ABOUT VILS

VILS is a nonprofit and all-volunteer society operating since November 2016 (founded in 2016 initially as two groups, quickly merged, by Paul Stinson, Alan Winter, Jody Haddow, and Samuel Mercer) and incorporated in 2021. It is a open, inclusive community association of people engaged and interested in life sciences innovation/research & development and entrepreneurship, centred in Victoria, Canada but supporting all of Vancouver Island, and with connections to similar groups and communities around the world.

VILS's vision is to accelerate the growth of life sciences on Vancouver Island into a thriving innovation community and cluster, in alignment with global trends in biomedicine and technology convergence, and with fellow innovation hubs.

The VILS association constitution (purposes):

The purposes of the society are to support and facilitate the professional, business, scientific, social, benevolent, educational and political activities, endeavours and goals of its membership within the Vancouver Island Life Sciences Community, including with respect to:

Talent Development:
to empower and engage youth and recent graduates in life science innovation (training, generational knowledge transfer, greater opportunity), and further the careers of advanced professionals (continued professional education, attraction to Vancouver Island of global talent).

Commercialization and Entrepreneurship in Life Science Innovation:
facilitating the sharing of facilities and equipment for life science research and development; promoting capital investment in life science innovation; bridging academia and industry; sharing knowledge on intellectual property commercialization; and mentoring/support of life sciences innovators.

Community and Communication:
Holding meetings and events and disseminating community news; collaboration with other innovation communities and clusters; supporting links and cooperation with local health authorities, health providers, and governments.

 

Our Board of Directors:


Stephen Albinati, Treasurer
Stephen Albinati, CPA, CA, is VILS Treasurer since 2021 and combines his financial accreditations and acumen with deep technical and business experience at several emergent technology companies and in various fields; even while today as Finance Director at Helmsman Management he supports largely biopharma clients. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Master of Professional Accounting degree, in addition to his Chartered Accountant designation. In addition to serving on the VILS Board, Stephen manages to also sit on the Finance Committee of St. Andrew's Cathedral and serves as Treasurer and Chair of Oasis Society.

Nick Allan, Director
Nick Allan, MSc is Bio Services Manager at longtime VILS supporter and sponsor Starfish Medical, Canada's largest medical device engineering consultancy. Nick has over 20 years' regulatory and product development experience in the field of microbiology, supporting medical device development ranging from proof-of-concept full regulatory submissios. Nick was a key contributor to ASTM E2799-11 (the first protocol approved by ASTM that applies to both biofilm growth and disinfectant). Nick is also the President and Founder of Chinook Contract Research Inc (an Alberta based CRO supporting antimicrobial aspects of medical devices and providing large animal field trial services for food-animal pharmaceuticals).

Genevieve Grant, Director
Genevieve Grant, BA serves as the Principal Consultant at InClover Business Consulting, a Victoria-based business development firm focused on small- to medium-sized pharmaceutical organizations. After spending over 15 years in pharma business development in both Canada and the US, including assistance in establishing multiple novel pharma start-ups in the medication-compounding space, she has developed a strong support and admiration for the creativity, ingenuity and sheer heart that it takes to launch, grow and sustain a successful biopharma business.

Samuel Mercer, President
Samuel Mercer, BSc is an independent consultant, having worked for over 23 years managing the outsourcing of global clinical trials and pharmaceutical research alliances in the UK, US, Canada and Switzerland, most recently in the Basel headquarters of Roche and then Novartis, where he was responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in annual external spend. After returning to Canada in 2014 he has subsequently consulted for and advised biopharmaceutical sponsors worldwide, as well as local technology firms and startups, including as an executive-in-residence at VIATEC, volunteer mentor at UVic's school of business and Innovation Centre, and serving on the Education Committee of Licensing Executives Society (LES) US & Canada.

Laura Morrison, Vice President
Laura Morrison, MSc is a Biostatistician Manager at Emmes, a global contract research organization. She completed a BSc in combined honours in Mathematics and Statistics as well as an MSc in Statistics, both at UVic. She has worked on numerous global clinical trials as a biostatistical programmer and a biostatistician at several global clinical research organizations including in support of several regulatory submissions to the FDA/EMA/etc.

David Schibli, Director
David Schibli, PhD is the Associate Director of the of the Pan-Canadian Proteomics Centre, as well as of the UVic-Genome BC Proteomics Centre. After a BSc at UVic and PhD from the University of Calgary in Protein Biochemistry, David undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Grenoble, France. Next he was a Project Manager at the University of Western Ontario, where he established a new high-throughput proteomics facility. David then obtained his MBA at the University of Western Ontario, specializing in Health Sciences. He also worked at the Ontario Genomics Institute and was the General Manager of Business Improvement Group (BIG) Funding Inc.
 

Peter Smith, Director
Peter Smith, BSc is the CEO of Semaphore Solutions, a Victoria software company supporting global next-generation genomic sequencing laboratories. After a BSc in electronic engineering at Simon Fraser University, Peter created firmware for the first laser computer-to-printing-plate devices at Creo followed by more advanced imaging and commercial printing innovations at Kodak. Peter has now been leading and growing Semaphore in downtown Victoria for 12+ years.
 
 

 

Special Recognition of In Aeternum Board Members:

The VILS board recognizes the in aeternum and in memoriam membership of two directors, Jody Haddow and Melanie Mawer.

Jody completed a PhD in Biochemistry at UVic before helping build up ImmunoPrecise Antibodies in its early stages, teaching biochemistry at United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, co-founding VILS, and most recently managing North American business development for Fusion Antibodies of Belfast.

Melanie studied at UVic, taking an MSc in Molecular Biology, before rising to Research Operations Leader in a career at BC Cancer Agency's Deeley Research Centre, then leading business development for genetics at LifeLabs, before consulting in recent years on strategic build-outs of clinical and research laboratories.


Jody and Melanie were hyperactive volunteers and contributors to VILS for years until they were taken from us in 2019 and 2020 by myocardial infarction and glioblastoma multiforme, respectively. Their enthusiasm and their values of compassion, openness, optimism and fun continue to guide the culture of VILS, as well as their untreatable conditions reminding us how much innovation in health and medicine is yet to come.


1972–2020: Melanie Anne Mawer, brave friend, colleague, and VILS board member. Melanie will not only be remembered for her courage, transparency and optimism in the face of her inoperable glioblastoma multiforme; by her example, she has inspired us to continue in love, gather regularly and celebrate often. Learn more about Melanie's legacy at A Part Of Mel's Story.

June 20, 1971–October 10, 2019: Dr. Jody Daniel Haddow, our dear friend, colleague and VILS co-founder. Jody's strong legacy will in part be carried on by VILS, in its openness, amiability, unpretentiousness, fun and humour, and universal respect for all people. Learn more about Jody and view photos on our dedicated page.

 

© Vancouver Island Life Sciences, 2016 to 2022