CEO, LuminUltra Technologies

Pat Whalen has been involved with LuminUltra since its founding in 1995 and has played a central role in its growth into a global provider of applied molecular diagnostics products and services, with operations in multiple countries. Over the course of his career, he has gained extensive entrepreneurial experience in strategy development, innovation, and operational leadership.

His work has focused on advancing research-driven technologies and building organizations that translate scientific innovation into practical solutions for industry and public health. A Professional Engineer, Pat holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Brunswick and has been an active contributor to the province’s technology and life sciences sectors.

Director of Quality Solutions, Populus Global Solutions

Jeff Beairsto has more than two decades of experience in the health informatics sector, focusing on the design and implementation of systems that capture and integrate clinical, operational, and logistical data to support healthcare delivery and decision-making.

Over the course of his career, he has contributed to several large-scale initiatives, including the development and nationwide deployment of an electronic health record system in four CARICOM countries. His work has supported the modernization of health systems through improved data infrastructure and digital tools. Jeff holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Brunswick and has built his career advancing health technology solutions in Canada and internationally.

CEO, Gramko Group Inc.

Greg MacFarlane is an entrepreneur with experience building and leading companies across the pharmacy, healthcare, real estate, and technology sectors. His work focuses on developing organizations that address practical challenges while creating long-term economic and social value.

A strong advocate for social entrepreneurship, Greg is particularly interested in initiatives that improve quality of life and strengthen community outcomes. He is a graduate of the Wallace McCain Institute’s Entrepreneurship program and has been recognized for his leadership and community engagement, including receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022. He has also contributed to cultural development in the region through leadership roles supporting major performing arts initiatives.

Scientific Director, Atlantic Cancer Research Institute

Dr. Stephen Lewis is a cancer researcher whose work focuses on understanding how deregulated protein synthesis contributes to the development and progression of cancer. His research also involves identifying new cancer biomarkers through the molecular characterization of extracellular vesicles, with the goal of improving cancer detection and therapeutic monitoring.

He received a PhD from Dalhousie University, where he studied the molecular mechanisms of vesicle trafficking in yeast. Following his doctoral studies, he conducted postdoctoral research protein synthesis at the Apoptosis Research Centre at the University of Ottawa before joining the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute in 2008. He has collaborated extensively with researchers across academic and health institutions in Canada and internationally.

Vice‑President of Learning Health System, Vitalité Health Network

Originally from Neguac, Brigitte Sonier‑Ferguson earned a bachelor’s and a master’s in biochemistry from the Université de Moncton in 2001 and 2005, respectively. She also undertook doctoral studies in biochemistry/immunology at the University of Ottawa from 2005 to 2010.

Ms. Sonier‑Ferguson joined Vitalité Health Network in 2010, more specifically, the Training and Research Sector, of which she has been the director since 2015. During this period, she was responsible for the development and review of the strategic plan for the Network’s university mission, which is one of the cornerstones of the Network’s new 2020–2023 Strategic Plan.

In addition to her duties within New Brunswick’s Francophone health authority, Ms. Sonier‑Ferguson also sits on several boards of directors and national committees related to health research and various university partners.

She has received a number of awards in the course of her career, including “Le Prisme” as graduate of the year of the Faculty of Science of the Université de Moncton in 2018 and the Excellence in Management and Leadership Award of Vitalité Health Network in 2018.

CEO, New Brunswick Heart & Stroke Foundation

Kurtis Sisk is a nonprofit executive with extensive experience advancing health promotion, research, and community engagement. Since 2014, he has overseen significant organizational growth, expanding both program reach and operational capacity while strengthening partnerships across the health sector.

Known for building high-performing teams and pursuing innovative approaches to health programming and fundraising, Kurtis has helped advance initiatives that support prevention, research, and improved health outcomes. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Fredericton, a Public Relations diploma from Durham College, and the Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D) from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Vice-President (Research), University of New Brunswick

Dr. David I. MaGee has spent his career advancing research, academic leadership, and scientific collaboration. After earning his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of New Brunswick, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester before joining the faculty at UNB.

Throughout his academic career, he has held several senior leadership roles and contributed to the development of research strategy and institutional partnerships. He remains actively engaged in research focused on developing new approaches for synthesizing biologically significant natural products. His work involves collaborations with academic, government, and industry partners and has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications, patents, and presentations at national and international conferences.

Vice President Strategy, Transformation & Chief Innovation Officer, Horizon Health Network

Jennifer Sheils is Vice President, Strategy, Transformation & Chief Innovation Officer at Horizon Health Network, where she leads system-wide transformation through digital health, analytics, and innovation.

Jennifer is a seasoned and accomplished leader with a demonstrated track record of advancing healthcare innovation through the strategic use of data, technology, and collaborative partnerships. She is a driving force behind Horizon’s integrated “living lab” model, enabling real-world evaluation and scaling of innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes and system sustainability.

She also serves as a Board Director with the CAN Health Network and the Canadian College of Health Leaders, and is a member of a national healthcare innovation council. Through these roles, she contributes to advancing the evaluation, adoption, and scale of Canadian health technologies.

Her work is grounded in building strong partnerships across healthcare, academia, and industry to accelerate innovation and deliver better health outcomes.

Associate Vice-President of Research and Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Université de Moncton

Dr. Francis LeBlanc is an astrophysicist and academic leader whose work spans research, graduate education, and university administration. Over the course of his career, he has held several leadership roles at the Université de Moncton, contributing to the advancement of research and graduate studies across disciplines.

His research focuses on stellar astrophysics, and he has been affiliated with several international institutions, including Université Laval, Université de Paris VII, Université de Toulouse, and the Observatoire de Paris-Meudon. Dr. LeBlanc is also the author of An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics, a textbook widely used at universities around the world. In addition to his academic work, he contributes to several research and innovation organizations across Canada.

Executive Director Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC); CEO, Sustainable Chemistry Alliance

Meaghan Seagrave is a nationally recognized leader in Canada’s bioeconomy and has spent more than a decade advancing bio-based innovation and industrial transformation. Her career includes leadership roles in both nonprofit organizations and early-stage technology ventures supporting clean and sustainable innovation.

She has been instrumental in supporting the commercialization of emerging technologies and building partnerships that strengthen Canada’s green chemistry and bio-industrial sectors. Her work focuses on accelerating the development of sustainable technologies and supporting entrepreneurs working to scale low carbon solutions that contribute to economic growth and the transition to a more sustainable economy.

Professor, Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick and Horizon Health, Saint John | Assistant Dean, Research, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick | Chief Scientific Officer, Horizon Health | Chief Medical Consultant, WorkSafeNB | Deputy Editor, Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine

Dr. Paul Atkinson is a Professor in Emergency Medicine at Dalhousie University and Horizon Health Network, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. He is also Chief Medical Consultant for WorkSafeNB; Deputy editor of the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine; and is Assistant Dean, Research at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. His international training began at the Queen’s University of Belfast, followed by postgraduate programs in internal medicine in Belfast and emergency medicine in Cambridge, UK. He completed a fellowship at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

He has over 160 peer-reviewed publications, as well as being a lead editor on three textbooks, Emergency Medicine an Illustrated Colour Text, 2010; Point of Care Ultrasound in Emergency Medicine and Resuscitation, 2019; and Emergency Ultrasound Made Easy, 2021.

Awards include the inaugural “Best in Class” undergraduate teaching award from Dalhousie University in 2012, the national Grant Innes Award for Emergency Medicine research in 2014, the Ian Stiell Researcher of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, 2019, and the Dr. Donald Morgan Service Award from the New Brunswick Medical Society in 2024. He has a strong interest in injury prevention and system improvements.

Paul is married to Julie, and together they have three young adult offspring, Jordyn, Lucy and Jack. Paul enjoys cycling and hiking in the wide-open spaces of New Brunswick.

Co-Founder, Mycodev Group

Brennan Sisk is a technology commercialization professional with extensive experience supporting innovation and emerging technology ventures. His work focuses on helping researchers and entrepreneurs translate scientific discoveries into practical applications and market opportunities.

He has held leadership roles in the technology and biotechnology sectors, including co-founding a company focused on developing biotechnology solutions via proprietary novel fermentation process.. He has also been active in advancing the life sciences ecosystem in New Brunswick through industry leadership and collaboration with research organizations. His experience spans technology transfer, business development, and strategic partnerships that support the commercialization of research and the growth of innovative companies.

Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Sherbrooke; Director of Research at the Centre de Formation Médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick

Dr. Saïd Mekari is a researcher and academic whose work focuses on the relationship between physical activity, metabolic health, and cognitive function. His research explores the physiological mechanisms through which exercise can improve both physical and cognitive health in healthy individuals and those living with chronic conditions.

He is particularly interested in understanding how structured physical training influences cognitive performance in older adults and how research findings can be translated into community and clinical settings. In addition to his research activities, Dr. Mekari contributes to building health research capacity in New Brunswick and supports physicians and students involved in research and medical education.

David Alward served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2015, representing the riding of Woodstock. During his time in government, he held several senior leadership roles, including serving as the province’s 32nd Premier as well as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Following his time in elected office, he served as Canada’s Consul General to New England from 2015 to 2020. In this role, he worked to strengthen economic, academic, and policy connections between Canada and the northeastern United States, supporting collaboration among governments, businesses, and research institutions.

Associate Vice-President (Research), Professor, St. Thomas University

Dr. Carey Watt is a historian whose research explores social, cultural, and political history, with recent interest in global histories of physical culture, performance, and the body. His scholarly work has examined a wide range of themes related to identity, society, and cultural exchange.

He earned a PhD in the history of colonial India from the University of Cambridge and held postdoctoral positions at Cambridge and the University of British Columbia. His research has been supported by numerous funding organizations, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, and his publications contribute to scholarship in cultural and historical studies.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development Policy; Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, GNB

Hemant Kumar has more than two decades of experience in economic development, policy development, and strategic planning within government. His work focuses on strengthening economic growth through coordinated policy initiatives, strategic partnerships, and the development of opportunities that support innovation and investment.

Prior to his current role, he held senior positions within New Brunswick’s economic development ecosystem, including leadership responsibilities related to policy and strategy. Throughout his career, Hemant has worked across multiple government departments and agencies, contributing to initiatives that support regional development, economic competitiveness, and long-term capacity building.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Health, GNB

Lee Burry is a public sector executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience in government. His work has spanned areas including strategy, organizational performance, human resources, and large-scale change management initiatives.

He has led multidisciplinary teams across several government departments and has been involved in initiatives focused on strengthening public sector performance, service delivery, and innovation within government. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Lee has been actively involved in the nonprofit and charitable sectors, including serving in national leadership roles and contributing to organizations that support community development and volunteer engagement.

CEO, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation

Coming soon...

CEO, Research & Productivity Council

Dr. Diane Botelho is a scientist and research leader whose work spans applied research, technology development, and innovation partnerships. She has contributed to research in areas including proteomics and pharmaceutical drug design and has authored numerous scientific publications.

Her leadership experience includes overseeing research initiatives that support organizations across the full innovation cycle, from concept development to commercialization. These projects address a wide range of challenges, including environmental health, climate change, sustainable aquaculture, food and water safety, industrial productivity, green energy, and carbon capture. Dr. Botelho holds a PhD in bioanalytical chemistry and a Bachelor of Science with a double major in mathematics and chemistry.