Speakers
Pierre Fitzgibbon
Ministre de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie
Biography
Né à Montréal
Formation
- Baccalauréat en administration des affaires, École des hautes études commerciales (HEC), Montréal
- Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (CPA)
- Certificat en gestion générale, Harvard Business School, Boston
Expérience professionnelle
- Associé directeur, Partenaires Walter Capital (2015-2018)
- Président et chef de la direction, Atrium Innovations (2007-2014)
- Vice-président, conseil de Financière Banque Nationale, Groupe Banque Nationale (2002-2007)
- Divers postes en finance, en développement d’entreprise et en développement des affaires : Télésystème Mobiles International, Chase Capital Partners Hong Kong, Domtar et Tapis Peerless
- Audit et service-conseil : PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Membre de divers conseils d’administration : Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, WSP, Héroux-Devtek, Groupe Transcontinental, Fonds Cycle Capital, Neptune Technologies, Lumenpulse et Arianne Phosphate Inc.
Engagement communautaire et politique
- Engagement dans plusieurs organismes à but non lucratif (OBNL), dont la dernière, la Fondation du Dr Julien (2015-2018)
Jean Harvey
Acteur québécois – Animateur de l’événement
Biography
An actor for several years, it was in the television series Lance et Compte/He
shoots he scores that Jean Harvey got his first professional role. Subsequently,
still on television, he was part of the cast of the series Scoop, Au nom de la loi,
Mémoires vives, L’Échappée, Unité 9 and several others… At the same time, he
transported his suitcase to the Théâtre Jean- Duceppe in Vu du pont by Arthur
Miller, at the Théâtre Du Rideau Vert in L’Alchimiste by Paulo Coelho, at the
Théâtre Du Nouveau-Monde in Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rostand and at
the Théâtre de L’Arrière-Scène. We regularly hear his voice in various
commercials, in series dubbed in French and, for twelve years now, he has
been the announcing voice of Explora, a specialized Radio-Canada channel
which is about science, the environment and modern technologies.
Annie-Kim Gilbert, Ph. D.
President and CEO – MEDTEQ+
Biography
Annie-Kim has over 20 years’ experience in various areas of the healthcare field. For 9 years, she worked as a researcher and R&D program manager for the multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
She then joined the research center of the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, where she worked as deputy scientific director and manager of a consortium on Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2016, she joined the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, where she assumed the role of Director of University Teaching and Research, with responsibility for 3 FRQ research centers and 5 university institutes, the office de valorisation, 4 research ethics committees and the management of over 7,000 trainees annually. In addition to these functions, Annie-Kim was President of the Teaching Committee of INoPSU at the Université de Montréal.
Drawing on her experience in academic, clinical and industrial research, and her passion for innovation and healthcare, Annie-Kim is now President and CEO of MEDTEQ+, an organization that supports entrepreneurs from concept to commercialization in the development of innovative technologies that improve tomorrow’s health.
Philippe Voyer
Vice-Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Continuing Education, Full Professor – Université Laval
Biography
Philippe Voyer, RN, PhD, is Full Professor and Vice-Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Continuing Education at Université Laval’s Faculty of Nursing. He is the author of several books used in Quebec and Europe, which have won prestigious awards including the Prix du ministre de l’Éducation. He is the principal researcher behind the RADAR tool for detecting signs of delirium (now available in 7 languages (https://www.philippevoyer.org/radar-international). He was an advisor to the Ministère des Aînés et des proches aidants on the creation of Maisons des aînés. Finally, he has been involved in a number of innovative projects testing technologies designed to enhance the well-being and safety of residents. For further details: https://www.philippevoyer.org/biographie
Joanne Castonguay
Health and Welfare Commissioner – CSBE
Biography
As Health and Welfare Commissioner, Joanne Castonguay informs government authorities and the public about the context, issues and performance of Quebec’s health and social services system. She also advises on the choices required to adapt this system to better meet the needs of the population.
An economist, Ms. Castonguay has studied healthcare systems for many years, and is the author of several publications, notably on healthcare system governance and the transfer of innovations. She has been an associate professor at HEC Montréal’s Pôle santé, and research director at the Institut de recherche en politiques publiques (IRPP) and the Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations (CIRANO).
Patricia Debergue
Program Director, Aging in Place Challenge Program – CNRC – NRC
Biography
Patricia Debergue is the director of the National Research Council of Canada’s (NRC) Aging in Place Challenge Program, a program that is part of NRC’s Life Sciences division and that supports the choice of older Canadians to age in place within their homes and communities, through technology and innovation.
Before becoming program director in April 2022, she was the Head for the Simulation and Digital Health Section at the NRC’s Medical Devices Research Centre. She has been conducting research in the field of digital health and therapeutics, virtual reality cognitive care, and real-time surgical training simulation for over 15 years.
Dr Freddy T.Nguyen, MD, PHD
Research Fellow – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Biography
Dr. Freddy T. Nguyen, MD, PhD is a Research Fellow at MIT. He completed his undergraduate studies at Rice University in chemistry and mathematics, his MD-PhD in physical chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, postdoc in chemical engineering at MIT, In Vivo Microscopy Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, medical residency in pathology at Mount Sinai Hospital, and clinical fellowship in transfusion medicine at Dartmouth.
As a physician-scientist, his work has been motivated by how we can provide faster and more actionable information for physicians and patients. He has developed novel biophotonics and nano technologies (carbon nanotube sensors, optical coherence tomography, light scattering, fluorescence, Raman) for functional precision oncology. With the rise of newer and targeted therapies, there is a growing need for more rapid feedback on cancer treatment effectiveness.
Dr. Nguyen is passionate about advancing new technologies in healthcare through research, medicine, education, and entrepreneurship. He has extensive experience building and leading collaborations across the physical and engineering sciences, biological sciences, and medicine. He has held multiple leadership roles in the American Physician Scientists Association, American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physicians, and MIT.
François Bastien
Chairman of the Board – MEDTEQ+
Biography
A 1977 graduate of École Polytechnique, Mr. Bastien spent more than fifteen years in senior management positions at major hospitals. He then moved into the private sector, helping to found CIM Conseil in 1998 as a senior partner and vice-president of consulting services. He led numerous projects, including those related to the planning of the CHUM and MUHC. In 2008, Mr. Bastien joined the TELUS Québec team. He contributed significantly to TELUS’ success by participating in major digital transformation projects. Since 2018, Mr. Bastien has been sharing his expertise in healthcare technologies through his own consulting firm “Effet B”. Mr. Bastien has been an emeritus member of the MEDTEQ+ consortium since 2012 and currently chairs its board of directors.
Laurent Tillement
Director of Partnerships, AI & Health – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute (Mila)
Biography
Laurent Tillement is Director of Partnerships, AI & Health at Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Paris, France) as well as a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology (Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA). He also has several years of experience in academia and the pharmaceutical industry in France, the USA and Canada. Trained in life science research, he has been involved in the different processes of drug development, from exploratory to clinical research, with a particular focus on the positioning and impact of innovations in the pharmaceutical processes. Laurent will represent Mila in the life sciences ecosystem to establish close relationships with stakeholders, explore partnership opportunities, and help develop research collaborations.
Marie-Josée Hébert
Vice-Rectorate for Research, Discovery, Creation and Innovation − University of Montreal
Biography
Dr. Marie-Josée Hébert earned a specialized degree in nephrology at the Université de
Montréal, followed by postdoctoral studies at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,
Harvard. Since 1998, she is Professor of Medicine at Université de Montréal (UdeM),
researcher and nephrologist–transplant physician at CHUM. She holds the Shire Chair
in Nephrology, Renal Transplantation and Regeneration at UdeM. Her laboratory
focuses on the role of programmed cell death as a major pathway contributing to
immune dysregulation, rejection and abnormal vascular repair. Findings from her team
have led to the characterization of new mediators of rejection and renal failure in
humans. They also contributed to a better understanding of the mechanisms of
fibrogenesis triggered by endothelial injury, autophagy and apoptosis. Dr. Hébert co-founded and co-directed the Canadian National Transplant Research Program
(CNTRP, now CDTRP) from 2012 to 2022. Fellow in the Canadian Academy of
Health Sciences, Marie-Josée Hébert received the Dr. John B. Dossetor Research
Award (2015) and the Medal for Research Excellence (2016) from the Kidney
Foundation of Canada.
As vice-rector of research, discovery, creation and innovation at the Université de
Montréal since 2015, she has played a leading role in the development of major
interdisciplinary research initiatives, including the launch of IVADO – Institute for
Data Valorization, Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, the Digital Health
Consortium and the Montreal Declaration for the Responsible Development of
Artificial Intelligence.
In May 2023, she received the City of Montreal’s highest honor, Chevalière de l’Ordre
de Montréal.
She is also the Chair of the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research.
Dean and John Stauffer Dean’s Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Professor – USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Biography
Vassilios Papadopoulos is Dean of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California. He holds the John Stauffer Decanal Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences and is Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr Papadopoulos’ research focuses on the pathophysiology of diseases associated with altered steroid hormone synthesis, including endocrine pathologies, male reproductive disorders, neurological diseases and cancer. He is an elected member of the French National Academies of Pharmacy and Medicine, and an elected member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Carol Chiang OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM, CHAMP
Chief Executive Officer − Evolving Homes
Biography
Carol is an Occupational Therapist and Founder of US-based Evolving Homes® .
She is an Aging-In-Place, AgeTech, and Smart Home expert with 25 years of experience in the home and in-patient rehabilitation setting.
An important part of her work is guiding homeowners and their caregivers through the often tough decisions required when deciding whether to “Age in Place or Find a New Space TM.”
As a speaker and consultant to companies and universities, she works in the space of exploring solutions to design and marketing challenges. Her clients include Toyota Research Institute, MIT AgeLab, Healthy Home Lab, UBS, Hartford and AARP AgeTech Collaborative where she helps startups, engineers and financial advisors understand the challenges their different user types are facing.
Ritu Banerjee
Assistant Deputy Minister − Office of Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Readiness (OLSBR)
Biography
Ritu Banerjee recently joined Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Office of Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Readiness (OLSBR). Prior to that she was the Executive Director of the Results Division, Expenditure Management Sector at the Treasury Board Secretariat. Ritu has also worked at Employment and Social Development Canada on youth policy and has held various executive positions at Public Safety Canada, primarily working on national security policy issues. She started her career in the federal government at the Department of Justice.
In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University, she has a Master of Arts in Political Science from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and a Law degree from the University of Ottawa. She has been a member of Ontario Bar since 2000.
Dr. Kelly Tremblay, Ph.D. FAAA
Professor of Neuroscience and Audiology| Executive Advisor | Consultant
Biography
Dr. Kelly Tremblay, Ph.D. FAAA is a clinician-scientist whose work has influenced best practices, products, and policy worldwide. She holds multiple faculty appointments in Canada and the United States, is an Executive Advisor and a consultant to organizations that are innovating in the areas of health and technology. She co-authored the World Health Organization’s (WHO) new guidelines on Integrated care for older people and contributed to the WHO’s World Report on Ageing and Health as well as the World Report on Hearing. She collaborates with major tech companies as well as the International Telecommunication Union to establish safe listening standards that affect our sensory and mental health, and champions accessibility by serving on non-profit boards and sharing her lived experiences as a clinician and daughter of a parent with a disability. Recently she co-founded and chaired the Hearing Loss Association of America’s Task Force for Accessible and Inclusive Employment.
Omonigho Adebiyi
Global Research Strategy Lead − Philips
Biography
Omo Adebiyi is the Strategic Insights Lead for Philips Research organization. In this role, she identifies emerging trends within the innovation ecosystem, and collaborates closely with key stakeholders across Philips Business Units. She also manages an enterprise-wide initiative to fund exploratory innovations across the organization.
In addition to her current role, Omo has 12+ years’ experience as a management consultant and internal strategy leader helping executives evaluate choices and tradeoffs that shape product innovation, commercialization strategy, and digital strategy.
She is an MD & MBA with experience across various segments of the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem (medical devices, pharma etc.)
Theo Risopoulos
General partner − Theodorus
Biography
Theo is a General Partner operating from Canada who joined Theodorus in 2018 to help with the screening, assessment, and execution of investment opportunities. He has previously grown his expertise in strategy and due diligence for private equity and industrial clients at Roland Berger. Theo has led several transactions for Theodorus in Europe and Canada, and holds seats at the board of several life sciences and deep-tech companies, such as Calyos, Kaspard, Icentia, Classcraft, DrugBank, Simmunome and Domain Therapeutics. Theo holds a dual Master’s Degree in Finance and in Quantitative Techniques (QTEM) from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and is a graduate from Harvard Business School PEVC program.
Sara Aghvami
Director − Best Buy Health
Biography
As Director of Best Buy Health, Sara leads a team committed to enrich Canadian lives through technology. In her role in, Sara develops strategies and business models through partnerships with academia, health care providers, clinicians, and researchers – with a lens on quality of life. With more than 25 years’ experience in retail and leadership, Sara is an expert in solutioning, technology commercialization, omnichannel logistics, service offerings, and humanizing processes. As a humanist, Sara is passionate about mentoring and coaching folks of all professional/academic walks – and believes staying human in any industry drives business success and community trust.
Joy Ardanaz
Space Health Solution Architect, Senior Consultant − CGI
Biography
Joy Ardanaz is a creative design thinker with over 20 years’ managerial experience in the healthcare sector with expertise in digital health. From 2009 to 2021, she led multiple initiatives at the Ottawa Heart Institute, including modernization of healthcare documentation practices, adoption of an electronic medical record, and the transformation of remote patient monitoring technologies to deliver care to patients in the region as well as remote care for Indigenous/isolated communities. She helped guide the Cardiology Division through the planning and adoption of the Epic Hospital Information System, and in 2021, she was invited to join the Ottawa Hospital’s Epic Team to help streamline workflows for Cardiology and Radiology users across 10 institutions.
In 2023, CGI invited Joy to join their team as a space health solution architect and digital health consultant to work on the Canadian Space Agency’s “Connected Care Medical Module”, delivering a functional prototype of a smart modular medical facility for the lunar surface.
As a digital health specialist and senior consultant, she plays a key role in CGI’s Health Sector and continues to contribute to the Space Health Sector as an active participant in the CSA’s Health Beyond Community.
Genevieve Lavertu
Director, Government Affairs & Policy – Medical Technology − Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Biography
She is a senior executive in the health technologies sector, who prior to joining J&J MedTech was a consultant with life sciences companies, advising on their commercialization strategy. She was previously with Medtronic Canada in senior roles on its leadership team, including Senior Director of Medtronic Care Management Services, and head of Legal, Scientific Affairs and Business Development. Before then, Geneviève was general counsel and corporate secretary of ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (now Liminal BioSciences Inc.), after practicing law with Stikeman Elliott LLP in mergers and acquisitions, competition and commercial law in the information technology and life sciences industries.
Ms Lavertu is a member of the C.D. Howe Institute’s Health Policy Council, founding Board member of MEDTEQ+ and Chair of its Investment Committee. She chairs the Research Oversight Committee of two medical technology R&D projects ($27.8M over 3 years) overseen by the CQDM life sciences research consortium. She has also served on the Advisory Board of the Medical Device Research Centre of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC).
Ms Lavertu is a lawyer in Ontario and Quebec, a MSc graduate in Political Economy from London School of Economics and Political Science (London, UK) and a graduate of France’s École Nationale d’Administration (ENA), now the National Institute of Public Service (INSP).
Donny Straub
Director, Operations Management and Development − Canadian Red Cross
Biography
Director, Operations Management and Development, Donny Straub has been with the Canadian Red Cross since 2004. In this capacity, he is responsible for managing emergency and recovery operations in Quebec. He leads the operations, logistics and systems teams for the province. He also leads a team responsible for operational development and the implementation of programs such as resilience and community preparedness. During large-scale operations, he directs and coordinates emergency operations for the Red Cross in Quebec.
Over the past few years, Mr. Donny Straub has been involved in various Canadian Red Cross emergency responses, notably as Director of Operations for Red Cross support during the pandemic, the spring floods in recent years, the tornado in Gatineau in 2018, the forest fires in Quebec during the summer of 2023 and in Fort McMurray in 2016, and for the reception of Syrian refugees in 2015-2016.
Annie Martineau
CEO − NeuroSolutions Group
Biography
Annie has university degrees in international business and social service. Her son having been diagnosed with ADHD and ASD when he was in elementary school, she decided to leave the video game industry to found the Neuro Solutions Group, a digital health startup focusing on using video gaming and AI to optimize therapy delivery and treatment plans. She is involved in various organizations, assuming the presidency of Autism Québec and being part of the board of Integration TSA. She is also co-author of publications on the use of technologies in the development of the autonomy of people with ADHD or ASD as well as the management of their treatment plans.
Gregory Ogorek
Partner − iGan
Biography
Gregory is an avid entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience in 6 different countries: USA, Canada, France, Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. Prior to joining iGan as a Partner, Gregory worked with companies such as Europ Assistance, Webhelp or Spir, where he served mainly as Vice President of Sales leading Business Development. In addition, he worked at AT Kearney, where he served as Senior Manager with engagements focused on improving sales and business performance in New Technology companies. Gregory is also an experienced entrepreneur as Founder/co-Founder at 4 Start-Ups, and has had 2 successful exits to date. Gregory also has a strong experience in raising funds for corporations. He has participated in different capital raise operations in the USA/Canada and France for over $56M.
Gregory holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from ICS Business School and an Executive Program Degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Annie Martin
Portfolio Manager for the Health Beyond Initiative − Agence spatiale canadienne
Biography
Annie Martin has been with the Canadian Space Agency for over 15 years in the Operational Space Medicine group and is the Portfolio Manager for the Health Beyond Initiative. This initiative aims to identify and develop innovative health solutions for missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond and to establish partnerships that engage on synergies between terrestrial and deep space healthcare challenges for the benefit of all Canadians, particularly medically isolated populations. She is actively involved in strategic and management activities such as engagement with the innovation ecosystem and remote health stakeholders, collaboration with international and national partners, and technology development and demonstration.
Annie holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in kinesiology from UQAM and a master’s degree and a doctorate in industrial engineering (management of innovation) from Polytechnique Montréal.
Sébastien Beauchamp
Vice Président, Government Relations & Market Access − Dynacar
Biographie
Life sciences executive with interdisciplinary expertise spanning the entire healthcare value chain, in the biopharmaceutical, medical technology and diagnostics sectors.
Since 2020, Sébastien has held the position of Vice-President, Government Relations at Dynacare. Over the years, Sébastien has developed recognized expertise in corporate strategy, governance and business transformation through various strategic roles in sales, marketing, market access, government affairs, mergers/acquisitions and healthcare policy.
Through his tenure at various Fortune 500 companies, he has developed a proven track record of working with policy-makers to introduce policies and measures that support the adoption of innovative healthcare technologies, while maintaining a consistent, patient-centric approach.
Sébastien is a guest lecturer in the HBA/MBA program at Western University’s Ivey Business School and McGill University’s Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship. He is a board member of HealthPRO and the Bioscience Association of Manitoba.
He is also an advisor to HealthTech startups, and a collaborator at Centech. He was a selected member of the prestigious 2015 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, serving as co-chair.
Sébastien holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) from Université du Québec à Montréal, an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Université Paris-Dauphine, and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Innovation and Technology from the University of Toronto Law School. He completed the Rotman School of Management’s Executive Education Program, and subsequently received the ICD.D designation.
François Bergeron
Vice-President, Partnerships – MEDTEQ+
Biography
A graduate of Université de Sherbrooke (PhD) and HEC Montréal (MBA), François began his career in the development and validation of radiotherapy technologies. He then co-founded Tactus Scientific, a nano-manipulation technology company for medical applications. François joined Innovitech and MEDTEQ+ in 2014 and now holds the position of VP partnerships at MEDTEQ+, where he increases the consortium’s impact for its members via strategic agreements and the implementation of commercialization tools for medtech and healthtech companies, notably via financing and coaching in the Beachhead™ network.
Philippe Gribeauval
CEO − Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de la Montérégie ouest ( CISSSMO )
Biography
As President and CEO of the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) de la Montérégie-Ouest since August 2021, Philippe Gribeauval aims to position the organization as a leading employer focused on the well-being of the community, while also restoring the feeling of pride and sense of belonging for its various healthcare facilities.
With an impressive, nearly 40-year track record of executive positions in major organizations, both public and private, Mr. Gribeauval is known for his innovative strategic vision and remarkable ability to tackle complex management issues.
He has a bachelor’s degree in physiology and a master’s degree in health administration from Université de Montréal and spent five (5) years as director general of Cégep Gérald-Godin before joining the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest in 2021. He previously held several key positions, including educational services director at Télé-Québec, vice-president, public sector at CGI, president and CEO at Pixman Nomadic Media and GEREQ, and vice-president, operations and strategic projects at Quebecor Multimédia Inc.
Mark Lewis
President and CEO − Boehringer Ingelheim Canada
Biography
Inspired by the hope that pharmaceutical breakthroughs bring to patients, Mark Lewis is driven to help create a healthier world. Mark joined Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. as President, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Human Pharmaceuticals in August 2023. He leads the diverse team in Canada focused on delivering innovative therapies, addressing health disparities in underserved populations and contributing to health system change. All with a focus of bringing more health to patients, whether they are on two legs or four.
A 16-year veteran with the company, Mark’s move to Boehringer’s Canadian operation followed nine years in leadership roles in the ASKAN (Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, his most recent position as Vice President / Regional Head of Human Pharmaceuticals ASKAN.
In this role, Mark set the direction in Human Pharmaceuticals for all functions and provided line management for senior leaders in country operating units in the region. Under his leadership, the region exceeded performance targets and delivered double-digit growth.
Prior to his work in the ASKAN region, Mark held corporate leadership roles within Boehringer focused on marketing, launch excellence and regional management.
Hailing from Wales, Mark holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Oxford and a Bachelor’s
Degree in Marketing and Management of Sciences from the University of Edinburgh. He completed the Global Strategic Leadership program at INSEAD.
Dr Yohann St-Pierre, MD, FRCPC
Pediatrician at the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent − Rimouski Regional Hospital
Biography
As a graduate in medicine (2007) and pediatrics (2011) from Laval University, Dr. Yohann St-Pierre is currently serving his third term as a representative and advocate for remote regions at the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ). He serves as the president of the Intermediate and Remote Regions Committee as well as the Audit Committee of the FMSQ.
Since 2012, he has been practicing at the Rimouski Regional Hospital and holds the position of clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Laval University.
Over the past few years, Dr. St-Pierre has taken on various roles, including head of the Department of Pediatrics (2014-2016), primary advisor within the council of physicians, dentists, and pharmacists (2014-2015), and director of the integrated longitudinal externship program at the Faculty of Medicine of Laval University within the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent (2017-2019). He has also played a role in implementing the insulin pump program for diabetic children in Eastern Quebec. Since 2021, he has been co-responsible for the deployment of the Circuit+ clinic at CISSS-Bas-St-Laurent, a clinic specializing in pediatric obesity management.
Dr. St-Pierre remains actively involved in his institution, particularly in the assessment of medical practice quality, and is expected to complete a Master’s in Public Administration at the École nationale d’administration publique in 2024 (ENAP).
Suzanne Kimmerlee
Head of Healthcare Programs and Partnerships − Boehringer Ingelheim
Biography
Suzanne Kimmerle has been Healthcare Programs and Partnerships Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. since 2012. Suzanne has more than 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, holding various positions including Specialist Representative, Medical Education Manager and District Manager. More recently, she has held the position of Head of Healthcare Programs and Partnerships for over a decade. Within the various partnerships Suzanne has set up, she is dedicated to collaborative projects promoting healthcare solutions. Passionate about innovation, she values partnerships that inspire sustainable change for the well-being of patients.
Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau
CEO and Co-Founder − Welbi
Biography
Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau is Welbi’s CEO and co-founder. Developing a love for entrepreneurism at a young age, Elizabeth founded two other businesses before she co-founded Welbi in 2016. Committed to improving the lives of seniors experiencing social isolation and loneliness, Welbi’s platform elevates life enrichment and activities teams to scale their efforts easily. Welbi now operates in over 400 retirement and long-term care communities across Canada and the United States. Most recently, Elizabeth was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 recipient.
Michael Chrostowski
Director, Business Development and Partnerships − AGE-WELL
Biography
Michael Chrostowski, PhD is the Business Development and Industry Relations Manager at AGE-WELL, Canada’s technology and aging network, where he works with researchers, startups and industry partners to help AGE-WELL bring innovations into the lives of older Canadians and caregivers. Dr. Chrostowski has spent the last 12 years working in the area of health and technology and has a passion for supporting innovators.
Luc Sirois
Quebec’s Chief Innovation Officer − Axelys
Biography
Luc Sirois is Quebec’s Chief Innovation Officer, general director of the Quebec Innovation Council of and founding Chairman of the Board of Axelys, Quebec’s society valorizing public research.
Mr. Sirois holds an Electrical Engineering degree from McGill University and an MBA from Harvard University. He is also a technological and social entrepreneur recognized in Quebec and internationally for his creative approach to innovation and for his involvement in Quebec’s digital technology. Involved with numerous startups and non-profit organizations focused on youth, health, science and education, he co-founded the health innovation movement Hacking Health as well as an accelerator and spin-off fund supporting digital health. He is also a co-founder of Resonant Medical, now Elekta Canada, a leading innovator of precision radiation therapy solutions.
He has served as Vice President at TELUS Health, Telesystem and Nightingale in the field of connected health, and as a Manager in Strategic Consulting at McKinsey & Company in their Montreal, Toronto, Zurich and Paris offices. He has more recently served as Executive Director of Prompt, a non-profit organization that facilitates partnerships between companies and the public research sector to improve Quebec’s competitiveness in the information and communications technology (ICT) market.
From August to December 2020, he was a strategic advisor to the Quebec Minister of Economy and Innovation to lead the redesign and creation of a new model for the valorization of public research. He was then named Quebec’s Chief Innovator, becoming the first to hold this position in Quebec.
As an associate professor at HEC Montréal, Mr. Sirois is an excellent ambassador for science and innovation. Enthusiastically sharing and mobilizing knowledge, he knows how to captivate young talent in a creative and daring way to instill his passion for science.
On a daily basis, he pursues his mission of mobilizing existing ecosystems, while paying special attention to youth, whom he wishes to be dynamic and visionary. His objective is to bring each of the actors of innovation to surpass themselves and to become an agent of change, so that Quebec can innovate more and better.
Thea Discepola
Vice President, Market Access and New Product Planning − Novartis Pharma
Biography
Thea leads a team of 45 associates across the Country responsible for ensuring that Novartis’ innovative medicines are known and understood by key stakeholders and that the medicines are available to Canadian patients through private and public drug plans. The team is responsible for health economics studies and outcomes research, pricing, reimbursement strategies, trade relations as well as new product planning.
Since joining Novartis Canada in 2002, she held various roles of increasing responsibility within the Legal & Compliance function including serving as the Country General Counsel for several years. Thea joined the Market Access team just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit and through her leadership, managed to not only put Novartis on the external stakeholder map, but successfully led a mind-set and skill-set turnaround of the Access team.
Thea holds a Law Degree from the University of Montreal, is trilingual and has a passion for travelling, spending time in nature and watching in awe as her son grows up.
Julien Lacheré, ing.
Partner, Patent Agent − BCF Business Law
Biography
As head of the Patents Group, Julien Lacheré stands out for his excellent sense of duty, his pioneering spirit and his ability to develop close and enduring relationships with clients. With this singular client focus and extensive patent experience, gained both in-house and in private practice, Julien advises companies of various sizes, from early-stage ventures to multinational organizations.
Julien counsels his clients at every development stage to devise and deploy comprehensive intellectual property (IP) strategies supporting companies’ business objectives and corporate strategies. Julien specializes in the building of patent portfolio, including drafting and prosecuting patent applications properly calibrated for the U.S., European and Chinese patent systems while optimizing the cost-benefits ratio. He is regularly involved in the preparation of market clearance, validity and patentability opinions and analyzes patent portfolios and potential infringement in the context of financings or acquisitions. Julien also supports IP enforcement issues in the pre-litigation context.
With an engineering degree in software and telecommunications and a Master of Research in Data Science, Julien has renowned expertise in the patenting of software, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His technology expertise includes aerospace, fintech, audio tech, communications and networking, operation of data centers and cloud services as well as core-AI and applied-AI technologies.
Julien was instrumental in setting up the BCF Imagine program, which aims to promote startupin Quebec as well as BCF Global, the Intellectual Property arm of BCF in Europe. Julien was involved in the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) /McGill Understanding Patents Course and still regularly lectures in numerous startupincubators and acceleration programs.
Tuba Yamaç
Partner, Patent Agent − BCF Business Law
Biography
A registered patent agent in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe, Tuba Yamaç manages the intellectual property strategies of technology clients ranging from start-ups to larger corporations and research institutions. Tuba’s industry experience and international outlook make her a highly valued advisor to many businesses.
Tuba holds a Ph. D. in biomedical materials and a M.Sc in intellectual property management, both from the University of London. She is recognized for her technical expertise in materials science and its application in many industries including vehicle, medical and clean tech. Tuba advises clients in relation to building intellectual property portfolios including international filing and procurement strategies, IP partnering support, preparing for investment, commercial transaction support, patentability landscaping, freedom to operate, and due diligence particularly for investors. Before joining BCF, she was intellectual property director of a medical device company in Montréal building their IP portfolio and supporting the business through a number of strategic business liaisons.
Tuba is trilingual, and regularly represents the Québec life sciences business ecosystem in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Scandinavia. She also teaches patent law, and is an invited speaker at the annual LifeSciences UK Patent attorney conference (CIPA), the McGill/IPIC patent course in Montreal, and has contributed to a book chapter in “Life Sciences Law in Canada”, Carswell.
David Lapointe
CEO − Optina Diagnostics
Biography
David launched his career in Sales and Marketing within the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industry. In 2001, he established Advanced Molecular Imaging (AMI) to introduce molecular imaging technologies to the global pharma and research market. Successfully selling AMI to Gamma Medica Ideas (GMI), he assumed the role of VP of Marketing and Canadian Operations at GMI. Progressing further, he held the position of Global General Manager for Molecular Imaging and Research at GE Healthcare. At GE, David led global sales and product development for research diagnostics imaging. Concurrently, he co-founded and managed life science and IT companies, overseeing strategic thinking and driving growth against specific agendas.
Currently serving as CEO of Optina Diagnostics, David directs the development of Optina’s Retinal Deep Phenotyping platform. Initially focusing on diagnosing and monitoring Geographic Atrophy, an eye disease that can lead to partial blindness, followed by the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, the platform offers non-invasive and more accessible tests. Early and accurate diagnoses empower physicians, patients, and caregivers with better planning and early treatment options, facilitating a smoother patient journey. In his current role, David has secured over $50M in financing and assembled a 40-member team, including data scientists, clinical specialists, and an experienced management team.
Mika Guérard
Vice-President Life Sciences – RBCx
Biography
Mika spent 6 years in Italy where she held a position as a trader on the primary market and operator on the syndicate desk for AbaxBank. She came back to Canada where she pursued, concomitantly, a PhD in Organic Chemistry and an MBA in science and engineering from UQÀM. She then joined BioMotiv, an American impact fund (170MM USD Capital) where she participated in the creation of biotechnology companies, managed 5 drug development programs and participated in the funding and partnering efforts for SujanaBio, Anteros, Koutif and OptiKira ophthalmology and oncology. Prior to joining the RBCx team, she was part of the Théodorus Venture Fund team where she focused on investments in the fields of Life Science (Biotech, HealthTech, MedTech).