2006/2007 Competition Juries

Robert Bechard - Managing Partner, RBC Capital Partners Lifescience Fund - Montreal, QC

Bob is a Managing Partner of RBC Capital Partners Lifescience Fund. He currently serves on a number of investee Company Boards including Angiogenix, Conforma Therapeutics, Cognetix, and Viron. . Prior to joining RBC Capital, Bob was Investment Manager for Sofinov/CDP Capital Technologies where he made a number of Investments in both Private and Publicly listed biotech companies. Bob has an MBA from Concordia University, MSc. from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. (Political Science) from the University of New Brunswick in Saint John.

Giovani Ferara - Managing Director, Burrill and Company - San Francisco, CA

Prior to joining Burrill & Company, Mr. Ferrara was Manager at GeneChem Management, Inc., a healthcare venture capital firm, where he led several syndicated investments in Canada and the United States. He also held interim operating positions in portfolio companies and worked closely with BioChem Pharma's CSO and business development team in sourcing and pursuing inlicensing opportunities, which led to two of BioChem's largest deals, having achieved approximately $95 million in business development transactions. Prior to joining the venture capital community, he was a financial analyst at Letko, Brosseau & Associates. He began his career in healthcare as a pharmacist at a private cancer treatment center in Toronto focusing on experimental therapies. Mr. Ferrara also completed graduate studies in the field of gene regulation and nuclear receptors, and studied the activity of various vitamin D analogs in collaboration with Hoffman La Roche. Mr. Ferrara completed his MBA in Finance and International Business and MSc in Physiology at McGill University, and his BSc in Biology and Genetics at the University of Toronto. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Agilix, CardioKine (observer), Spectral Genomics, and Nucleonics.

Denis Ho - Managing Director Life Sciences Venture Capital, Business Development Bank of Canada - Toronto, ON

Denis joined BDC Venture Capital in 2003 as Managing Director, Life Sciences.

Denis Ho has over 20 years of experience in the North American financial markets including years with MDS Capital Corp. as venture partner, Forbes Capital Canada Inc. as partner, KPMG as partner and Mercantile Bank of Canada as account manager.

Denis holds an MBA, University of Western Ontario, an M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology, Queen's University and a B.Sc., from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Maha Katabi - Vice-President, Life Sciences, Ventures West – Montreal, QC and Toronto, ON

Dr. Maha Katabi joined Ventures West as Vice President, Life Sciences in 2004. She focuses on deal generation and portfolio management in the Life Sciences sector.

Prior to joining Ventures West, Maha was Vice President, Business Development of Chronogen Inc., a drug discovery company developing human therapeutics to treat age-dependent diseases. Prior to joining Chronogen, she was responsible for managing investments in the Life Sciences field with T2C2 /Bio, L.P., a prominent Quebec biotechnology venture fund.

Maha holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from McGill University.

Damian Lamb - Managing Director, Genesys Capital - Toronto, ON

Damian is a founder and Managing Director of Genesys Capital. Damian brings a unique experience base, blending skills in both the commercial and technical side of biotechnology. Since co-founding Genesys Capital Partners in 2000, Damian has been instrumental in raising over $125 million in venture capital funds, and has been involved in deploying over $60 million in 16 investments. He serves on the Board of Affinium Pharmaceuticals Inc., DELEX Therapeutics Inc., Millenium Biologix Inc., and Ionalytics Corporation. Damian works closely with these and other Genesys investee companies to strategically position the companies to best build value for all shareholders.

In 2001, Damian played a key role in creating two seed capital funds associated with Canada's leading research institutes. The Discovery District Biotechnology Fund was set up in partnership with leading Toronto-based research institutes (the University of Toronto, University Health Network, Hospital for Sick Children, and Mount Sinai Hospita). The Ottawa Biotechnology Innovation Fund was set up in partnership with leading Ottawa-based research institutes (the University of Ottawa, Ottawa Health Research Institute, and the National Research Council of Canada). Damian is the President of the Ottawa Biotechnology Innovation Fund and a director of the Discovery District Biotechnology Fund.

Prior to founding Genesys Capital Partners Inc., Damian was an Investment Manager with MDS Capital Corp. He is a frequently invited speaker at biotechnology industry conferences and has been a judge for the BioNorth Top 10 Canadian Life Sciences Companies contest from 2000 - 2002.

Damian graduated from McMaster University , Faculty of Health Sciences, with a MSc in molecular neurobiology. Damian also holds an MBA from Queen's University.

Dr. Jeffrey B. Moore - Associate, Kauffman Fellow, Research Corporation Technologies (RCT) - Cambridge, MA

Dr. Moore is a Kauffman Fellow with Research Corporation Technologies (RCT), an early-stage venture firm investing in therapeutics, medical devices and technology platforms.

Jeff brings considerable biopharma experience to RCT, having held various roles at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Scriptgen/Anadys, including drug target prioritization, business development and competitive intelligence. Jeff received his postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, PhD from Oxford, BSc from the University of New Brunswick and MBA from MIT as a Sloan Fellow, where he also interned at MPM Capital.

RCT provides funding and development for promising biomedical companies and technologies. Founded in 1987, the company carries on the Research Corporation vision chartered in 1912, dedicated to the transfer of academic innovation to commercial use. Landmark technologies include cisplatin, PSA, Pichia expression systems, and protein PEGylation. Recent venture successes include the sale of Kerberos Proximal Solutions to FoxHollow Technologies. RCT has assets of more than $300 million to commercialize technologies via venture-backed startups, development partnerships and licensing programs.

Bill Murray, MBA, CFA — VP, Investment Banking – Versant Partners - Montreal

Bill holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration with high distinction from the University of Nebraska, an MBA in Finance/Marketing with distinction from McGill University and is a CFA charter holder. He is also a member of the Montreal Society of Financial Analysts and the Association of MBA's of Quebec.

Mr. Murray graduated in 1995 from the MBA program at McGill University . While studying in 1994, he earned valuable experience in the marketing research department of Marion Merrell Dow Canada as an assistant marketing research analyst. Bill began his Investment Banking career with First Marathon Securities Limited in June 1995 as an Associate. He then worked on numerous equity issues, including over 25 in the biotechnology and technology sectors, as well as various M&A advisory assignments and was promoted to Vice President in the Telecommunications group in December 1999.

Bill is currently responsible for underwriting and M&A in the Health Care and Industrial sectors. Since joining Versant Partners (previously Dlouhy Merchant)in March 2000, Bill has managed over 50 new issues totaling more than $800M, as well as several M&A mandates. Versant Partners was lead or co-lead in over half those financings.

Dr R. Dana Ono - Managing Director Life Sciences, Vimac Ventures - Boston, MA

Dana's experience includes over 20 years of senior management in public and private biotech companies. Most recently, he was a co-founder, President and CEO of IntraImmune Therapies, Inc., a biotechnology company which he sold to Abgenix, Inc. (Nasdaq:ABGX) in 2000. Prior to heading IntraImmune, he was founder and principal manager of several successful early stage biotech companies in the Boston area.

Throughout his career, Dana has been engaged in the strategic planning, product management, technology acquisition and commercial development of biotech startups. A founding director of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Inc., Dana is a frequent spokesperson for the biotechnology industry. He has authored a number of scientific articles and edited the book, "The Business of Biotechnology-From the Bench to the Street."

Dana received his AM and PhD in Biology from Harvard University and his AB in Earth & Planetary Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University.

Jorge Ramírez – Associate, ProQuest – Princeton, NJ and Montreal, QC

Mr. Ramírez joined ProQuest in 2005 as an Associate. Prior to joining ProQuest, Mr. Ramírez was the General Manager of Neurology Products at Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems. While at Cyberkinetics, he led the regulatory and clinical development teams for the Company’s epilepsy monitoring device. In addition, he had line management responsibility for sales, marketing, manufacturing, and product development for Cyberkinetics’ preclinical research products. Previously, Mr. Ramírez worked as a management consultant at Monitor Company.

Mr. Ramírez received B.A. degrees in neuroscience and Spanish literature from Amherst College, where he graduated magna cum laude. He received an M.B.A from Harvard Business School.

Joe Regan – Vice President, Investments: Life Sciences, GrowthWorks - Toronto, ON

Joe Regan is Vice President, Investments at GrowthWorks. He brings a decade of Life Sciences venture capital and pharmaceutical industry experience. Joe has an Honours B.Sc. (with distinction) from the University of Guelph and a MBA (Dean's List) from McMaster University. Joe has been active in both company creation and the strategic growth of investees. He has served as interim CEO, Chair and Board member of several biotechnology companies and currently sits on a number of investee Boards including SunnyBrook Working Ventures Medical Discovery Fund, Working Ventures CMDF Queen's Scientific Breakthrough Fund, Kytogenics Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Cytochroma Inc., Targeted Growth Inc., Veracel Inc. and Mimetix Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Dr. Joyce Tsang – Partner, ProQuest – Princeton, NJ and Montreal, QC

Dr. Tsang joined ProQuest as an Associate in 1999 and became a General Partner in 2002. Her scientific background combined with financial and business judgment offers a unique understanding of how to commercialize innovation. Prior to joining ProQuest, Dr. Tsang held positions with McKinsey & Company and Smith Barney (now Citi Smith Barney). At McKinsey, she advised a variety of healthcare-focused Fortune 500 clients on strategic, operational, and organizational issues. At Smith Barney, Dr. Tsang worked on structuring numerous debt and equity offerings. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of Artemis Medical and Threshold Pharmaceuticals. Currently Dr. Tsang serves on the Board of Directors of Sopherion Therapeutics and Mersana Therapeutics.

Dr. Tsang received an A.B. in molecular biology from Princeton University, where she graduated cum laude. She received a Ph.D. in the macromolecular and cellular structure and chemistry from The Scripps Research Institute.

Samuel Wu, MD, PhD - Principal, SV Life Sciences (SVLS) - Boston, MA

Dr Samuel Wu joined SVLS in 2002 and is focused on biotech and medical device investments. He is actively involved as a board observer at Alba Therapeutics, Archemix, Confluent Surgical, Mpex Pharmaceuticals and Sapphire (formerly Rejuvenon). Prior to joining SVLS, Samuel was an Engagement Manager with McKinsey and Company's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products practice, where he led teams of consultants serving clients on M&A, portfolio analysis and other strategic issues. Samuel earned an MD and a PhD in Biochemistry from Stanford University and completed his internship in Internal Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He holds an AB in Biochemistry from Harvard College.

Claudio Bertuccioli - Principal, Rho Ventures - New York, NY

Prior to joining Rho in 2001, Claudio was with Atlas Venture, where he worked on internet and biotechnology deals. Previously, Claudio spent 3 years as a management consultant with Oliver, Wyman & Co and co-founded an angel investment fund in New York. Claudio holds a BA from Cambridge University and PhD in molecular biology and genetics from the Rockefeller University.

Luc Charron - Private Equity Principal, SAM Private Equity – Montreal, QC

As a principal of SAM Private Equity, Luc Charron is responsible for leading venture capital deals in the fields of Energy, Materials, Water and Nutrition. He’s also responsible for the CDP- Energy Technology Portfolio, the management of which was given to SAM by CDP, in September 2004. He currently serves on the boards of Hyradix,Inc., Cellex Power Products, Inc., STM Power, Inc. Ormecon Chemie GmbH, PEMEAS GmbH and is an observer on the board of Polyfuel, Inc.. Luc has over 30 years of experience in private equity and venture capital. Before joining SAM, Luc held the position of Senior Partner- Energy at CDP Capital- Technology Ventures. Prior to this, he also held high-level positions with several organizations, including Senior Vice President of KPMG Corporate Finance Inc., Vice President, Investments, with the Solidarity Fund QFL, a leading $4 billion+ Quebec development capital fund, Senior Vice President of Power Financial Capital Corporation and Vice President- Merchant Banking of RoyNat Capital, a leading Canadian merchant bank for mi-sized companies. Mr. Charron holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales, in Montreal.

Michael Deny - Managing Director, Healthcare, Westwind Partners Inc. - Toronto, ON

Michael joined Westwind in 2005 to establish a biotechnology and healthcare franchise for the firm. Prior to joining Westwind, he spent 10 years with Orion Securities where he was responsible for their biotechnology investment banking practice.

Since 1998, Michael has focused his practice on the biotechnology and healthcare sector and has been responsible for overseeing the execution of 74 lead managed equity offerings for 46 companies, including five IPOs. Collectively, these lead managed transactions raised $1.3 billion for Michael’s clients. His recent lead managed client engagements include: SemBioSys Genetics’ $25 million IPO, Earthrenew Organics’ $11 million pre-IPO private placement, and Chondrogene’s $25 million follow-on financing.

Michael is Past Chair of Ottawa-based BioteCanada, Canada’s national association of biotechnology companies and holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University.

Andrée-Lise Méthot - Founder and Senior Partner, Cycle Capital Fund I - Montreal, QC

Ms. Méthot is the founder of Cycle Capital Fund I, the Sustainable Development Investment Fund. Mrs. Méthot has more than 10 years’ experience in business, finance, and engineering. She pioneered the use and integration of sustainability assessment tools in the Fund’s investments to help firms improve their sustainable development performance. Mrs. Méthot has been demonstrating the feasibility and growth potential of a venture capital fund specializing in sustainable development since 2004. She serves on the board of Bioetik., Busch Marine and Chiiwedjin Shu Wind Energy.

Since April 2004, she has co-chaired the Task Force “Integration of social aspects into life cycle assessment (LCA)” of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative.

Ms. Méthot agreed to be on the judging panel of the Grand Prix du génie-conseil québécois in 2004 and 2005 and president in 2006. She also was part of the advisory committee of the Centre québécois d’actions sur les changements climatiques (CQACC) and du Centre d’expertise sur les matières résiduelles (CEMR) and since few months, she serves on the Board of the Caisse d’économie Solidaire Desjardins.

Before founding Cycle Management, Mrs. Méthot set up and managed the first Quebec-based fund specializing in sustainable development, the Fonds d’action québécois pour le développement durable (FAQDD), a $ 45 million fund to provide subsidies to companies and organization focused on sustainable development.

Mrs. Méthot was previously a senior research partner and engineering project manager at the CINBIOSE Research Centre (Centre pour l’étude des interactions entre la biologie et l’environnement), and has held positions with Groupe AXOR Inc., and Quebec’s Occupational Health and Safety Commission.

Ms. Andrée-Lise Méthot obtained her bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Université Laval in 1994 and went on to complete a master’s degree on primitive ecosystems at the Université de Montréal.

John Richardson - CEO, President and a founder of B.E.S.T. Discoveries Fund and B.E.S.T. Total Return Fund - Toronto, ON

John Richardson is the founder, CEO of The BEST FUNDS group of companies which include a group of Investment Funds and money management firms including B.E.S.T. Investment Counsel Limited, an asset management firm focused on private equity and venture capital as well as Absolute Private Counsel, an Alternative Asset Management firm serving the institutional marketplace. He holds the designation of Senior Investment Counsellor/Portfolio Manager and is the Senior Counselling Advisor of the investment management team at BEST FUNDS.

John is the CEO of three publicly offered venture funds across Canada. In his extensive experience and as advisor to the Fund, John has successfully negotiated over 100 transactions across different stages of investments and diverse industries, in private and public equity employing the use of diverse investment instruments from convertible debt to equities, both common and preferred share structures, as well as special warrants and limited partnerships.

Prior to this other work experience includes working in Public Accounting in a number of different practice areas as well as being the Chief Financial Officer of a scientific equipment manufacturer and distributor. Mr. Richardson speaks regularly about Venture Capital and Private Equity in a number of public forums including the Team Canada mission to Hong Kong. Currently, he serves as a director on a number of private and public company boards. He is a Chartered Accountant, and a Chartered Business Valuator. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the State University of New York and a Certificate Pratique de la Langue Francaises from the Universite de Savoie in France.