About Us
The Catalyst Centre is here to help — we want to hear from you!
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Erin Skimson
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| Erin Skimson is the Director of the Catalyst Centre. Erin oversees the Catalyst Centre team, and all functions of the technology transfer managers and the Industry Liaison Officer. She has a strong background in management, marketing, and technology and business development having served for over 10 years in various management roles at Stryker Canada LP and Serono prior to joining U of G. She holds a B.Sc. in Health Education from Dalhousie University and an MBA from McMaster University. Erin is an alumna of the Guelph/Wellington Community Leadership program and has a strong interest in both community and international work. Her focus as director is on building partnerships to advance innovation at the University of Guelph. | |
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Steve De Brabandere
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Steve has worked with a wide variety of researchers and their IP over the years, and has successfully negotiated dozens of licence agreements. As Associate Director, directs his extensive experience to support the Director and the technology transfer managers, and helps to manage the University's technology transfer process. Steve has a Master of Biotechnology degree from the University of Toronto. His background also includes a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Guelph, and experience in agricultural production. |
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Stephen Bowley
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| Stephen helps to manage the University’s Plant Germplasm Intellectual Property, including licensing, technology option, transfer and allied agreements. An associate professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, he received his B.Sc. (Agr.) and M.Sc. degrees at the University of Guelph and his PhD in plant breeding at the University of Kentucky. His research area is the genetic improvement of perennial forage crops with particular emphasis on the application of biotechnology within conventional breeding systems. | |
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David Hobson
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| David provides support, advice and expertise in commercializing technology developed at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and other C4 institutions. Before entering the field of technology transfer, David spent 8 years in the pharmaceutical industry (Johnson & Johnson), 3 years in private small animal veterinary medicine, and assisted the Canadian and U.K. governments with foreign animal disease outbreaks of avian influenza and foot and mouth disease. He is a mechanical engineer (P.Eng.) from the University of Waterloo and a licensed veterinarian (DVM) from the University of Guelph and has a doctorate in laboratory animal science (DVSc.). He has experience in engineering, marketing, management, veterinary medicine and biomedical research. | |
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Tyler Whale
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| Tyler Whale is a Technology Transfer Manager providing support, advice and expertise in commercializing technology developed from the research programs funded through the OMAFRA/U of G Partnership. Tyler’s background in agriculture, combined with a PhD in immunology/microbiology (University of Saskatchewan) and a MBA (U of S) are a natural fit with the Catalyst Centre. Tyler also has experience as an entrepreneur/small business owner after starting a successful recycling company in Saskatoon in 2002. | |
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Meaghan Gibson
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| Meaghan is the Technology Transfer and Agreements Assistant for the Catalyst Centre. She is the primary interface between the Catalyst Centre staff and external patent agents, ensuring patent prosecution runs smoothly and all patent deadlines are met. Meaghan has a Law Clerk Diploma and a Post Graduate Marketing Certificate from Fanshawe College | |
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Melissa Williams
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| Melissa is the Office Administrator for the Catalyst Centre. She liaises with the Catalyst Centre staff and the University administration to help keep the office running smoothly. Melissa’s is the smiling face that will greet you when visiting the Catalyst Centre. | |
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Hosni Taky Elden
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| As the Intellectual Property Accounts Administrator, Hosni Taky Elden is responsible for creating and updating financial summaries for intellectual property (IP) accounts and for the semi-annual distribution of IP royalties as per the approved Inventions Policy. Hosni holds a Bachelor Degree in Commerce (Accounting major) from the University of Alexandria (Egypt) and a Postgraduate Insurance Diploma from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (Egypt). In addition, he is currently working through his CGA designation. Hosni brings to our department more than fifteen years of experience as senior accountant in a number of international and Canadian companies. |
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