What is your favorite food? 
I’m an engineer, so does beer count as food?
What’s the best advice you ever received?
Never compare yourself to anybody. You will always end up finding something to be disappointed about. Instead, blaze your own trail but be guided by a strong work ethic, compassion and kindness.
Do you have any hobbies?
I play guitar and listen to music. For physical activity, I go to the gym regularly, hike, ski, play softball and do yoga. I watch A LOT of NFL football; my favorite team is the San Francisco 49ers.
How did you get involved in technology transfer? 
My background is in product development, so I have always enjoyed bringing R&D projects to commercial reality. I did this for years in the chemical business in Calgary. When I moved back to Montreal, I saw an opportunity to do something similar, except in a university setting instead of with a company. I thought it would be a fun challenge.
What do you like most about working with inventors and other tech transfer professionals?
There is a passion to do something that could make a gigantic difference for our world. So many of the inventions we work on have such tremendous potential. I like working with people who buy into this vision and want to contribute to making the world a better place.
What’s something you wish more people knew about technology transfer in Canada? 
We are a very supportive community. We are not competitors at all; we regularly compare different scenarios, issues, and policies to learn from each other. The saying “a rising tide lifts all boats” really sums up our belief that technology transfer success at one institution helps everyone understand the value we all bring.
You helped launch McGill’s Office of Innovation and Partnerships in 2018. What was your biggest takeaway from that experience?
Having all the industry-facing groups together in one unit is the way to go. We have three verticals:  industry partnerships, which involves research agreements with companies; technology transfer, which involves licensing technology from McGill to companies; and industry liaisons, who do business development and find partners for research or commercialization. With all the verticals under one roof, we are much better at quickly responding to the needs of industry and ensuring that hand-offs between the groups are handled smoothly.
What’s something you’re working on right now that really excites you? 
We launched our McGill Innovation Fund in 2021 as a way to support exciting technologies coming out of McGill research with the hope of getting them more investment- or market-ready. This initiative has really galvanized the local innovation ecosystem and engaged our loyal alumni in a very positive way. I feel confident that some of the recipients are creating—or have created--companies that will be making a difference in our world.
What does AUTM membership have to offer that you can’t get from other organizations?
It’s such a supportive community and the ability to reach out to people from all geographies is great. It is also well-run and really encourages volunteer participation. As a volunteer myself, I can tell you it is a highly rewarding experience.
The Canadian Region Meeting is right around the corner. What’s your favorite memory from a past Region meeting?
There are lots of great memories, but I always enjoy seeing and hearing from the deserving recipients of our AUTM Canada Award. Their speeches are really inspiring. And our house band, the “Northern Infringers,” is always a crowd-pleaser! 
Given that you are a former Calgary resident, what’s an insider tip for people who will be there next month for the Canadian Region Meeting?
There are bunch of fantastic walks and cool neighborhoods by the Bow River. Check them out and get a good latte in Kensington, Bridgeland or Bowness. And don’t just eat beef! Calgary has lots of good restaurants that serve cuisine from all over the globe.