Life Sciences Ontario Welcomes New Board Members in 2026 Following Annual General Meeting

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) is pleased to announce the appointment of four distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors, following its Annual General Meeting on March 25, 2026.

The newly appointed board members are:

• Amelia Swanson, vice-president, Medtech Canada
• Dave Smardon, president and CEO, Bioenterprise Canada
• Leslie Madden, senior director, head of government affairs and policy, Moderna Canada
• Melody Greaves, executive director and vice-president, government relations, Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

“We are delighted to welcome such highly qualified professionals to the Board,” said Dr. Jason Field, president and CEO, Life Sciences Ontario. “They each bring exceptional experience and a demonstrated ability to drive innovation, shape policy, and build meaningful partnerships. We look forward to working together to advance Ontario’s life sciences sector and strengthen its global competitiveness.”

During the Annual General Meeting, LSO also presented its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting key achievements and impact over the past year. The report is available here.

About the New Board Members

Amelia Swanson, vice-president, Medtech Canada

With over 20 years of progressive leadership experience across government, non-profit, and industry sectors, Amelia is a strategic and influential leader recognized for advancing public policy, stakeholder engagement, and mission-driven advocacy at the highest levels.

Currently serving as vice-president at Medtech Canada, Amelia leads Ontario-based industry and government relations initiatives, building critical alliances to ensure patients have access to innovative medical technologies. Known for her ability to navigate complex political and regulatory landscapes, Amelia designs and executes strategic engagement plans that drive favourable outcomes for both industry partners and public health stakeholders.

Prior to this role, Amelia held senior leadership positions at the YMCA of Greater Toronto, including director of government relations, programs, policy and capital development. In this capacity, she shaped the YMCA’s public policy direction, secured strategic program funding, and guided capital development through multi-level government advocacy and cross-sector collaboration.

Amelia's foundational experience includes a decade of impactful work within the Ontario government, where she served as director of operations to the minister of health and long-term care, and as senior policy advisor to multiple cabinet ministers. In these roles, she provided strategic counsel on legislative priorities, led high-profile stakeholder engagement initiatives, and helped deliver on key government commitments such as the Healthy Kids Strategy.

Outside of professional roles, Amelia is a certified professional co-active coach (CPCC) and a passionate community builder with a deep commitment to community service. Her extensive volunteer history included work with the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Hospice Niagara and international organizations supporting children and education. An avid adventurer and endurance athlete, she has completed long-distance cycling fundraisers, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and is a certified advanced scuba diver.

Amelia holds a Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University, an Honours BA in History from Western University, and has completed professional development in public relations and leadership coaching.

Dave Smardon, president and CEO, Bioenterprise Canada

Since 2005, Dave Smardon has led the development of Bioenterprise Canada, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, the leading national accelerator focusing solely on food and agriculture technologies. Bioenterprise Canada delivers significant impact to Canada’s economy through Dave’s vision of supporting innovative, high-growth food and agriculture businesses through funding programs and mentorship that match their potential. Dave is advocating for a united agricultural ecosystem nationally, mirroring the collaboration and cross-regional knowledge-sharing that has made other top-performing countries global leaders in technology and commercialization.

His background in venture capital and corporate leadership includes Apple Computer Inc. and Texas Instruments, as well as angel investment and his own entrepreneurial pursuits. Dave is also an advisor for government, family offices, investment companies, and innovation centres nationally, where his leadership has influenced the progression of Canada’s agriculture industry; an industry which is at the forefront of global innovation and economic development. This balance of finance and corporate experience, coupled with public interest ensures a healthy relationship with government, private sector corporations, and multi-nationals. Dave’s leadership continues to educate the expanded agricultural ecosystem on the potential to adopt and expand emerging technologies in sustainability, digitization, and automation.

Leslie Madden, senior director, head of government affairs and policy, Moderna Canada

Leslie Madden is the senior director, head of government affairs and policy at Moderna Canada, where she leads engagement to advance policies that support innovation in mRNA vaccines, therapeutics, pandemic preparedness, and the growth of Canada’s life sciences ecosystem.

Leslie brings more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in Canada and the US. Prior to her current role, she joined Moderna as one of its first Canadian employees in early 2021 as the head of regulatory sciences and quality assurance. In that position, she led the company’s regulatory strategy and execution during the COVID-19 pandemic, securing Canadian approvals for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and respiratory portfolio. She also contributed to building the company’s regulatory frameworks to support clinical development and rare disease programs in Canada. She has previously held positions in both commercial and R&D functions at Elvium Life Sciences, Biogen, Galderma and GSK.

Leslie brings more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector in both Canada and the US. She holds a BSc from York University, an MBA from Rotman School of Management (UofT), and a Global Professional LLM from the Jackman Faculty of Law (UofT).

Melody Greaves, executive director and vice-president, government relations, Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

Melody Greaves is the executive director and vice-president of government relations at the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council - an independent not-for-profit advocacy organization consisting of representatives across science, academia, healthcare and nuclear-sector organizations. Through its activities, the CNIC aims to maintain and grow Canada’s position as a global leader in the production, research, and use of life-saving isotopes by advocating for long-term policies that support innovation in healthcare and nuclear technologies. In her current role, she is primarily responsible for leading the CNIC’s business expansion, government outreach and advocacy, as well as major strategic activities to advance principled policy work and encourage broad engagement across the industry and academia through initiatives like the annual Canadian Radiotheranostics Leaders’ Summit. During her time with the CNIC, Melody led the development and delivery of the organization’s Isotopes for Hope campaign, an ambitious vision to double Canada’s production of medical isotopes by 2030. Melody was named among Radiology Business’ Top 40 Under 40 in 2025.

Melody completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Wilfrid Laurier University and holds a Master of Applied Politics degree in public and environmental policy and a bachelor’s degree in political science and French.

About Life Sciences Ontario

Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) is a member-funded, not-for-profit organization with a legacy of more than 30 years advancing the success of Ontario’s life sciences sector. LSO collaborates with governments, academia, industry, and other life science organizations in Ontario and across Canada to promote and encourage commercial success throughout the sector. The organization provides a wide range of networking and educational events, operates a scholarship and mentorship program that is helping to develop highly skilled talent and build new business opportunities for the life sciences sector. LSO is an effective conduit for delivering policy options to governments and is dedicated to promoting Ontario’s life sciences sector internationally.