Executive Advisory Board

Avrio Ventures Advisory Board extends the fund's network into the global industrial life science community, identifies and supports strategic opportunities for the portfolio and provides insight into sector trends and developments.

Gaétan Lussier

Gaétan Lussier was formerly president and chief executive officer of Culinar Inc and president of Weston Bakeries. In addition to his corporate experience, Mr. Lussier enjoyed a career as an influential senior public servant in both the Government of Canada and the Government of Québec. In 2004, he was employed by the Federal Government of Canada to create the Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute. The Institute is dedicated to identifying issues and opportunities that affect the Canadian agri-food economy. Mr. Lussier was appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture for the Government of Québec and Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Canada. A recipient of the Order of Canada in 1981, Mr. Lussier is the Chairman of the Fund's Executive Advisory Board.

Dr. Bill Cochrane

Dr. Bill Cochrane was the founding Dean of Medicine at the University of Calgary Medical School. He also served as President and Vice Chancellor of the University. Dr. Cochrane was Chairman and CEO of Connaught Laboratories Ltd. and President of the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigations. In 1989, Dr. Cochrane was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He has also been a member of the board of directors for Monsanto Canada, Fluor Daniel (chairman), Vasogen Inc., and the Banff Centre (chairman).

dr. paul paquin

Dr. Paul Paquin is the Associate Dean of Research for the Agriculture and Food Science Faculty at Laval University. As the first director of the Center for Research in Dairy Science and Technology (STELA), in 1997 Dr. Paquin went on to form the Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Institute (INAF). An expert in milk protein functional properties and bioactive peptides, Dr. Paquin is co-founder of nutraceutical technologies firm Advitech Inc. He is also a member of the Executive Scientific Advisory Committee for the Dairy Farmers of Canada, a member of the Standing Committee on Dairy Science and Technology for the International Dairy Federation, and an active industry consultant.

Rick Smith

Rick Smith was formerly president and chief executive officer of Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company. Dow AgroSciences is focused on improving human nutrition through the manufacture of healthier products. Mr. Smith has held senior management positions in the life sciences area including pharmaceuticals, animal health and plant sciences. His corporate experience is augmented by his active involvement as a director in several public and private commercialization initiatives including SemBioSys Genetics Inc; a leading Canadian development company that produces human insulin from genetically modified safflower plants. He is the founding chairman of Bio Products Canada Inc and a member of the Board and the Executive Committee's BioAlberta.

Arthur soler

Arthur Soler was formerly president of Cadbury Chocolate Canada Inc., Canada’s largest confectionery company with total corporate sales of approximately $400 million. Previously Mr. Soler held senior management positions with Warner Lambert Canada Inc. in their consumer health group and confectionary brands, and started his career with Procter & Gamble Canada Inc. Currently Mr. Soler provides advisory and brand management services to the packaged goods and agri-food industries, and is an expert advisor with Agri-Food and Agriculture Canada. He has been Chairman of the Association of Manufacturers of Non-Prescription Medicines, the Confectionary Manufacturers Association of Canada and a board member of BPI Financial Corporation.
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Executive Advisory Board

Avrio Ventures Advisory Board extends the fund's network into the global industrial life science community, identifies and supports strategic opportunities for the portfolio and provides insight into sector trends and developments.

Gaétan Lussier

Gaétan Lussier was formerly president and chief executive officer of Culinar Inc and president of Weston Bakeries. In addition to his corporate experience, Mr. Lussier enjoyed a career as an influential senior public servant in both the Government of Canada and the Government of Québec. In 2004, he was employed by the Federal Government of Canada to create the Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute. The Institute is dedicated to identifying issues and opportunities that affect the Canadian agri-food economy. Mr. Lussier was appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture for the Government of Québec and Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Canada. A recipient of the Order of Canada in 1981, Mr. Lussier is the Chairman of the Fund's Executive Advisory Board.

Dr. Bill Cochrane

Dr. Bill Cochrane was the founding Dean of Medicine at the University of Calgary Medical School. He also served as President and Vice Chancellor of the University. Dr. Cochrane was Chairman and CEO of Connaught Laboratories Ltd. and President of the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigations. In 1989, Dr. Cochrane was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He has also been a member of the board of directors for Monsanto Canada, Fluor Daniel (chairman), Vasogen Inc., and the Banff Centre (chairman).

dr. paul paquin

Dr. Paul Paquin is the Associate Dean of Research for the Agriculture and Food Science Faculty at Laval University. As the first director of the Center for Research in Dairy Science and Technology (STELA), in 1997 Dr. Paquin went on to form the Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Institute (INAF). An expert in milk protein functional properties and bioactive peptides, Dr. Paquin is co-founder of nutraceutical technologies firm Advitech Inc. He is also a member of the Executive Scientific Advisory Committee for the Dairy Farmers of Canada, a member of the Standing Committee on Dairy Science and Technology for the International Dairy Federation, and an active industry consultant.

Rick Smith

Rick Smith was formerly president and chief executive officer of Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company. Dow AgroSciences is focused on improving human nutrition through the manufacture of healthier products. Mr. Smith has held senior management positions in the life sciences area including pharmaceuticals, animal health and plant sciences. His corporate experience is augmented by his active involvement as a director in several public and private commercialization initiatives including SemBioSys Genetics Inc; a leading Canadian development company that produces human insulin from genetically modified safflower plants. He is the founding chairman of Bio Products Canada Inc and a member of the Board and the Executive Committee's BioAlberta.

Arthur soler

Arthur Soler was formerly president of Cadbury Chocolate Canada Inc., Canada’s largest confectionery company with total corporate sales of approximately $400 million. Previously Mr. Soler held senior management positions with Warner Lambert Canada Inc. in their consumer health group and confectionary brands, and started his career with Procter & Gamble Canada Inc. Currently Mr. Soler provides advisory and brand management services to the packaged goods and agri-food industries, and is an expert advisor with Agri-Food and Agriculture Canada. He has been Chairman of the Association of Manufacturers of Non-Prescription Medicines, the Confectionary Manufacturers Association of Canada and a board member of BPI Financial Corporation.