Alberta AMR Summit

Dr. Brian Raux is a medical science liaison at bioMérieux focused on clinical infectious diseases. Before joining bioMérieux, Brian worked as a clinical pharmacist and antimicrobial steward at the Medical University of South Carolina, where one of his favorite parts of the job was the close working relationship he had with the microbiology lab. He has a PharmD from Northeastern University and is passionate about medical education, patient care, and advancing antimicrobial stewardship practices through clinical research.

Christopher G. Micetich is a successful serial entrepreneur who has spent over 36 years in anti-infective drug discovery. As the Founder, President & CEO of Fedora Pharmaceuticals Inc. Christopher negotiated the closing of the largest licensing deal in Canadian biotech history in 2014 to the tune of US$750 million in addition to milestones and royalties. 

Over the course of his career, Christopher has been a champion for business and innovation - founding Brass Dome Ventures Ltd (2016), a management consulting firm, as well as Innovation Masterminds Edmonton imYEG (2019) a disruptive pre-accelerator designed to help advance innovation from post-secondary institutions in Alberta. 

Having been there and done that, Christopher leads by example with Patience, Perseverance, and Vision."

Dr. Leeds joined Novartis in 2003 where she co-invented and co-led the project team for the novel antibacterial LFF571 through Ph2 and became Head of Antibacterial Discovery in 2010. In 2018, Jennifer joined Novartis BD&L. Jennifer is responsible for identifying new technology from organizations in the western US and across Canada, across all therapeutic areas, for potential partnering with Novartis. Jennifer also supports NIBR Translational Medicine and Oncology, globally, and has led many NIBR out-licensing projects. Jennifer is a Board Observer for Bluejay Therapeutics and was a BO for Caribou Bio prior to their IPO.

Jennifer is also a Director on the Cornell University CALS Alumni Association Board and was previously an Independent Director on the Board of 1910 Genetics. Jennifer serves on the Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund SSB, was an Expert Reviewer for Innosuisse, and a member of imYEG Council of Founders.
Jennifer received her BSc in Microbiology from Cornell University in 1991, her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and did her postdoc at Harvard Medical School in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.

Dani Peters is President of Magnet Strategy Group, a consulting firm that manages public affairs strategies in Canada and the United States. She also serves as Senior Advisor to the Canadian Antimicrobial Innovation Coalition, a non-profit organization committed to preventing the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), by positioning Canada to be a leader in AMR research and product development, economic growth, and investment. Over the course of her career, Dani has supported the private sector in a variety of initiatives related to antimicrobial resistance and innovation in both the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to operating Magnet Strategy Group, Dani serves on the Industry Advisory Board for Bloom Burton & Co., a healthcare investment advisory firm in Toronto. Dani is also a Health Leader-in- Residence for the World Health Innovation Network (WIN), within the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business. Previously, Dani co-founded the Cross-Border Health Foundation, an organization that fostered dialogue between Canada and the United States around common health priorities.

Dr. Wojcik is academically trained as a scientist, with a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Calgary and a BSc in Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology. Her PhD focused on elucidating antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of a Cystic Fibrosis opportunistic pathogen. Following her PhD, for 6 years, Kasia worked as an educator and Intravital Microscopy Specialist supporting the research of investigators in the Live Cell Imaging Facility, at the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary. She specialized in fluorescence microscopy for imaging of inflammatory and chronic disease models. She consulted on study design, developed methods and taught surgical approaches, sample preparation, and microscopy. During this time, she also achieved her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, with the Project Management Institute. This allowed her, to make a transition to industry, where for over 5 years she served as a Medical Scientific Liaison in the Respiratory then Cardiology Franchises at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada. In 2022, Dr. Wojcik joined bioMerieux Canada and works as an infectious diseases Medical Science Liaison.

Mr. Neil Sulakhe – Director of the Innovation and Discovery Mobilization Unit, has been with the Government of Alberta for the past seven years. Neil’s charge includes architecting the design and delivery of a suite of strategies and innovation programming, which equates to approximately a $500 million associated with over 1,000 active grants. Specifically within his portfolio are leading programs such as the Research Capacity Program, Major Innovation Fund, Strategic Research Initiatives such as the Quantum City,  Vaccine program, and others.  Through these efforts Neil and his team advance the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy (ATIS) and support Alberta’s innovation ecosystem by focusing on talent and deepening Alberta’s knowledge reservoir. Prior to joining the government, Neil managed an innovation portfolio within the University of Alberta’s Research Service Office; the majority of these projects represented some of the most complex and challenging funding awards provided to the University.

Neil holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology as well as a Master of Business Administration, both from the University of Saskatchewan. In his spare time he tries to spend as much time with his wife and three daughters doing whatever they desire.

Firmly entrenched in emerging technology and partnership building, Crys has over 20 years experience with a career that began in capital markets, client service and an education from around the globe .
Crys leads a team at Alberta Innovates who support the researchers, students and start-ups at Alberta’s post-secondary institutions in their efforts to advance the use of emerging technologies in industry. These technologies cover a breadth from advanced manufacturing and nanomaterials to artificial intelligence and quantum science.

Crys relishes the complexity of the innovation and the interconnectedness of building partnerships and strategies that inspire uses of technology, mobilize research and spur academic-industry connections that create prosperity. She is particularly proud to play a role connecting resources within Alberta Innovates to organizations and entrepreneurs looking to access technical expertise, funding opportunities, applied research and engineering capability and facilities that help de-risk technologies, offer access to infrastructure, stimulate start-ups, and draw funding and investment to Alberta.

Joël Denis is the Director General of the Center for Vaccine and Therapeutics Readiness at the Public Health Agency of Canada. He has served in various senior policy and program positions in both social and international departments. He has the pleasure of leading a professional and passionate team focused on bridging science evidence to policy development and action by building partnerships to expedite and increase Canada’s role and actions to address the threat of antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals both in Canada and with international partners. He also serves as the Public Health Agency’s Champion for Indigenous employees and advocates equity and indigenous perspectives to be taken into account in all aspects of public health, especially in addressing AMR. He is also the Co-Chair of the Global antimicrobial resistance research and development Hub – a G20 mandated international partnership that brings together government and non-government actors to gather evidence to inform high-level decision makers to help identify and prioritise actions to address antimicrobial resistance research and development gaps.