Connect-BIO — Quebec Biofabrication Forum – April 7

Brigitte St-Denis,Expert Sector Advisor, Life Sciences and Environmental Technologies Directorate, MEIE
A biologist with nearly 25 years of diverse experience across the biopharmaceutical industry, medical laboratories, medical devices, and the public sector. Her biopharmaceutical career spans multiple roles in drug development, from discovery through preclinical stages. For nearly 14 years, Brigitte has held various advisory and coordination roles within the public service at the MEIE and the MSSS.

Christina Aon, Chief Executive Officer, CERASP
With more than 25 years of experience in applied research, biopharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing, Christina brings recognized expertise in technology transfer and GMP environments. At GSK and Abbott, she led manufacturing transformation projects toward biopharmaceutical production, including process transfer and scale‑up, equipment qualification, and regulatory compliance in highly regulated settings. Her background also includes business development, supply chain management, and coordination with contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), giving her a strong grasp of both operational and commercial challenges faced by innovative SMEs. As CEO of CERASP, she oversees the center’s strategic and operational direction and has led the deployment of bioinformatics and biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, the organization’s recognition as a Health Canada partner, and the establishment of a GMP‑compliant cleanroom.

Nathalie Charland, Senior Director, Partnerships and Communications, Aramis Biotechnologies
Nathalie is responsible for external partnerships, funded collaborative programs, public health relations, and external communications at Aramis. Prior to joining the company, she spent over 18 years at Medicago, where, as Senior Director of Scientific and Medical Affairs, she oversaw scientific communications and the development of strategic partnerships with the scientific community. She also led the medical science liaison team and the committee responsible for expanding the product portfolio. Earlier in her career, Nathalie worked in the vaccine industry at Biochem‑Pharma, Shire Biologics, and ID Biomedical/GSK, holding a range of scientific and management positions. She holds a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the Université de Montréal.

Mohamad Ahmad, Vice President, Quality and Compliance & Interim Vice President, Partnerships and Government Affairs, BMC
Mohamad Ahmad serves as Vice President of Quality and Compliance at BMC and Interim Vice President of Partnerships and Government Affairs. He leads the organization’s global quality strategy, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence, while overseeing government relations and partnership development. With more than 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector, he has built high‑performing teams and established BMC’s quality control function from its early stages. Mohamad is known for his pragmatic, solutions‑driven leadership and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Concordia University.

Lakshmi Krishnan, Vice President, Life Sciences, National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Dr. Lakshmi Krishnan has served as Vice President of the Life Sciences Division since April 1, 2022. In this role, she oversees the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, the Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre, and the Medical Devices Research Centre. An internationally recognized life sciences researcher, she is known for her leadership in vaccine technologies and novel biologics aimed at improving human health. She has represented the NRC and the Government of Canada on numerous national and international committees and is a frequent invited speaker. In her current role, she is focused on health innovation and the advancement of a sustainable bioeconomy.
Dr. Krishnan joined the NRC in 1997 as a scientist, developing deep expertise in immunology, particularly in vaccine adjuvants and host–pathogen interactions. She has held several senior leadership roles, including Director General of the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre and Head of Vaccine and Immunotherapeutics programs. Over the course of her career, she has secured major research funding, published more than 75 peer‑reviewed scientific articles, and contributed to multiple patents. She holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Genetics from the University of Madras and a PhD in Immunology from the National Institute of Immunology in India, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Alberta.

Djordje Grbic, Director of Manufacturing, Immune Biosolutions
After completing my PhD in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the University of Sherbrooke in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, I began my career as an industrial Postdoctoral Fellow at Immune Biosolutions, where I worked on passive immunity strategies and C. difficile treatments using polyclonal antibodies. I later served as Program Director at Immune Biosolutions for four years. I am currently Director of Manufacturing at Immune Biosolutions, where I oversee the manufacturing of recombinant antibodies, including programs developed for the treatment of COVID-19, as well as the manufacturing of recombinant proteins for clients conducting clinical studies in Canada.