Twenty-two leaders from across Canada’s life sciences sector join adMare’s flagship leadership development program to strengthen the leadership pipeline driving company creation and growth.
Vancouver (BC), Toronto (ON), and Montreal (QC) – September 24, 2026 – adMare BioInnovations (adMare) is pleased to welcome 22 participants to Cohort IX of the Executive Institute, the organization’s flagship leadership program. Since its launch, the Executive Institute has helped develop 150 leaders from more than 100 organizations across Canada, strengthening the leadership pipeline and national networks needed to create, scale, and retain globally competitive companies.
As Canada’s life sciences company creation engine, adMare is focused on closing critical gaps across capital, infrastructure and talent to help build and scale a strong pipeline of investable Canadian life sciences companies. The Executive Institute is a key part of that effort, equipping participants with the tools, networks and perspectives needed to navigate growth, attract investment, build high-performing teams, and translate innovation into impact.
“Canada has the scientific excellence to build globally competitive life sciences companies, but success ultimately depends on people,” said Matthew Carlyle, President and CEO of adMare Bioinnovations. “The calibre of this year’s cohort reflects both the strength of Canada’s life sciences sector and the growing recognition that leadership development is critical to translating scientific excellence into commercial success. We are proud to welcome these leaders and support them as they build the companies and organizations that will drive Canada’s future growth and innovation.”
Selected from a highly competitive national applicant pool, Cohort IX brings together 22 accomplished leaders from across four provinces and every corner of Canada’s life sciences ecosystem. Participants represent a diverse range of organizations, roles and perspectives, including strong representation from women, racialized, 2SLGBTQI+, and official language minority communities.
Through executive coaching, peer learning, and immersive workshops they will develop the leadership skills, trusted networks and practical insights to address real-time challenges of scaling innovative organizations and building globally competitive companies.
Members of Cohort IX include:
- Julie Asselin – Project Manager, Preclinical Affairs, Find Therapeutics
- Mike Badeau – President & CEO, YYZ Pharmatech Inc.
- Stuart Barnscher – Executive Director, Preclinical Programs, Zymeworks
- Meriem Benchabane – VP, Strategic Development & Operations, Feldan Therapeutics
- Mihai Burai-Patrascu – Director, CADD, Molecular Forecaster Inc.
- Richard Dean – Senior Director, Biology, Xenon Pharmaceuticals
- Dominic Hou – VP, Discovery, KisoJi Biotechnology Inc.
- Nicolette Honson – Director, Business Development, Borealis Biosciences
- Arwen Hunter – Director, Stem Cell Biology, Research & Development, STEMCELL Technologies
- Michael Kennedy – Director, AbCellera
- Cassandra Kinch – SVP, Asset Development, Stream Neuroscience Inc.
- Yussanne Ma – Director of Operations, Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre
- Megan Mahoney – Director of Scientific Affairs & Training, BioCanRx
- Serena Mandla – CSO & Co-Founder, Noa Therapeutics
- Polina Martins – Senior Director, Communications, Public Affairs & People Strategy, Ontario Genomics
- Scott McAuley, – Head of Research & Equity Research Analyst, Healthcare & Biotechnology, Paradigm Capital
- Cory Mulvihill – Associate Vice President, Strategy & External Affairs, Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization (CPDC)
- Claudie Noël – Senior Director, Operations, Montréal InVivo
- Marc Shenouda – CEO, Neuropeutics Inc.
- Chen Wan – Director, Research & Innovation, Health, Genome BC
- Conrad Winters – VP, CMC, Ventus Therapeutics
- Christina Yeh – Vice President, Programs & Strategic Partnerships, OBIO
The Executive Institute is one of a suite of talent development programs that adMare delivers and supports. Alongside ASCEND, and the Biotechnology Industry Skills (BIS) program and biomanufacturing training initiatives delivered by CASTL, adMare helps build the technical, leadership and company-building talent required to translate scientific discoveries into innovative products, globally competitive companies and economic growth.
To learn more about how the Executive Institute is building the next generation of life sciences leaders in Canada, visit: Talent Development | adMare
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