Leadership Page
Our bench strength.
From leading research minds to extensive market knowledge, our leadership team brings together the expertise and experienced oversight to advance our goal of leveraging cancer breakthroughs to build viable commercial opportunities.
Management
Management
David O’Neill, PhD
PresidentDavid O’Neill brings extensive experience in Pharma, Biotech and seed stage investing to his role as President of FACIT. Dr. O’Neill has a wealth of networks and transaction experience through various business development roles at AstraZeneca, Ambit Biosciences (Daiichi...
Nicole Baryla, PhD
Senior Director, Corporate AffairsDr. Nicole Baryla joined the FACIT team with 12 years combined experience in not-for-profit organizations, biotech start-up companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and academic research settings. Having joined OICR in 2010 to lead a multi-institutional research...
Connie Chen, PhD
Senior Director, Strategy and Corporate DevelopmentDr. Connie Chen joined FACIT in 2013 with over 12 years of experience in the life sciences, biotechnology and capital markets sectors. Several leadership roles in both the corporate world as well as in the capital markets and investment banking have enabled...
David Koehler, PhD, CLP
Director, Fund OperationsDr. David Koehler joined OICR’s Commercialization group in 2007. His responsibilities include managing the Prospects & Compass Rose Funds, managing OICR’s investments in start-up companies, facilitating the identification and protection...
Lisa Milestone, PhD, P.Eng.
Associate Director, Corporate AffairsDr. Lisa Milestone joined the FACIT team in 2016 with 10 years combined experience in academic research settings and technical consulting. Prior to joining FACIT, Dr. Milestone was a Manager at KPMG in the R&D Tax Incentives Practice, where she led...
Matthew Ward, MBA
Investment AnalystMatthew Ward joined FACIT in 2017 bringing experience from previous roles in innovation and business development with various healthcare organizations. As an Investment Analyst, his role within the team includes co-leading market research, investment...
Brent Zanke, MD, FRCPC, PhD
Executive-in-ResidenceDr. Brent Zanke consults widely on matters of biomarkers, laboratory molecular pathology, innovation policy and health care delivery systems. He is a graduate of the Universities of Manitoba (MD, 1983) and Toronto (PhD 1993) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians...
Donna Parr, MBA
Executive-in-ResidenceMs. Donna Parr has over 25 years’ experience in venture capital, private equity and corporate finance, working for multiple institutional investors (e.g. OMERS, CPP) and Funds (e.g. GrowthWorks Canadian Fund, Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund, CCFL). She is...
Niclas Stiernholm, PhD
Executive-in-ResidenceDr. Niclas Stiernholm, currently an independent consultant, has decades of executive experience in the biotechnology industry, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer of Trillium Therapeutics. Under his direction and leadership...
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
John Morrison, BSc
Mr. John Morrison is a retired chief executive and has been an active corporate director of leading companies and voluntary organizations. He has been responsible for operations in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia...
Ken Lawless, MSc
Mr. Ken Lawless has been very active in promoting investment in, and commercialization of, life sciences companies and technologies in Canada...
Har Grover, MBA, ICD.D
Mr. Har Grover is an entrepreneur, investor, senior executive and strategist with over 30 years of experience in healthcare....
Kevin Empey, CPA, ICD.D
Mr. Kevin Empey is currently the Supervisor of Brockville General Hospital. Prior to this role, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Lakeridge Health for 8 years....
Shana Kelley, PhD
Dr. Shana Kelley is a Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Dr. Kelley received....