BREATHE BIOMEDICAL™ - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Leader
Bill is an experienced leader in the pharma and diagnostics space, having held executive level positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lantheus Medical Imaging and LikeMinds. He brings broad experience in business and operations functions within highly regulated, public, and private company settings with experience ranging from large companies to start-up settings including the launch of public companies and the execution of strategic exit transactions. Bill joined Breathe BioMedical two years ago as the leader of business development and external partnerships in the US market. He took on the role of Chief Executive Officer for the company in August of 2023. Bill holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Hofstra University and recently completed the MIT Sloan School of Management's Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Program.
Chris Purves co-developed Breathe BioMedical's technology. He leads BBM's technology product development. Chris' expertise lies in BioPhotonics, product design and development, process engineering, test engineering and ISO9000 implementation. Chris is a Professional Engineer and has a B.Sc. in Engineering Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton.
Don Hardison has a wide range of C-suite experience, with senior leadership experience in both public and private healthcare companies. He has specific expertise in raising private and public equity, strategy development, team building, and go-to-market planning and execution as well as deep experience in complex health care reimbursement framework and processes. Don is the former CEO of EXACT Sciences, a company dedicated to the early detection of cancer, and led the company through its Initial Public Offering (IPO). Don is also a former VP and C-Suite executive for multinational health care companies including Labcorp, Quest Diagnostics, and SmithKline Beecham (Now GSK). Most recently Don was the president and CEO of Biotheranostics Inc. which was acquired by Hologic in 2021.
Dr. Norman Betts is a seasoned professional with experience in corporate, government and academic sectors. He has extensive expertise as a board member and senior leader. His experiences include being the Minister of Finance for New Brunswick, a Director at NB Power, a Director at Bank of Canada and a Professor at the University of New Brunswick.
Job Titles:
- Chief Medical Officer
- Executive Director
Dr. Brem is a world-renowned expert in breast cancer and the Director of the Breast Imaging and Interventional Center at the George Washington University. She is a cutting-edge clinician, researcher with over 120 peer-reviewed publications, author of a recently published book, No Longer Radical: Understanding Mastectomies and Choosing the Breast Cancer Care that's Right for You (Simon and Schuster, 2023), advocate, and a breast cancer survivor. She has been recognized as a Top Cancer Doctor by Newsweek as well as a Best American Physician, Best Cancer Doctor by numerous organizations as well as Whose Who in American Medicine.
Gaëtan Thomas is a New Brunswick pioneer with expertise in quality systems, safety systems, and operational excellence. Gaëtan is the former CEO of New Brunswick Power and has earned numerous awards for presence in the Atlantic provinces, including being a member of the Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame. Gaëtan is the current president and CEO of Conseil Économique du Nouveau Brunswick Inc.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Fintech Investor
Jean Nadeau is a Biotech and Fintech investor. He has years of expertise and executive experience in venture start-ups, business reorganization, product development, growth acceleration, shareholder and media relations, and private fundraising. Jean's corporate knowledge includes board experience with research centres, economic development agencies and academic institutions. His track record covers 30-years' experience in IT and digital media, including at executive and senior leadership levels.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Clinical
Joanne's early career began as a Registered Respiratory Therapist where she provided community-based care and complex case management for patients/families living with respiratory illnesses. From 2007-2013, she coordinated and co-led various research initiatives and was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the INSPIRED COPD Outreach Program at the QEII HSC in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The INSPIRED program has been rolled out nationally and is recognized by Accreditation Canada is a "Leading Practice". Joanne has also held positions as a Chronic Disease Consultant with the New Brunswick Department of Health and as a Territory Manager with GlaxoSmithKline. Joanne's diverse experiences with patients, providers, policy-makers, researchers, and private-sector partners make her well-placed to lead our clinical research program at Breathe BioMedical.
Peili Miao is responsible for the financial activities of the company as an Interim Chief Financial Officer. With nearly 20 years of accounting and finance experience, Peili has expertise in financial project management, cost control and mergers and acquisitions. Peili has experience in senior finance roles at both private and public companies. In 2022, Peili completed her MBA from Queen's University, and earned CPA designation from the Chartered Professional Accountants Canada in 2006.
Peter Savas is a serial life-science CEO, venture capitalist, (executive) director and advisor. He's best known for financing and leading Aderis, the company that discovered, developed and partnered Neupro to treat people worldwide with Parkinson's Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome. Peter is currently the CEO of LikeMinds, a brain health company; an advisor to AGP Life Science Ventures; and, a Breathe BioMedical director.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Founder and Owner of Wildwood Cabinets
Romeo Goguen is a long-time leader in the New Brunswick Business Community. His expertise lies in entrepreneurship, business development, and growing companies. He is a past president of the Moncton Home Builders Association, and in 2017, he was inducted into the JA New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame.
Romeo is the founder and owner of Wildwood Cabinets, one the largest cabinet-making companies in Atlantic Canada, specializing in residential, commercial and multi-unit cabinetry, as well as solid surface countertops, employing over 160 people.
He is also the founder and owner of Les Entreprises Mapoma Ltée, which is in the real estate business, leasing commercial developments. It has over 150,000 square feet in 9 buildings.
Job Titles:
- Chief Regulatory Officer
- Quality Assurance Manager
Sandra Veenstra is the Chief Regulatory Officer and Quality Assurance manager at Breathe BioMedical. Sandra is responsible for our regulatory strategy and management, as well as developing and monitoring our Quality Management System (QMS). Sandra graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Cellular and Molecular Biology, and received her Masters from the University of Otago in Bioethics and Health Law. Sandra started her career far away from her hometown of Riverview, New Brunswick at The Health Research Council of New Zealand in Legal and Ethics. From there, Sandra moved closer to home and worked as an Ethics Director for the Health Research Ethics Authority in St. John's, Newfoundland. We are so grateful that Sandra brought her exceptional skills and talent to our team in 2020 in the role of Director of Quality where she led the successful development and implementation of the company's ISO13485 quality system.
Telfer is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. Telfer is a highly experienced and knowledgeable individual in the healthtech and startup space. Currently, Telfer is an Executive Chairman of Bio Conscious Technologies Inc., a company focused on using the power of algorithms to change the way we understand and manage chronic conditions. Over the last 25 years, Telfer has held many leadership positions in corporate financing and investment banking, as well as in senior roles with Mimi's Rock Corp. and Bio Conscious Technologies Inc.