Antoine Agathon, Ph.D.

Chargé de projets

Alsace BioValley, France.

PhD degree in 2004: (Growth factor signalling during zebrafish embryo early development).
Since feb. 2006: project manager in BioValley.
Main missions:
Custom made service for BioValley companies:
- Assistance to project management (creation, R&D project)
- Partner identification (scientific, institutional and financial)
- International promotion

Paul Bergeron

Vice-Président exécutif et Directeur général

LXB Communication-Marketing, Canada.

Originaire de Trois-Rivières, M. Paul Bergeron détient un baccalauréat en Sciences de la santé (Biologie Médicale) de l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. Il a complété sa formation en gestion et en commercialisation aux universités Laval, McGill et York.
De 1980 à 1997, il a occupé plusieurs postes dans le domaine des sciences de la vie. Après un séjour dans les ventes chez Dow Pharmaceuticals et Bayer Diagnostic, il a joint les rangs de GlaxoSmithKline où il a été promu à différentes fonctions en gestion des ventes, des opérations et du marketing. Par la suite, il est devenu directeur du marketing pour Dentsply Canada à Toronto.

Depuis 1997, il est actionnaire et vice-président exécutif, directeur général de LXB Communication Marketing. À ce titre, il dirige les opérations et le développement d’une organisation offrant des services de planification stratégique, création, diffusion et production dans les secteurs de la communication de masse, du marketing d’affaires et du domaine des sciences de la vie.

En plus de son implication à titre d’administrateur au conseil d’administration de la Fondation de l’Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, il a œuvré plusieurs années dans le domaine de l’éducation à titre de président du conseil d’administration de l’Académie Lafontaine, établissement privé d’enseignement primaire et secondaire.

Cédric Bisson

Associé, Investissements, Sciences de la vie et énergie

MSBi Capital, Canada.

Philippe Bourbonnais

Partenaire Sénior

Korn/Ferry International, Canada.

Philippe Bourbonnais est associé principal pour le bureau de Montréal de Korn/Ferry International et il dirige la pratique des sciences de la vie pour l’Est du Canada. Depuis ses débuts en 1995, il a assisté de nombreuses entreprises (compagnies de biotechnologie et pharmaceutiques) à identifier et attirer au sein de leur équipe de direction des candidats de grande envergure.

Avant de se joindre à Korn/Ferry International, Philippe Bourbonnais a œuvré au sein de l’industrie du divertissement en Europe et au Canada.

Il est un membre actif de BioQuébec, le réseau québécois des bio-industries et des sciences de la vie, et de l’Association des MBA du Québec. Il est également membre du conseil d’administration de L’Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal.

Monsieur Bourbonnais possède une maîtrise en administration des affaires de l’École des Hautes Études Commerciales ainsi qu’un baccalauréat en musique de l’Université McGill.

Pierre Cantin

Vice-Président, Investissements

Société générale de financement du Québec (SGF), Canada.

Since 1994, Mr. Cantin has been specialized in the financing of life sciences companies. Pierre is recognized as a seasoned strategic and transactional life sciences specialist in the North American industry. He is currently Vice-President, Investments Life Sciences Group at the Société Générale de financement du Québec, an industrial and financial holding corporation of the Québec government. Prior to this, Mr. Cantin was a Senior Partner and VP of Mergers and Acquisitions at CDP Capital Technology Ventures, a leading North American biotechnology venture capital investor. He also served as Senior Vice-President at KPMG Corporate Finance, one of the leading Canadian Life Sciences corporate finance firms. Finally, Mr. Cantin was Senior Account Manager and Team Leader specialized in biotechnology for the Royal Bank of Canada, the recognized Canadian leader in financial services (lending) and non-financial services in the Life Sciences sector.

Claudia Chagneau

Chargée de Mission Biotechnologie,

Agence Rhône-Alpes Technologies Médicales et Biotechnologies (ARTEB), France.

Ray Chepesiuk

Commissaire

Conseil consultatif de publicité pharmaceutique (CCPP), Canada.

After 21 years at the PAAB, Ray is an expert in the ethics and regulation of the marketing of healthcare products to health professionals and consumers. He is the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the autonomous Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board and is responsible for operations and the administration of the preclearance review mechanism. He has held management positions in community, hospital and government pharmacy and was elected twice to serve on the Ontario College of Pharmacists, chairing five committees. Ray achieved a Pharmacy degree from the University of Toronto and a Master in International Business (Marketing) degree from the University of South Carolina. He is a Certified Association Executive by the Canadian Society of Association Executives. He has received a United Nations medal for peacekeeping.

Richard Cloutier

Vice-président Développement

Centre québécois de valorisation des biotechnologies (CQVB), Canada.

M. Richard Cloutier, Vice-président Développement, est responsable du développement des affaires, des différents réseaux sectoriels d’innovation, de l'intelligence stratégique et des communications au CQVB.

Oeuvrant dans le secteur des bio-industries depuis plus de 20 ans et ayant occupé au cours des dernières années le poste de Vice-président, Sciences de la Vie, Santé et Nutrition chez POLE Québec Chaudière-Appalaches et celui de Président et chef de la direction de GELKEM inc., M. Cloutier possède une forte expérience dans le démarrage, le développement et la gestion d’entreprises, de même que dans l’élaboration de montages financiers et de partenariats internationaux, notamment en Europe et aux États-Unis.

Geoff Collett

Directeur, développement des affaires

AstraZeneca Canada.

Geoff Collett has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and the life sciences industries. He began his career in sales, and progressed through a number of sales and marketing management roles before specializing in licensing, business and corporate development.

During the past 15 years he has held senior management and leadership positions including; Director, Business Development and Planning at GlaxoWellcome, Vice President - Early Stage Investing at MDS Capital and Vice President, Corporate Development at Lorus Therapeutics.

During that time he has completed numerous transactions in North America, Europe and Latin America. These have included, in and out-licensing of products and technologies, collaborative marketing arrangements and strategic alliances and identification of life science investment opportunities. Geoff has managed ‘deal teams’ and led due diligence, provided management and Board of Director services to early stage companies such as Terragen Discovery and Cytochroma) and led syndication and completed venture capital financing of several complex, early-stage biotechnology companies.

He joined AstraZeneca in 2003 as Director, Business Development and Head of the Established Brands Business Unit. In this role Geoff has been challenged to build a profit driven Business Development capability, utilizing business development strategies to maximize the financial contribution of a late lifecycle product portfolio in excess of $100 million.

Geoff is also responsible for the identification of technology, product and corporate licensing and acquisition opportunities as a member of the AstraZeneca Portfolio Management Committee and the North American Licensing Team.

Normand DeMontigny

Directeur Général

Centre Québécois d'Innovation en Biotechnologie (CQIB), Canada.

Dr. Gilles Duruflé

Consultant, Canada.

Dr Gilles Duruflé est actuellement consultant indépendant auprès de fonds de capital de risque et de placement privé, d’investisseurs institutionnels et de gouvernements. Il est notamment l’auteur d’un important rapport rédigé récemment pour l’Association Canadienne de Capital de Risque (ACCR) sur « Les facteurs déterminants de la performance du capital de risque canadien » qui porte sur les principaux défis auxquels doit faire face cette industrie.

Il était jusqu’en 2004 Associé principal chez CDP Capital Technologies, la filiale de capital de risque de la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, responsable du portefeuille de fonds de fonds, qui investissait dans des fonds de capital de risque en Amérique du Nord et en Europe.

Il était auparavant Responsable des Études stratégiques à la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. De 1979 à 1991, il a travaillé comme Associé sénior dans plusieurs sociétés de consultation stratégique du Groupe CDC (Caisse des dépôts et consignations, Paris) en Europe et en Amérique du Nord.

M. Duruflé détient une maîtrise de philosophie (CERP, Paris), un doctorat en mathématiques de l’Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI). Il est diplômé du Centre d’Études des Programmes Économiques (Ministère des Finances, Paris) et CFA. Il a publié de nombreux livres et articles sur divers sujets reliés à l’économie et à la finance.

Sophie Egholm
Directrice Associée, Alliances Stratégiques
Pfizer, États-Unis.

Ms Egholm is currently responsible for external investment plans, business transactions and alliance management for the development of biomarkers, clinical and medical technologies aimed at transforming clinical trials and enabling new healthcare approaches.

Prior to Pfizer (2003-1993) Ms Egholm held various positions of increasing responsibilities at UCB-Bioproducts (now Lonza) in Belgium and the United States, the premier cGMP contract manufacturing company for peptide-based active-pharmaceutical ingredients, culminating with global responsibility for the company’s Sales and Marketing activities. For two years (1997-1999), Ms Egholm worked at one of the first pharmacogenomics companies (Variagenics – now Nuvelo, Inc.) in Cambridge, MA to lead the diligence and transactions supporting the acquisition of two companies (Nova Molecular and Avitech) and to manage the company’s licensing activities. Ms Egholm graduated in 1996 and 1992 from University of Lille (France) and University of Brussels (Belgium), with Masters in Medicinal Chemistry - Pharmacology, and in Chemical Engineering.

Ms Egholm is a member of the Licensing Executive Society, and President of the Alliance Française of the Greater New Haven area.

Simon Gill
Directeur de gestion et Co-Chef des Investissements bancaires en soins de santé
RBC Capital Market, États-Unis.

C'est en avril 2006 que Simon Gill est nommé directeur de gestion et un Co-Chef des Investissements bancaires en soins de santé pour les marchés financiers de RBC. Simon Gill est dans le domaine des opérations bancaires depuis 23 années, commençant sa carrière avec Credit Suisse d'abord à Boston puis à Londres.

Il travaille aux Etats-Unis depuis 1984, concentré principalement à fournir des services de renseignements financiers et d'emprunts pour des compagnies oeuvrant dans le Biopharmaceutique.

M. Gill a obtenu un baccalauréat et une Maîtrise de l'Université d'Oxford.

Anita Graham

Vice-Présidente exécutive, Ressources Humaines

Shire Global, États-Unis.

Anita Graham has been with Shire since January 2004. She was previously Vice President of Human Resources at Cytyc Corporation. She has also held senior HR positions at Serono, Inc. and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc (now part of Deutsche Bank) and has extensive experience in all aspects of HR, both in Europe and the US.

Tim Hendrickson

Chef de département, Finances et développement des affaires

Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Canada.

Daniel Hétu

Vice-président

MDS Capital, Canada.

Daniel joined MDS Capital in 1995. Prior to joining MDS, Daniel spent 10 years at Shire Pharmaceuticals and Biochem Pharma Inc. as Vice President, Business Development, North America and Vice President, Corporate Development respectively, and where he led several licensing, M&A and financing transactions in the therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics sectors. Prior to joining Biochem Pharma, Daniel was an investment banker at a large Canadian investment bank. Daniel holds an M.D. from Université de Sherbrooke and an MBA from Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Montreal.

Kelly Holman

Directrice Générale

Genesys Capital Partners, Canada.

Kelly is co-founder and Managing Director of Genesys Capital and has extensive commercial and technical experience in the biotechnology industry. Since co-founding Genesys Capital Partners in 2000, Kelly has been actively involved in assisting the NewGen Funds raise over $125 million of venture capital and has been instrumental in deploying over $90 million across 18 investments. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Epocal Inc., Insception Biosciences Inc., and Interface Biologics Inc. and is a past director of Affinium Pharmaceuticals and Zelos Therapeutics. Kelly is active in deal origination and company creation and has advised the federal and provincial governments on strategies for financing start-up and early-stage biotechnology companies.

Prior to co-founding Genesys Capital Partners, Kelly was a Senior Investment Manager with MDS Capital Corp. Previously, Kelly worked in the laboratory of Dr. Peter St George-Hyslop at the University of Toronto where he was a key member of the international research team that discovered several genes responsible for Alzheimer's disease. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biochemistry and an MBA, both from Queen's University.

Steven Hurwitz

Associé

Choate Hall & Stewart, États-Unis.

Brenda H. Jarrell

Associée

Choate Hall & Stewart, États-Unis.

Achim Kaufhold

Président du conseil d'administration

BIOLactis, Canada.

Marcia Kean

Directrice Générale

Feinstein Kean Healthcare (FKH), États-Unis.

Marcia Kean was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Feinstein Kean Healthcare (FKH) in December 2002. She has close to 30 years of health care industry experience, including senior positions with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical service firms, non-profit research organizations, and consulting firms. As one of the first senior-level practitioners of communications in the biotech industry, she has pioneered good practices in the field, and has been a prominent author and speaker on key branding and valuation issues facing senior management.

Most recently, Mrs. Kean initiated at FKH the first Molecular Medicine communications practice in the country. Among the clients of that practice are the National Cancer Institute, the Personalized Medicine Coalition, and the Harvard-Partners Center for Genomics and Genetics.

From 1990 to 2001, Mrs. Kean served as founder and Managing Director of the Corporate Communications practice at Feinstein Kean Healthcare. In that role, she led a full-service U.S. and international corporate communications practice, with specialization in the definition and repositioning of corporate identities; planning and fulfillment of valuation potential; investor relations and media strategy and execution; and management of sensitive or challenging corporate issues. She assisted the CEOs and CFOs of numerous private companies in the process of preparing for and conducting successful IPOs.

Mrs. Kean was the only non-CEO to serve on the Emerging Companies Section Governing Board of BIO, the leading biotech industry organization, from 1998 to 2001. She was among the originating team that designed the successful BIO CEO and Investor Conference, now held annually. She served on the Steering Committee of BIO 2000 in Boston -- the largest convocation in the history of the biotech industry up to that time – and was appointed as the Chair of the Communications Committee for that event.

Currently, Mrs. serves on the Genetics Advisory Council of the Harvard-Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics, and on the Research and Policy Committee of the New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI). She is the recipient of the first Personalized Medicine Coalition’s Distinguished Service Award.

Mrs. Kean holds an M.B.A. in finance from New York University and a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.

Erik Kuja
Directeur, Alliances Stratégiques
Centre de recherche et technologie
Pfizer, États-Unis.

Erik Kuja is a Manager in the Strategic Alliances group at Pfizer's Research Technology Center (RTC) in Cambridge, MA. In this role he is responsible for providing business support for the external interests and investments that arise from and aim to impact the diverse scientific disciplines at the RTC and across PGRD.

Erik joined Pfizer Global Research & Development (PGRD) in 1993 in the Drug Metabolism group located in Groton, CT investigating the disposition and metabolism of CNS agents. In 1997, he joined the Precandidate Technology group where he helped establish a high-speed purification lab which performed an achiral separation service for Pfizer's medicinal chemists.

When Pfizer decided to establish its presence in the greater Boston area by opening a research facility in 1999 in Cambridge, MA, Erik left the Groton laboratories. He helped establish this new research site and a new department at the RTC called Screening Technology which was responsible for prosecuting high-throughput screening campaigns within a specific gene family. Erik joined the Strategic Alliances group in 2001.

Erik received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology-Chemistry from Skidmore College and his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.

Pierre Lapointe
Directeur Général
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Canada.

Jacques Lefebvre

Vice-président, Affaires stratégiques et Communications

Les compagnies de recherche pharmaceutique du Canada (Rx&D), Canada.

Pierre Lemieux
Président et chef de la direction
BIOLactis, Canada.

Beverly Lyons
Associée
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Canada.

Beverly received her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto in 1970 and her CA designation in 1972. She received her FCA in 2006.

While spending the first four years at another firm, she has enjoyed the past thirty-two years at PricewaterhouseCoopers. For the past twenty six years she has been an audit partner with an emphasis on pharmaceutical clients.

Beverly is the Canadian Pharmaceutical Leader and is a member of the Global Pharmaceutical Leadership Group. As an audit partner, Beverly has spent most of her career focused on the healthcare industry including organizations involved in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biotechnology. As the Canadian Pharmaceutical leader, she leads a multi-disciplined team providing a wide range of services to the pharmaceutical industry.

Her 30+ year career has been spent primarily in Toronto working for and consulting to a wide range of clients including Canadian public, subsidiaries of multi-nationals and owner-managed and encompassing brand, generic and biotech companies. She has also spent considerable time on charitable activities including senior officer and board participation in a number of not-for-profit organizations.

Beverly and her husband have two sons: Alon and Daniel

Pierre Maheux

Conseiller en financement stratégique des entreprises

Réseau Canadien de Technologie (RCT), Canada.

Dean Michelin

Directeur, services aux clients

Boom Works Enterprises Inc., Canada.

Minhas Mohamed

Chef de la direction

MMVF, Canada.

As President & CEO, Minhas has overall management and strategic responsibility for MMV Financial. Minhas has over 20 years of experience in the financing of technology and emerging growth companies, both in Canada and internationally. Prior to founding MM Venture Partners in 1998, Minhas spent 10 years as a senior partner and shareholder with Quorum Funding Corporation, which was one of Canada’s leading dedicated emerging technology funds. At Quorum, Minhas held senior investment responsibilities which included identifying and negotiating new opportunities for investments and working actively with existing investee companies by providing strategic, operational and financial expertise. Minhas sat on a variety of boards of domestic and international companies at Quorum.

Prior to Quorum, Minhas spent several years at the venture capital subsidiary of Schroders PLC, and was also with Ernst & Young where he obtained his CA designation. Minhas is co-founder and former chairman of the Toronto Venture Group, and is on the Board of Directors of the York Technology Association and Junior Achievement of Canada.

Minhas is an independent trustee and member of Innvest REIT Investment, Audit and Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees. He is also a member of the Association of Venture Capital Corporations. Minhas is a graduate of The University of Western Ontario and is a designated Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Dr. Kary Mullis
Prix Nobel de Chimie en 1993
Inventeur du "Polymerase Chain Reaction" (PCR)

États-Unis.

Benoît Picard

Vice-président, développement des affaires

La Cité de la Biotech, Canada.

Douglas J. Pon, Ph.D.

Vice-président adjoint

Développement des affaires internationales, licences de vaccins

Wyteh Pharmaceuticals, États-Unis.

Dr. Douglas Pon is Assistant Vice President, Vaccine Licensing Global Business Development for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and is based in Collegeville PA. Doug joined Wyeth in January 2006 where he supports the global licensing and business development activities of the Vaccines Business Unit.

Doug holds his Ph.D., M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Pharmacology from the University of Toronto. In 1990, following a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular endocrinology at the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, Doug joined Merck Frosst Canada, Inc. After ten years of discovery research in respiratory disease, Doug moved to External Scientific Affairs in West Point PA where he was Director Scientific Liaison responsible for identification, evaluation, and negotiation of licensing and collaborative research opportunities for Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) in several therapeutic areas, including Oncology, Urology, Vaccines, Biologics and Antibodies, Anti-Virals, and Vaccine Adjuvants/Delivery Systems.

Patrice Roy

Directeur régional, Recherche et Développement

Pfizer, Canada.

Dr.Roy a obtenu son doctorat en Biochimie de l'université de Montréal suivi d'études post-doctorales à l'Institut de Recherche Clinique de Montréal. Il a aussi obtenu sa maîtrise en administration des affaires de l'université McGill avec une double spécialisation en ressources humaines et marketing. Avant de se joindre à Pfizer Canada, il a administré des groupes de recherche dans les domaines de la maladie d'Alzheimer et des maladies cardiovasculaires. Il est à l'emploi de Pfizer Canada depuis maintenant plus de 10 ans où il supervise différents types de projets reliés à la recherche et au développement.

Jean-Marc Séquier

Chef de Partenariats, Développement des Affaires et Licences

Novartis, Suisse.

Titulaire d'un Ph D en Pharmacologie de l'Université Paris VI (Pierre et Marie Curie) et d'un MBA de l'IMD Lausanne, Mr Séquier a plus de 15 années d'expérience dans l'industrie pharmaceutique. Il a commencé sa carrière dans le centre de recherche des Neurosciences de Merck Sharp & Dohme (Terlings Park, UK) puis s'est tourné vers le développement de médicaments et la gestion des projets chez F. Hoffmann-La Roche en Suisse. Il a rejoint Novartis en 1995 d'abord dans la gestion de projets, en particulier pour des produits ciblant le système nerveux central et pour des traitements anti-cancéreux, puis dans le développement des affaires. Il est responsable depuis 2005 d' un groupe en charge du Partenariat/Out-Licensing des produits de Novartis en développement ou déjà commercialisés ainsi que des transactions impliquant des produits matures.

Larry Smith
Chef de la direction
Équipe de Football "Les Alouettes de Montréal", Canada.

Catherine St-Jacques

Chef, Affaires extérieures

Boehringer Ingelheim Canada.

Ian Therriault

Vice-président principal, Optimisation des portefeuilles

IMS Health Canada.

Mr. Therriault, Senior Vice President of IMS Health Canada is a well respected pharmaceutical industry expert. Combining a wealth of industry experience and access to powerful business intelligence and consulting services, Mr. Therriault is in the unique position to provide an exclusive, unbiased strategic view of the industry. As such, he is a frequently called upon speaker for key events and is much recognized for his insightful comments within major media. Leading the Marketing business line of Portfolio Optimization and Managed Care at IMS Health in Canada, Mr. Therriault provides his customers with critical benchmarking, performance and strategic consulting, spanning a wide range of customer activities from early licensing and early-stage product development to patent expiry strategies.