MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The BIOTECanada Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election of David Main, President & CEO, Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, as Chairman of BIOTECanada at the Annual General Meeting held in Montreal.
“This is an exciting time for the biotechnology industry in Canada, as the industry brings forward game changing products and technologies in the healthcare, agricultural and industrial spaces,” commented David Main, Chairman BIOTECanada. “The industry is an important and growing component of Canada’s economy. The two hundred and fifty member companies of BIOTECanada are representative of the regional, size and product diversity of the Canadian biotech industry. In this context, I am very much looking forward to working with the Board and my industry colleagues in growing the industry’s economic and social value in Canada and globally.”
In addition to naming a new Chair, the Board also announced the addition of new Directors including:
Tony Cruz (CEO, Transition Therapeutics)
Gary Glavin (Associate
Vice-President, Research, University of Manitoba)
John Haslam
(General Manager, Alexion Pharmaceuticals)
John Norman (Partner,
Intellectual Property Group, Gowlings LLP)
Felipe Pastrana (General
Manager, AbbVie)
The Board also thanked outgoing Chairman, Brad Thompson for his leadership and contribution to the industry through the course of his three-year tenure.
“I thank all outgoing Directors for their time and commitment to the Association. In particular, I thank past-Chair, Brad Thompson, for his leadership over the course of my first year as President and CEO of BIOTECanada. Brad’s industry experience and counsel over the past year have proven indispensable. I am particularly grateful he has agreed to stay on the Board in his capacity as immediate-past-Chair,” added Andrew Casey, President and CEO of BIOTECanada.
The new Board is reflective of the intricate eco-system found in the Canadian biotech sector. The Board members and the organizations they represent are a microcosm of an industry where large, medium and small corporate entities, research institutions, academia, and individuals all work together towards bringing forward biotech solutions to address global health, environmental and economic challenges.
BIOTECanada is the national industry association that represents Canada’s biotechnology sector. BIOTECanada membership encompasses companies and organizations located in thriving clusters nationwide representing the diverse nature of Canada’s agricultural, health, and industrial biotechnology sectors. In addition to providing significant health benefits for Canadians, the biotechnology industry has quickly began re-engineering traditional industries of the Canadian economy including aerospace, energy, forestry and manufacturing. In partnership with the Federal Government, BIOTECanada plays a central role in the development of policy relating to Canada’s growing bioeconomy.
