About Bioenterprise
Bioenterprise is Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, bringing 15+ years of industry experience to help businesses Connect, Innovate & Grow! Bioenterprise uses its sector-savvy Service Partner network to offer Intellectual Property, Regulatory, Legal, Talent, Sales, Marketing, Finance and Investment advice.
Our executive team boasts more than 30 combined years of funding experience, offering feedback and coaching on acquiring public and private funding or investment from a wide variety of sources, and direct connection into those streams of funding.
The Bioenterprise Engine is a national and global network encompassing research institutions, academia, industry mentors, various levels of government, and the innovative businesses that make Canadian agri-tech and food such a strong industry. Our partnerships with corporations such as MNP, IBM Canada and Farm Credit Canada, open doors into innovative new technologies and platforms to help our businesses thrive. Let The Engine drive your own success and scale up with Bioenterprise.
Regional Expertise Nationwide
Learn more about the Bioenterprise Northern Ontario Project! Meet the team, take in the scope of advisory expertise, and learn about our priorities for Northern Ontario growth and innovation.
Discover Bioenterprise’s Science and Innovation Advisory Committee! A nationwide group of leading researchers and industry specialists that provide critical expertise to drive industry innovation
Meet the Team
To deliver top-notch services, you need a top-notch team. Our highly qualified team has the business experience you’re looking for as well as the industry-specific knowledge that spans the full range of agriculture, agri-food and agri-product technologies.
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Dave Smardon
President & CEO
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Italo Cerra
Vice-President, Finance
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Colin Farnum
Innovation Advisor, Food Innovation
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Denise Dewar
Innovation Advisor, Crop Agriculture, Value Chain & Regulatory Affairs
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Doug Knox
Innovation Advisor, Agri-Food Equipment and Technology
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John Pickard
Innovation Advisor, Food & Consumer Markets
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Neil Currie
Innovation Advisor, Primary Agriculture, Value Chain & Governance
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Dr. Murray McLaughlin
Innovation Advisor, Bioeconomy (Agriculture & Forestry)
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Richard Cloutier
Innovation Advisor, Investment & Development Strategies
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Michael McGee
Director of Innovation
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Johanne Sévigny
Innovation Advisor, Startups, Investment & Business Strategies A+
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Paul Richards
Partner Advisor
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Mike Manion
Innovation Advisor, Agri-Business
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Kolby Nichol
Director, Capital Enablement
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Thora Cartlidge
Regional Manager, Northern Ontario
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Dieter Valtins
Relationship Manager, Northeastern Ontario
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Taylor Gynane
Business Development Coordinator
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Carla Berquó
Manager, Canada's Food & Agri-Tech Engine
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Rob Kinch
Partnership Advisor
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Frank Dion
Partnership Advisor
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Alexandra Coccari
Program Manager
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Molly Gallant
Project Manager
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Sean Simpson
Project Manager
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Rachel Zimic
Project Coordinator
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Laura Millson
Special Projects Coordinator
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Aaron Misener
Strategic Communications Manager
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Alana Duval
Media and Events Coordinator
Dave Smardon
President & CEO
Dave Smardon is a forward facing CEO, leading Canada’s top agri-tech accelerator. Under his guidance, Bioenterprise is navigating the shifting Canadian landscape of food, agriculture, and clean technologies and bringing deep impact locally and internationally through high-growth scaling projects.
Dave takes every opportunity to speak on the potential of agri-tech to adopt and expand emerging technologies, the importance of continued support and growth in the sector, and how the ecosystem can work together, through gateways like Bioenterprise, to place Canadian innovation at the forefront of global development.
Italo Cerra
Vice-President, Finance
Italo Cerra is a seasoned financial executive with diverse experience in public and private sector companies and brings over 25 years experience in working with technology enterprises. His years in the technology sector have provided particular financial expertise in R&D financing, and operational reporting and controls.
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Italo spent 10 years with Deloitte and Touche in their audit practice. He then joined the telecommunications industry, as VP Finance with Teltone Limited, a large North American telecommunications corporation. Since that time Italo has held executive level responsibilities including Controller, VP Finance, Director of Finance and CFO at a variety of technology-based enterprises.
Colin Farnum
Innovation Advisor, Food Innovation
Previously the Senior Director, Innovation and New Technologies at Maple Leaf Foods, Colin is a seasoned food science/business professional with 40+ years of food experience. Having worked in multiple food categories he has led teams of 5 to 20 Food Scientists responsible for product and process development, cost containment and cost reduction. Since his retirement he has continued his involvement via a combination of consulting, mentoring and Bioenterprise Board work.
Denise Dewar
Innovation Advisor, Crop Agriculture, Value Chain & Regulatory Affairs
Denise is a senior executive with over 25 years experience in advancing agriculture innovations to the market place. Denise has worked in Canada and on the global stage supporting companies in gaining regulatory approvals at all levels of government. She has worked with multinational companies, farm groups, non-profit organizations and technology associations in developing strategic alliances that support product approvals, allowing products to be marketed nationally and traded internationally. Denise was the first Executive Director for Biotechology at CropLife International and spent 12 years working with companies and associations in Canada.
Doug Knox
Innovation Advisor, Agri-Food Equipment and Technology
Doug is a senior executive with over 35 years experience establishing and managing international partnerships, technology licenses, acquisitions and strategic alliances. Doug has managed both large corporate product divisions and developed small technology-based businesses. He was the senior analyst at Bioenterprise Corporation as VP Technology for over 14 years. Doug spent 11 years with Unisys Corp. in the program management group where he held worldwide responsibility for the Education Line of Business “Computers in the Classroom”.
John Pickard
Innovation Advisor, Food & Consumer Markets
John Pickard honed his skills in marketing and sales with global marketers Bristol-Myers and Warner-Lambert. During these years he worked on the planning, development, and introduction of many products in the food and consumer packaged goods sectors. Following that he became Vice President of Telemedia Publishing, then Canada’s largest consumer magazine publisher.
Neil Currie
Innovation Advisor, Primary Agriculture, Value Chain & Governance
Neil’s 37 year career in the agriculture industry has provided broad-spectrum experience in analysis, operations management, trade policy, advocacy and governance. His work has included government and public relations campaigns, strategic planning, finance, facilitation, human resource management and communications. Most recently, Neil managed the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, developing and advocating for farm and food policy at all levels of government. In this role he also co-Chaired the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s development of the National Food Strategy.
Dr. Murray McLaughlin
Innovation Advisor, Bioeconomy (Agriculture & Forestry)
Dr. Murray McLaughlin is President of McLaughlin Consultants and an Advisor to Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) and to Forest Products Innovation(FPI). From 2010 to 2016 he was the Executive Director of BIC and the Sustainable Chemistry Alliance in Sarnia, Ontario, with a focus on a Sustainable Bioeconomy. Also he managed a national Bioproducts cluster supported by AAFC.
Richard Cloutier
Innovation Advisor, Investment & Development Strategies
Richard is Managing Partner of the Ecofuel Fund. He has nearly 40 years of expertise in the deployment of innovation, business start-up and business development strategies.
Richard was President and CEO of the Ecofuel Accelerator and of the Centre québécois de valorisation des biotechnologies (CQVB), an organization dedicated to innovation and technology transfer in the bio-industry sector.
Michael McGee
Director of Innovation
Michael has been investing risk capital in small and medium enterprise businesses since the early 90’s, most recently as a Partner with Avrio Capital, a Calgary based fund focused on Agriculture and Food. Prior to joining Avrio in 2012, Michael spent eight years in senior investment positions at two Calgary based family offices, most notably, as Managing Director - Investments with Werklund Capital Corp. and as Executive Vice President - Investments with Cavendish Investing Ltd.
Johanne Sévigny
Innovation Advisor, Startups, Investment & Business Strategies A+
Johanne is Managing Partner of the Ecofuel Fund. She has over 30 years of experience in financing and managing businesses. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal and an MBA from HEC Montréal.
Paul Richards
Partner Advisor
Paul is the sector lead for Agri-technology for Innovacorp, a Nova Scotia Venture Capital organization. Paul focuses on enabling knowledge-based companies to accelerate the commercialization of their technology to create dynamic, high-growth venture grade companies and develop the entrepreneurial culture in the region. Since taking on this role, Paul has worked to establish a growing ecosystem in Atlantic Canada for the agri-tech sector and has helped his companies raise over $75 million dollars.
Mike Manion
Innovation Advisor, Agri-Business
Mike has an extensive background in senior executive positions for a number of Canada’s largest corporate farming operations and as an owner operator. He has been directly involved in or responsible for mushroom farming operations in 6 of Canada’s 10 provinces.
Kolby Nichol
Director, Capital Enablement
Kolby Nichol grew up on a grain farm in rural Manitoba.
To pursue his interest in agriculture, he attended the University of Manitoba to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness.
Thora Cartlidge
Regional Manager, Northern Ontario
Thora is a professional planner with 20 years’ hands-on experience in sustainable community development and natural resource management in rural Minnesota and Northern Ontario. Skilled in applied research, public policy analysis and sustainable development principles, she has a track record of leading successful public infrastructure development with community economic benefits.
Dieter Valtins
Relationship Manager, Northeastern Ontario
Dieter is a dynamic business professional with broad-ranging experience across multiple sectors, and a passion for business development. Born and raised in northern Ontario, Dieter grew up in the region of Temiskaming Shores, before going on to post-secondary studies at Trent University in Peterborough, ON.
Taylor Gynane
Business Development Coordinator
Taylor Gynane has first-hand experience with experience working in First Nation government, technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation partnerships. In addition to working with Bioenteprise, he is also Business Development Coordinator with Ingenuity, Lakehead University’s Business Incubator. Taylor holds a degree in Political Science and Government from Lakehead University and is excited for the opportunity to identify challenges faced in the Northern Ontario ag-tech sector and developing innovative and collaborative solutions
Carla Berquó
Manager, Canada's Food & Agri-Tech Engine
As the Manager of Bioenterprise Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine Carla’s primary role is to assist our members and partners Connect, Innovate & Grow; through The Engine, our national network of innovative companies and expert partners dedicated to growth, connectivity and collaboration across the food, agri-tech and related sectors.
Rob Kinch
Partnership Advisor
Rob’s 25+ years of proven experience transforming and scaling sales organizations into successful performers. He has worked internationally and nationally for IBM, and Microsoft in senior management positions, built successful Canadian, US channel programs, and grown his own consulting practice to success.
Frank Dion
Partnership Advisor
Frank has 3+ decades of successfully reversing growth challenged organizations and piloting them to success. This proven experience enables him to quickly identify your roadblocks, implement specific strategies and tactics for success. He has worked internationally, nationally for Xerox, ComputerLand and Toshiba in senior management positions. He has also built his own company, raised funds, secured new markets, went public and sold the business.
Alexandra Coccari
Program Manager
As Program Manager, Alexandra is responsible for managing all aspects of Bioenterprise programming, including program development and delivery, reporting, business development, client service delivery, and maintaining the Bioenterprise global network. Alexandra leads the client-facing team of project managers who provide commercialization support services to members of Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine.
Molly Gallant
Project Manager
As Project Manager, Molly Gallant oversees key client projects as it relates to Bioenterprise Ontario’s delivery of the Smart Growth funding program targeted to companies that are scaling up or expanding. Her objective is to coordinate and complete client-focused projects on time and within budget allowing companies to effectively innovate, grow and reach their full potential. Molly also provides mentorship and coaching to Bioenterprise’s vast network of key players within the agri-tech sector facilitating cross-industry collaboration.
Sean Simpson
Project Manager
Sean’s focus is providing business advisory and commercialization support services to the members of Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine.
As a graduate of the M.Sc. program in Environmental Science from the University of Guelph, Sean has a thorough understanding of climate change mitigation, soil fertility, and the advancements of biofertilizers in crop protection. Sean’s prior experience in agricultural consulting and service delivery has immersed him in Canada’s diverse agricultural landscapes.
Rachel Zimic
Project Coordinator
As project coordinator, Rachel’s primary role is to support the client-facing team with project-related activities at Bioenterprise. Rachel assists project managers with the successful execution of projects, through coordinating external and internal resources, research and analysis, data collection and related program activities. Rachel also supports in capturing, processing and organizing data to ensure effective management of information.
Laura Millson
Special Projects Coordinator
As Bioenterprise’s Special Project Coordinator, Laura brings extensive professional administrative experience from both public and private industry. She plays an instrumental role supporting the Analyst Team, managing and delivering impactful, results-oriented special projects. A sampling of these activities includes projects related to provincial funding programs, design, and administration of the enterprise database program, IT support collaboration and office logistics.
Aaron Misener
Strategic Communications Manager
As Strategic Communications Manager, Aaron is connected to many facets of Bioenterprise’s daily operations. From proposals to press releases, Aaron shapes the face of Bioenterprise among various external contacts, from the public to our partners and sources of funding. Aaron harnesses his skills in professional writing and proposal drafting to increase the reach of Bioenterprise’s support network, while also ensuring that our core messaging and ideologies remain consistent. Aaron also assists in writing the content and copy associated with communications and media presence, working closely with the marketing team.
Alana Duval
Media and Events Coordinator
As Media and Events Coordinator, Alana's primary role is to manage outwards facing communications via social media and newsletters, as well as to manage logistics and planning for digital and physical events hosted by Bioenterprise. Alana brings advanced skills in videography, graphic design, and brand management to enhance Bioenterprise's image and create dynamic internal documents. Alana is working to increase online engagement and profile for Bioenterprise and its clients through digital media and informative webinars.