helping companies gain easier access to capital.
Stefanie joined government in 2021 as the Chief Executive Officer of Innovation PEI. Prior to joining government, Stefanie was a partner at Island Capital Partners, a venture fund based in Prince Edward Island that invests in early-stage companies with high growth potential and strong founding teams. She was instrumental in establishing the fund, which is a first-of-its-kind in the province and was the primary lead working with the Island Capital’s portfolio companies and the limited partnership, a network of private investors. She also worked with early-stage companies through the local incubator to better prepare them before they take on investment.
Stefanie Corbett
Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Trade
Chris Kirby
Associate Director Research, Development and Technology Transfer (ADRDT) AAFC - Science and Technology Branch (STB)
Chris Kirby is the Associate Director Research, Development and Technology Transfer at the Charlottetown Research and Development Centre (part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada).
Formerly Research Scientist : NMR and Analytical Chemistry. Historic Research Areas: Dr. Kirby is an NMR chemist with particular interest in the application of NMR methods (solution, solids, and semi-solids) in the understanding of agricultural systems (e.g., soils, plants, seeds). He also uses natural products chemistry methods, including bioautography, in the pursuit of biopesticide discovery and development. In as much he determines/discovers the chemistry of soil microbes which are active against plant pathogens.
Chris Kirby
Associate Director Research, (ADRDT) AAFC - (STB)
*Observer Status*
Dr. Aleksander Patrzykat
Director General, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council Canada
Dr. Aleksander Patrzykat is the director general of the NRC's Aquatic Crop Resource Development Research Centre. Previous to this, he was the director of research for the research centre's East region.
Dr. Patrzykat joined the NRC in 2002. He has held various roles at the NRC including director of strategic initiatives for the Aquatic Crop Resource Development Research Centre, executive director of the Algal Carbon Conversion Flagship program, senior technology development and commercialization officer as well as several research positions. Throughout his career, he has always strived to lead researchers, projects and programs to achieve tangible results to help tackle real-world challenges.
Dr. Patrzykat holds a PhD in microbiology from the University of British Columbia and a BSc in life sciences from Queen's University. Most of his research has focused on antimicrobial peptides derived from aquatic sources.
Dr. Aleksander Patrzykat
Director General, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council Canada
*Observer Status*
Crystal Cormier
Vice President of Operations
Natures Crops International
Crystal is Vice President of Operations of Natures Crops International (NCI), a manufacturer of Ahiflower® and other specialty oils for dietary supplements, food & beverage, and personal care products. Crystal has been with NCI since February 2010 and has held many roles within the company. She is currently responsible for all operational aspects of the company’s PEI-based oilseed production facility and refinery, all third-party manufacturing, as well as the crop production of Crambe and Meadowfoam. Prior to her VP role, Crystal was involved in many other areas within the company, such as administration, grower contracting, grower relations, sales and marketing, and management. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Prince Edward Island. In her spare time, Crystal enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and camping during the summer months.
Cyrstal Cormier
Vice President of Operations
Natures Crops International
Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Holland College, PEI
Prior to 2019, Dr. MacDonald served in the roles of Vice President, Academic and Applied Research at Holland College (2015 - 2018), Deputy Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development from 2010 to 2015, and Deputy Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning in 2015. He has contributed to the development of innovative educational policy and administrative excellence provincially, nationally and internationally.
Dr. MacDonald holds a Ph.D. in Educational and Counseling Psychology from McGill University, a Masters in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta, a Bachelor in Special Education from Memorial University, and Bachelor degrees in Secondary Education and Arts from the University of Prince Edward Island.
Dr. MacDonald has recently been appointed as a member of the Future Skills Council, and is active in numerous organizations including the Holland College Board of Governors, Atlantic Provinces Atlantique (APA), PEI Bio-Alliance, The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) Board of Governors, and Innovation PEI.
Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald
President and CEO, Holland College
Dr. Wendy Rodgers
President & Vice Chancellor, The University of Prince Edward Island
Dr. Wendy Rodgers (she/her) began her appointment as the University of Prince Edward Island’s seventh President and Vice-Chancellor on June 1, 2024.
Dr. Rodgers’ academic background is rooted in health sciences and kinesiology. She earned her BA from York University, MA from Western University, and PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo. She began her professorial career as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor before moving to the University of Alberta, where she was a full professor for almost 20 years.
With an extensive publication and funding record, Dr. Rodgers is a high achieving researcher whose interest lies in studying social cognitive theories as they relate to behaviour change in varying contexts with a particular focus on exercise rehabilitation settings. Her work concerns how individual level motivational characteristics relate to intentions to increase exercise behaviour in consideration of contextual influences that might both impede or support translating those intentions into behaviour.
Dr. Rodgers has a long history of administrative and governance roles within the academy. She most recently served as Vice-President Academic and Provost at the University of Northern British Columbia where she led numerous initiatives including leadership development, and implementation of academic priorities such as increasing focus on strategic enrolment, revitalizing quality assurance, and equity in hiring. Prior to that appointment, she served in a number of roles at the University of Alberta, including seven years as Deputy Provost. In this position, she led key strategic projects such as leadership development, developing the university’s equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategic plan, faculty relations, and oversight of the Canada Research Chair program, and advised on key academic issues.
A respected leader in post-secondary education, Dr. Rodgers has a deep commitment to EDI and Indigenization in the post-secondary sector. Over her career, she has led institutional initiatives in these areas as well as issues management; faculty workload and evaluation; and oversight and leadership of the academic mission of the university. Dr. Rodgers has also been active in research ethics review and related administration. In 2023, she was named chair of the Council of Canadian Academies’ multidisciplinary expert panel to examine best practices for EDI in the post-secondary research ecosystem.
Dr. Rodgers is only the second woman to hold the position of President and Vice-Chancellor at UPEI. Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Epperly was the first (1995–1998).
Dr. Wendy Rodgers
President and Vice Chancellor, University of Prince Edward Island
Heather Delage
CCO of BIOVECTRA
Heather Delage holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from the University of Prince Edward Island, obtained in 1990. She furthered her education through the McGill Mini-MBA program and completed concentrated courses in Key Account Management and Project Management at the York School of Business.
Heather began at Diagnostic Chemicals Limited (Now BIOVECTRA) in 1990 where she held various roles in sales and marketing management, international distribution, and project operations, focusing on the development and commercialization of clinical diagnostic products for hospital and laboratory markets.
In 2000, Heather took on progressively senior roles in commercial functions at BIOVECTRA. She played a pivotal role in building a business development team and establishing a global client base for the company, specializing as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO).
Heather's exceptional leadership and business acumen led to her appointment as Vice President of Business Development at BIOVECTRA in 2014. In 2021, she was promoted to Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), where she continues to drive the company's commercial strategies and growth initiatives.
Heather Delage
CCO, BIOVECTRA
Dr. Yimy Mena
CEO, Pegasus Biotech
Dr. Yimy Mena graduated with a chemical engineering degree from the National University of Colombia and completed both his MSc and Doctorate degrees in Biotechnology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. With more than 20 years of industry experience in both small and large biopharmaceutical companies, Dr. Mena’s career has been focused on process development, tech transfer, and the validation of manufacturing processes of biologics. These processes include human and animal vaccines, as well as monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment (such as Rituximab, Trastuzumab), and gene therapy vectors for muscular dystrophy.
Dr. Mena started his career in Canada in 2007 at the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI-NRC) in Montreal as a postdoctoral fellow, and moved to PEI in 2012 to join Novartis Animal Health as a principal scientist. Here, Dr. Mena led a team of scientists and engineers developing the next generation of animal vaccines based on plasmid DNA technology. After Elanco’s acquisition of Novartis Animal Health in 2014, Dr. Mena moved up through the ranks to become R&D Director of Aqua Vaccines at Elanco in 2017. Most recently, Dr. Mena co-founded Pegasus Biotech in 2019 and started as CEO in February 2021. Pegasus Biotech Inc, a CRO specializing in the process and analytical development of human and animal health biologics.
Dr. Yimy Mena
CEO, Pegasus Biotech
Eugene Howatt
Site Director, Sekisui PEI
Eugene is the Site Director of Sekisui Diagnostics PEI Operations joining the company in 2011. One of his first roles within Sekisui was to work on the transfer project which allowed Sekisui to continue manufacturing in PEI . Prior to this Eugene held various roles within Sekisui and the food manufacturing industry including operations, logistics, continuous improvement, and capital improvements. Eugene is certified in Lean Six Sigma from the Juran institute and continues to drive continuous improvement and lean manufacturing through the North American sites. Eugene sits on the PEI Industry Board which came together to help Island businesses share best practices and have a voice during Covid 19 leveraging our common voice to work with Health PEI and other Government agencies to develop programs and revise policies needed for the industry. The PEI industry Board has now shifted focus to the industry needs of improving availability, attraction, hiring and retention of skilled workers and trades people in PEI.
Eugene resides in Tryon with his family and keeps busy with sports when not working as his daughter is an avid curler and studying for her BSC at UPEI and his son is in training for the Canada Games in road and mountain biking.
Eugene Howatt
Vice President of North America Operations, Sekisui
Mohammed Moin
Co-Founder and CEO, Somru Biosciences
Mohammed Moin is the co-founder and CEO of Somru BioScience Inc., an innovative biotechnology company developing solutions to accelerate biologics and biosimilar drug development. He is responsible for leading the company’s strategic direction, operations, and growth.
He is the winner of Synapse Inspiring Young Innovator Award 2019, and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2018 in Health & Life Science. Moin has a proven executive management track record and over 14 years of experience driving growth in the technology industry. Prior to Somru, Moin was Solution Architect at Accreon, a leading health care technology company. Before joining Accreon, Moin was a software architect at MAXIMUS Canada where he oversaw the design and development of various province wide drug information system. He earned a BSc degree in Computer Science from UPEI.
Mohammed Moin
Co-Founder and CEO, Somru Biosciences