Who we are
Our Story
Genome Atlantic is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to help Atlantic Canada reap the economic and social benefits of DNA-based genomic technologies. Since 2000, we have delivered more than $150M in applied genomics R&D. We are part of a national network of genome centres committed to enabling innovative, genomics-driven solutions in our regions.
Our Work
We initiate, help to develop, procure funding for, and manage small and large-scale genomics projects, working in close collaboration with public and private sector partners. Our projects span ocean industries (aquaculture, energy and fisheries), agriculture and agri-foods, forestry, the environment, human health, and mining. All our projects are client-led, focused on solving a specific problem or opportunity our clients want to address.
Our Funders
Genome Atlantic is supported by a combination of federal and provincial funding. Core operations are funded by Genome Canada through the Government of Canada (ISED) and business development efforts are funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Team & Board
- General Information:
- [email protected]
- Phone: 902-421-5683
Marlies Rise, PhD
As President and Chief Executive Officer of Genome Atlantic, Dr. Marlies Rise brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning research administration, innovation ecosystems, and industry partnerships. A strategic and people-centred leader, she has deep expertise in managing complex research and innovation environments and supporting research portfolios ranging from $160 million to over $270 million annually – experience that directly informs her work advancing Genome Atlantic’s role in high-impact genomic research, commercialization, and collaboration across Atlantic Canada and beyond.
Marlies holds a Ph.D. in Forest Biology from the University of Victoria, along with graduate and undergraduate degrees in Biology from St. Francis Xavier University. Her connection to Genome Atlantic runs deep. She worked with the organization earlier in her career before returning to lead it through its next chapter of growth and impact.
In her role as President and CEO, Marlies is focused on strengthening strategic partnerships, deepening alignment with government and industry priorities, and expanding opportunities for researchers, academic institutions, and companies commercializing genomics innovations across the region. She is committed to ensuring that Atlantic Canada remains at the forefront of genomics-driven economic development and discovery.
Andrew Riley
Andrew leads communications strategy and external engagement for Genome Atlantic, working to build awareness and understanding of the economic and social benefits of genomics across Atlantic Canada and beyond. He is responsible for the organization’s external relations, directing how Genome Atlantic communicates its work and impact across ocean industries, energy, mining, agriculture, forestry, the environment, human health, and dual-use innovation.
To this end, he develops integrated communications, marketing and government relations strategies that connect Genome Atlantic’s research and innovation portfolio with communities, industry, decision-makers, and the public — translating complex science into compelling narratives that build awareness, credibility, and support.
A committed advocate for science communication, Andrew believes making research accessible and relevant is essential to building public trust and earning the political will needed to advance genomics as a driver of economic growth and social good in Canada. He brings nearly 20 years of strategic communications experience across research-intensive and cultural institutions, including Dalhousie University, the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Sharon Ganong, CPA, CMA
Sharon’s solid experience in financial management, her passion for R&D and her strong commitment to collaborative engagement combine as an ideal skillset for her role as Director of Finance at Genome Atlantic. With more than 20 years in senior finance and strategic roles working with non-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, and government (including serving as Director of Planning and Scheduling for the Office of the Premier in Nova Scotia), Sharon is an experienced accounting expert as well as a strategic thinker.
As a critical member of Genome Atlantic’s team, Sharon reports to the CEO and the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, overseeing all aspects of Genome Atlantic’s finances, including operational budgets and forecasts and collaboration with external auditors.
Sharon also plays an integral role in developing and managing budgets for Genome Atlantic projects. Working closely with our researchers and project teams, she helps to pull all the pieces together ensuring that project budgets address the needs of research teams, are aligned with the intentions of various funding agencies, and meet funders’ requirements for reporting and accountability.
A Certified Professional Accountant, Sharon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kings College. Sharon enjoys hiking, kayaking and yoga, and is also a facilitator with CPA Atlantic, mentoring CPA Candidates early in their learning journey. She is actively involved in her community through long-standing volunteer commitments including currently serving as Public Advisor to the Capital Health District Central Zone Palliative Care Committee.
Kristin Tweel, PhD, MBA
As Director, Sector Innovation, Kristin is responsible for overall opportunity generation and business development strategy. She also leads the development of select proposals and provides support to the CEO for future strategic pursuits.
In addition to her professional credentials, Kristin brings to the table two remarkable assets: an ability to understand the problem and to get the right people on it.
This is highly valuable to both the industries and researchers we work with. Whether it’s helping a company assess a potential genomics-based approach or working with a team to deliver a competitive proposal on deadline, Kristin cuts through the clutter to get to the answers.
With a background in pharmacology, Kristin is comfortable ‘geeking out’ with the research community, but has a great ability to translate that scientific passion into real-world applications for industry and the public sector. Focused on a portfolio of mining, the environment and health, you’ll most likely find Kristin connecting companies and researchers from these areas, helping them understand each other’s worlds to address challenges like clean drinking water, bioremediation and rare diseases.
Kristin obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology from Dalhousie University in 2011 where she focused on a life-long interest in cancer and its mysterious way of turning the body against itself. Determined to make sure her science knowledge could make a difference, Kristin completed an MBA at Saint Mary’s University in 2014 and as part of her training, she worked with PEI biotech company, BioVectra, where, among other things, she developed an evaluation model to assess risks and opportunities for generic drug development. She also completed the Genetics and Genomics Certificate program from Stanford University.
Britta Fiander, PEng
An engineering background may not seem like the most obvious choice for someone at Genome Atlantic, but when it’s coupled with years of industrial R&D consulting, it’s actually pretty close to perfect.
Especially when you consider the beautiful collision of genomics and engineering happening in sectors such as mining (Britta’s specialty), oil and gas, and environmental applications.
It’s that engineering perspective you want when you’re trying to introduce new technologies into highly complex systems. Britta’s been there, and done that in real industrial environments. She’s got a highly sensitive ‘risk’ radar, and is always asking: How is that going to work?
As Director, Innovation Programs, Britta is responsible for the development and implementation of the proposal development and program management. In her proposal development role, she provides hands on guidance to clients at every stage of the process. Her oversight of active projects within the research portfolio ensures that projects are compliant with Genome Atlantic’s governance requirements – and she also supports the CEO for future strategic pursuits.
Britta gained her extensive R&D know-how with KPMG and Grant Thornton, helping companies pursue innovation through research collaborations with academia. Research tax credits, proposal development, project management – Britta helped clients of all sizes move their projects from cradle to grave.
All of this makes this Dalhousie Engineering alumnus an ideal champion for project teams at Genome Atlantic, where she helps on both the proposal development AND project management sides of things. Additionally, Britta recently added to her list of accomplishments the completion of the Genetics and Genomics Certificate program from Stanford University.
Kaitlyn Keller, MSc, MBA
Kaitlyn is an enthusiastic and motivated young professional who is passionate about the potential impact genomic innovations can have across different industries. She has a strong background in health science, holding an MSc in Pharmacology where she focused on frailty and cardiovascular disease. As the Director of Operations for a group working on developing treatments for rare genetic diseases, she had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the process and barriers that exist in moving genetic innovations from the research world to industry. She hopes to use this knowledge, along with strategies learned during her MBA, to help reduce the challenges and barriers involved in implementing genetic based solutions. While her background focused primarily on health sciences, Kaitlyn has a special interest in how genomics can be used in mining, as she was born and raised in a mining community and understands some of the challenges faced by the industry. Overall, she believes that genomics has the ability to create positive change in the world and will be an important contributor to sustainable practices.
Outside of work, Kaitlyn spends most of her time singing, crocheting, and baking. She loves learning new things, so if you ever have a good podcast suggestion, she is all ears. While a bit controversial, her favourite season is winter, as it allows her to do her most loved outdoor activities, skating and skiing.
Chi Tran
With over 10 years of experience in public accounting supporting corporate and non-profit organizations, Chi brings strong financial expertise and a collaborative approach to her role at Genome Atlantic. She works closely with both the project operations and finance teams to align people, timelines, budgets, and goals.
Before joining Genome Atlantic, Chi served as a Finance Partner at Ontario Genomics, where she supported multiple projects in achieving key milestones while maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders. She also worked as a Cloud Accountant at BDO Canada, providing full-cycle accounting, financial reporting, and audit support to clients in the biopharmaceutical, non-profit, banking, and brokerage sectors.
Chi holds a Business Accounting Diploma with distinction from Georgian College and a Diploma in Acupuncture from the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (CCATCM). She also serves as Treasurer for the Nova Scotia Chapter of the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada (CMAAC). Her passion for health and wellness continues to inspire her work in both fields.
John Knubley, BA, MA, MPA
John Knubley is a consultant, Corporate Director, and former Deputy Minister in the Government of Canada. He is also a senior advisor to FGS Longview Communications.
From 2012 to 2019, John served as the Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED Canada). During this time, he led and implemented the Innovation and Skills Plan.
Prior to ISED Canada, John was Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Privy Council Office, Associate Deputy Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities as well as Associate Deputy Minister of Natural Resources. John’s career in public service included time at the Economic Council of Canada and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
In 2020, John founded InnovAction Advisory Services. InnovAction provides strategic counsel to organizations across a variety of sectors relating to innovation, R&D, sustainability, foreign investment, merger review and regulatory matters. He has experience in working with a wide range of sectors and CEOs.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University, a Master’s of Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He has also received a post-graduate diploma in Nice, France, from the Institut Européen des Hautes Études Internationales.
John serves as a Director of the Ontario Energy Board, the Asia-Pacific Foundation, the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Genome Atlantic, COVE (Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship), and the Centre for Canadian Innovation Policy. He is a senior fellow of the C.D. Howe Institute.
Eric Cook (Chair)
Eric is a seasoned business professional with a wide scope of science and technology experience in both the private and public sectors. Eric brings leadership experience in sectors ranging from oceans to space. Passionate about innovation, he is keen to find economic value in leading edge research.
Eric’s education includes a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a masters of business administration, a combination that has served him well in seeking applied-science solutions for business.
Eric’s career includes leadership positions with the Manufacturing Technology Centre, COM DEV (now Honeywell), Apex Industries, COM DEV Wireless and the Research and Productivity Council. Most recently, Eric joined the PEI BioAlliance to lead the development of a cleantech strategy.
Eric currently serves on the boards of Genome Atlantic and the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation. He is a member of the NRC IRAP Large Value Contribution committee and Chair of the PEI Chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He has previously served on the boards of Genome Canada, Innoventures Canada, Genome Atlantic, the Center for Nuclear Energy Research, and the New Brunswick Environmental Industries Association.
Throughout his career Eric has been engaged in innovation regionally, nationally and internationally. He has contributed to innovation panels, advisory boards, and reviews including the Council of Canadian Academies’ Expert Panels on the State of Industrial Research in Canada and The State of R&D in Canada.
Eric is a results-driven strategic thinker, a continuous learner and a team player.
Mark Beaton, CPA, CA
Mark is the Chief Financial Officer of Kindred Home Care and GOJI Living. He has formerly held executive positions with JD Irving, Comscore and Opower. He started his career in audit with KPMG, having held progressively more senior positions across offices in Virginia, Ottawa and Halifax. Mark holds his CPA and graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Commerce.
Mark’s past experiences have included leading a multi-year financial restatement, finance team restructuring, involvement in Opower’s IPO and sell side diligence. Mark has led teams of various sizes over many years and finds his passion in creating high-performing cohesive teams that drive continuous improvement, strategic thinking and significant value to business stakeholders.
Mark is also a Board member and treasurer of St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation and Thistle-St. Andrew’s Curling Club and is passionate about helping to improve his community and the Atlantic region. Mark currently resides in Rothesay, New Brunswick with his wife and three children.
Rob Annan, PhD (ex officio)
Dr. Rob Annan is a science policy leader driven by the transformative potential of genomics. Combining policy expertise, executive leadership and a background in genomics, Rob leads the Genome Canada team and is responsible for developing and leading Genome Canada’s overall strategic direction. An innovation strategist and skilled communicator, Rob works closely with business leaders, policy-makers and researchers, inspiring a shared effort to translate research into impact.
Prior to joining Genome Canada, Rob helped build a Canadian success story at Mitacs through executive leadership on corporate strategy, stakeholder relations, research and evaluation, and policy. Rob has also served on the Board of Let’s Talk Science and spent several years as a fellow of he Public Policy Forum.
Rob has a PhD in biochemistry from McGill University and two undergraduate degrees: one in English from Queen’s University and another in biology from the University of Victoria.
Carey Bonnell
Carey began his career in 1997 as a technical assistant at the Marine Institute of Memorial University, progressing through roles that included a one year international work placement with MI in the Philippines in 1998. In 2000 Carey moved to Nunavut and progressed through various positions from Director, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister and Acting Deputy Minister of the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Environment. Carey joined the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation early in 2005 and was promoted to the position of Managing Director in 2007. In 2010 Carey was appointed as Head of the School of Fisheries at the Marine Institute and held that position for 8 years. In February of 2018 Carey joined Ocean Choice International as VP of Sustainability and Engagement. In addition to his Institutional responsibilities Carey served as the Industry Co-Chair of the Canadian Seafood Value Chain Roundtable, Past President and current board member of the International Association of Seafood Professionals, past Chair & current board member of the Fisheries Council of Canada and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation.
Diane Botelho, PhD
Diane is the first ever Chief Science Officer (CSO) at New Brunswick’s Research and Productivity Council (RPC), a research and technology organization located in Fredericton, N.B. She earned her PhD in bioanalytical chemistry from Dalhousie University and has several publications spanning the fields of proteomics and pharmaceutical drug design.
Diane is involved in the complete innovation cycle from concept through to commercialization by providing scientific guidance to government, academic and industry partners. She also provides internal guidance to the team of scientists she leads at RPC. As a member of the executive, Diane plays a significant role in strategic planning and budgeting, with regular reporting to the Board of Directors.
Prior to her role as CSO, Diane was the Director of RPC’s Air Quality Laboratories where she consulted with stakeholders and designed analytical methods to support heath and safety initiatives. Diane strongly believes that youth mentorship is crucial for securing generations of scientific leadership in Atlantic Canada and as a result, leads several student mentorship initiatives at RPC.
Diane is a chartered chemist with the Association of Chemical Profession of Ontario, a registered biosafety officer with the Canadian Association for Biological Safety, an adjunct professor with the University of New Brunswick and a registered highland dance instructor with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing. She is also a proud mother of two daughters.
Diane’s three favourite words are Connection, Collaboration and Communication. With these “three C’s” and some grit, she believes almost anything can be achieved.
Paul Preston
Paul is a Co-Founder of Audyse Technology, a tech start-up in St. John’s. He also runs his own Executive Advisory Consultancy, providing support to clients such as Genoa Design, where he previously held the role of Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer. Paul has a diverse background, having served as the CEO of techNL, where he successfully implemented a new strategy, rebranding, and programming to transform the organization. He has actively contributed to several Boards and committees, including CMHA-NL, Genome Atlantic, the Digital Technology Committee of The Health Accord in NL (as Chair), and the Atlantic Canada ICT Committee (ACOA-ATIGS) (as Co-Chair). Paul resides in St. John’s with his wife and two children, actively participating in volunteer activities.
Sarah McLean
Sarah is a highly regarded public affairs and corporate communications practitioner in Atlantic Canada. She is Vice-President, Communications and Corporate Affairs with Maritime Launch Services in Bedford, N.S. , where she draws on her vast experience in both government and the private sector to lead Maritime Launch’s communications, public affairs and community engagement strategies.
Previous to joining Maritime Launch, Sarah was Associate Vice President, Corporate Affairs at NATIONAL Public Relations. During her ten years at NATIONAL, Sarah led Corporate Affairs and Indigenous engagement and she was considered a trusted advisor for client seeking to secure social license in the communities in which they operate. Sarah provided strong, seasoned counsel to a wide range of clients in the financial, natural resources, energy, retail, health and economic development sectors.
Previous to joining NATIONAL, Sarah led policy development and provided issues management counsel to high profile federal Cabinet Ministers in Ottawa. Sarah has served as Director of Policy to the President of the Treasury Board, Policy Advisor to the Minister of International Trade and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Sarah is Incident Command System (ICS) and IAP2 certified. She serves as director of the board of the Canada Games Centre and serves on the Executive Committee. Sarah is a graduate of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, where she studied Finance and Political Science.
In 2022, Sarah was selected to attend the Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference, a conference that brings leaders together from across Canada to strengthen policy, decision making and community building.
What Our Clients Say?
“FastTRAC2 is very important for Atlantic Canada and, given that our provincial tree, the red spruce, will be a major focus of the project, it’s especially important to Nova Scotia. Quite possibly this venture is going to make the tree breeding programs in our region the most advanced in the country.”
Bruce Stewart
Project co-lead, Director of Forestry, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables
Annual Report
5 Year Impact Report
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