Sarnia-based Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) has hired a new executive director.
The government-funded agency said this week Meaghan Seagrave will take over the role in September.
“Meaghan is a nationally recognized thought leader in the bio-economy and has been spearheading research and innovation opportunities across the country for over a decade,” the agency said in a statement.
“Her educational background, including a graduate degree in agricultural sciences and several certificates and diplomas in communications and management development, combined with two decades of experience leading early-stage technology companies, makes her a knowledgeable and diverse leader well suited to execute on BIC’s strategic plan.”
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, based at the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park in Sarnia, is a nationally focused not-for-profit “business accelerator” that works with the industrial bio-economy, circular economy and sustainable processes, according to its website.
Over the past dozen years, it has provided $20 million to 32 startup companies. BIC also provides advice and services to early-stage companies.
Seagrave, who is listed on the BIC website as one of the agency’s board members, is executive director of BioNB and CEO of the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation.
Fredericton-based BioNB promotes and supports bioscience companies in New Brunswick. It celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021.
Seagrave studied at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the University of New Brunswick, according to her Linkedin profile.
“Her ability to build strong relationships and partnerships will help to position BIC as Canada’s leading national business accelerator for clean, green and sustainable technologies,” the agency said in its statement.
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada said in November current executive director Sandy Marshall was “stepping back from the leadership role within the organization and shifting to an advisory and project role supporting the Ontario Bioindustrial innovation Network.”
Marshall said he had served part time in the post for about four years.
“BIC is expanding and growing nationally, and I recognized that they needed a full-time executive director,” he said. “I knew it needed someone to take the reins over so they’ve gone out and recruited Meaghan who I know very well. She’s an excellent person and will do a great job.”
Marshall added, “I look forward to continuing to support BIC.”
Earlier this month, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced it was providing more than $1.8 million to BIC to develop quality standards to accelerate growth of the bio-economy in the agricultural sector.
BIC is working with Biomass Quality Network Canada to develop research-based standards for measuring the quality of bio-products made from agricultural sources, such as crops grown as alternatives to petroleum-based products, including corn to make ethanol, and plant stems and leaves to make packaging, the federal agency said in a news release.
“This will help producers better understand the quality standards needed to market raw materials to processors, and in turn, equip processors with more information and educational tools to assure their customers that bioproducts can replace traditional materials in terms of quality and performance,” the agency said.