Candice Ashley Pollack is the Chief Executive Officer at ResearchNB. Candice enjoys tackling complex challenges and believes that there is always a way to move the needle forward. With her education and background in law, as well as years of professional experience leading health and social systems improvement initiatives, she brings creativity, resourcefulness, critical thinking, and drive to every role she takes on.

Candice is also deeply passionate about public policy and human rights discourses. She has contributed to published works on youth participation rights, children’s rights in a globalized economy, and knowledge translation for policy decision-making.

Candice values the various communities she is a part of and has been actively volunteering with local and national non-profits for over 15 years. She has volunteered with the Canadian Bar Association, the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers, NB Champions for Child Rights, the Canadian Student Association of Children’s Rights, and more. Currently, Candice is the Second Vice-Chair of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick.

Patti is responsible for overseeing the implementation of ResearchNB’s operational plan to ensure we are accountable to our stakeholders in meeting our strategic goals and objectives.

Patti holds a Master’s of Public Administration and a degree in Community Studies as well as several diplomas and certificates.  Her experience spans over 2 decades working in the health sector including roles in government, non-government, and private sector organizations.

Chris Dickie holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of New Brunswick and launched his career as a forestry contractor and consultant, managing operations and forest plans in Ontario and New Brunswick. In 2004, he joined INFOR Inc., serving 40,000+ private woodlot owners and Christmas tree producers.

Over the next decade, Chris collaborated with various stakeholders on programs and research projects. In 2014, he joined the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries, contributing to the 2016 economic development plan.

In 2018, Chris co-founded 1812 Hemp, focusing on CBD production. He also worked as a consultant, assisting companies in establishing operations in New Brunswick. In 2020, he embarked on constructing a multi- million-dollar COVID-19 test production facility.

In 2023, Chris became the Director of Strategic Priorities at ResearchNB, leveraging over a decade of experience in the bioeconomy sector.

On parental leave until June 2025

Alyssa (she/her) is responsible for overseeing research funding programs and grant competitions offered through ResearchNB.

Alyssa has worked with research and community-health programs for 10+ years in various capacities including roles with clinical research teams, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations. She is passionate about health equity and health systems research.

Alyssa holds a B.Sc. in Biology and Psychology from Dalhousie University and a M.Sc. in Public Health from the University of the West of England. Born and raised in NB, she is based out of the Saint John area.

Alec joins ResearchNB with over 5 years of experience in the field of research administration and had also previously worked for a number of years in the provincial government in various research and analysis roles. His academic training saw him complete the Renaissance College program at UNB before heading to Ottawa to pursue a Masters degree in public policy and he has since completed a certificate program from Mohawk College in research administration. Outside of working hours, he can be found in the garden, greenhouse, climbing wall or just generally outside tinkering at his rural property outside Fredericton.

As ResearchNB’s Systems Analyst, Brandon manages the lifecycle of our data, including data analysis, database management, reporting and process improvements. Brandon ensures the integrity, security, and accessibility of critical data assets instilling a culture of informed decisions and operational excellence. Based in Moncton, Brandon holds a BBA in Finance from UNB and a post-graduate certificate in Business Analysis from NBCC.

Vy is a recent graduate from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. With numerous internship experiences across the academic, public, and private sectors under her belt, she brings a versatile set of skills and a comprehensive understanding of different organizational environments. In her free time, Vy enjoys practicing her new hobby, tennis or whipping up new recipes in the kitchen.

Wendy is the Executive Financial Assistant for ResearchNB. She was with BioNB for 25 years before it amalgamated with the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation to become ResearchNB.

Wendy is responsible for planning, maintaining and coordinating the general operations of the ResearchNB office. She performs bookkeeping services for the organization and provides support with human resources, events and with board meetings.

In her spare time Wendy enjoys spending time with her granddaughter as well as with her friends.

Sebastien is responsible for overseeing the marketing & stakeholder engagement operations at ResearchNB.

He brings a creative mindset and a modern approach to the marketing strategy, with over 7 years of marketing experience in various sectors including post-secondary, government and industrial.

Sebastien holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from Université of Moncton. Born and raised in NB, he is based out of the Moncton area.

In his free time, you can find Sebastien watching or playing sports and hanging out with his friends.

Coming soon...

Hannah is the Choosing Wisely Coordinator at ResearchNB. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Mathematics from the University of New Brunswick and has a strong background in health research. Prior to joining ResearchNB, Hannah focused on research aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults, both those living independently and those in long-term care. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and walking her dog. 

Danielle has been working in the local R&D and business development ecosystem for a decade. She’s currently managing RNB’s provincially funded Anaerobic Digester Concierge program and is coordinating the 2025 Atlantic BIOCON event hosted by RNB. Her agricultural background and understanding of how rural communities function is helping RNB to make an impact in all corners of the province.

Tushita Govindaraj is a Computer Science student at the University of New Brunswick with a passion for technology and community engagement. With experience as a teaching assistant and tech intern, she enjoys creating innovative solutions and helping others learn and grow. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring creative coding projects, and contributing to initiatives that empower others in STEM fields.