What is your favorite food and why? 
Hmm…that’s a hard one. I don’t think I could pinpoint a single dish because when I think of food, it’s really about the experience that surrounds it. For that reason, I’m going to say my favorite “food” is really a nice glass of bold red wine, accompanied by a charcuterie board with lots of interesting meats, cheeses, nuts and fruit. That’s what we have whenever getting together with girlfriends on a Friday night after a long week. It means a time to share our struggles and accomplishments and relish in the support we provide each other.

What’s the advice you’d like to pass on to others?
During my AUTM Canada Award acceptance speech I said my best advice is to “Identify your weakness and make it your strength.” That holds true, but I might add that you really need to know yourself. Expand your skill set within your interests. If it doesn't interest you, hire someone else to do the job right.

Do you have any hobbies?
I have lots of hobbies. I play slo-pitch softball and golf every spring and summer. I curl and downhill ski when the snow flies. I love to travel, going where I haven’t been before. For many years I led a Girl Guide group, camping and hiking a lot. Now I still enjoy the hiking but prefer the comfort of a good bed.

How did you get involved in technology transfer? 
Oh, this is a good story. I was fresh out of my MBA program and working for the London Biotechnology Commercialization Centre. My role was to help fledgling life sciences companies refine their business plans and secure financing. I was meeting regularly with a VC from Toronto. He let me know about a position opening at the Innovations Foundation, the technology transfer arm of UofT. Of course, I applied. It’s UofT!
By then I’d developed therapeutics and diagnostics within a biotech company, patented my own inventions, managed projects, negotiated contracts and interned at a VC firm. I’d done lots of due diligence on investment opportunities and could wade my way through any shareholder agreement. What I had never done was license intellectual property. After I got the job at UofT, that was the weakness I had to make into my strength.

What do you like most about working with inventors and other tech transfer professionals?
I think we all have the same response to this question. It’s the community!! I’ve never worked in a profession where everyone was so helpful and supportive of each other. All you have to do is ask, and someone will point you in the right direction to get what you need. AUTM is a big part of making that possible.

The University of Toronto has launched more than 150 new research-based startups in the last five years, and your team has been a big part of that success. What advice do you have for other TTOs looking to ramp up their startup efforts?
Don’t do it alone! Everyone thinks it’s the TTOs that start the incubators. In reality, many people across the university had a similar vision and we worked together to make it happen. As of now there are ~13 incubator/accelerators across UofT. Each has its own focus, but they are coordinated through UofT Entrepreneurship, which is managed by the Director, Entrepreneurship. UTEST (University of Toronto Early Stage Technology), headed by the Director of UofT Ventures, is the incubator specifically focused on startups based on UofT IP. My team works very closely with the companies in this program. Once they graduate from the program, they might go on to another incubator that has different offerings.  

What’s something you’re working on right now that really excites you? 
Everything excites me as long as it makes the commercialization process easier. Right now we’re working on creating an automated invention disclosure submission process.

What does AUTM Membership have to offer that you can’t get from other organizations?
Access to metrics so I know how well UofT is doing compared to our peers. Access to other professionals. Access to supports, agreement templates and loads of great stuff. Keep doing what you’re doing AUTM!

At the Canadian Region Meeting, you received the Canadian Award for outstanding service to the Canadian technology transfer community. How has your involvement with AUTM helped to enhance those contributions? 
Being involved in AUTM committees helps me expand my network and pass on my learning to smaller or less well-resourced offices. That is very rewarding.

What does this award mean to you?
It was very humbling to receive this award. When I looked to see who had received it in the past, the names of people I’d looked up to my entire career stood out. To be viewed on the same level is truly an honor.