BC Aquaculture Innovation Awards

Brock Thomson has been with Cermaq since 1999. As the Innovation Director, he is responsible for major investments in the SW department and for the introduction of new technology and processes into SW production. He also sits on Cermaq’s Global Functional SW Team where advancements in SW production are discussed on a global scale.

Some recent projects Brock has facilitated include our mechanical delousing equipment (Hydrolicer & SFI) and the semi-closed cage system in Tofino. Brock has a BSc from UVic, an Advanced Diploma in Aquaculture from Memorial University of Newfoudland and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management from Athabasca University.

Todd Cook is a Sr. Key Account Manager at Elanco, a world leader in the development of products and services that enhance salmon health. He has a singular focus: to support the sustainability of salmon production by trailblazing innovative solutions that deliver maximum health, welfare and productivity benefits.

As a 25-year veteran, Todd has been involved in all aspects of the aquaculture industry, from R&D to egg-to-plate commercial operations. His area of expertise is commercial application of biotechnology, including DNA vaccines.

In addition to his current position with Elanco, Todd is an executive board member of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance.

Todd holds a Masters of Science degree in bioenergetics of genetically enhanced salmon.

Marilyn Hutchinson has worked for Grieg Seafood for a decade, as Director of Indigenous & Community Relations. Her work includes outreach to Indigenous partners, participating in meetings to inform on the company’s operations in their traditional territories, and relaying job and contracting opportunities to their administrations.

She oversees Grieg’s donations of fresh and canned salmon to BC and Canada food banks, and her division contributes sponsor support to the many sports events, arts and culture festivals, salmon enhancement groups and community fund-raising events that contribute to the quality of life on north Vancouver Island.

Sandra has spent over 20 years in tech, taking new products to markets. Some of them won awards, others were acquired, most drew the attention of beached marquis accounts. Sandra works at deeply understanding the customer to better server their needs. She's held executive roles in Marketing | Sales | BD and consistently been part of product strategy and GTM teams.

She's featured in Innovation Nation about successful tech entrepreneurs and Canada 150 Women.

Jennifer Woodland is the CEO of Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood LP, a First Nation owned seafood enterprise that operates on Vancouver Island.

Current Chair of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA), Jennifer was awarded the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association’s Aquaculturist of the Year Award in 2014. She has over 20 years’ experience in aquaculture assisting companies on both coasts of Canada to improve their environmental performance, regulatory compliance, achieve third party environmental certifications and develop positive relationships with First Nations and local communities.

A native Newfoundlander, Jennifer grew up in the commercial fishery and has a passion for seafood and rural economic development.

Wendy has a BSc from Queen’s University (1997), an MSc from the University of Manitoba (2001), and a PhD from the University of British Columbia (2006). She has held positions in academia, government and industry, and enjoys facilitating research and collaboration across these boundaries.

She is currently Manager of Research and Development at Taplow Ventures Ltd, Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC, and remains active in support of the aquaculture industry growth in British Columbia. Wendy has extensive knowledge of salmon growth in culture conditions with a focus on genomics and reproduction, and recent work includes the role of nutrition on fish health and performance, and testing the incorporation of novel ingredients into fish feed.

Astrid Niemann-Zajac (M.A.) is the Senior Manager of Economic Opportunities and Partnerships at the First Nations Fisheries Council of British Columbia. Specializing in community engagement, strategic communications, negotiation and consultation activities, she works with First Nations communities and organizations across the province to support their interests in fisheries and aquatic resource governance and management.

She also provides guidance on strategic planning and building collaborative partnerships with government agencies and external stakeholders. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance from the University of Victoria, and has worked with the Musqueam First Nation as the Inter-Governmental Affairs Coordinator, and as a researcher with the Union of BC Indian Chiefs on policy and specific claims.

Food has been the central focus of a 30 year career spanning the private and public sector. James established an early passion for quality B.C. grown foods. A twenty year career as a professional chef, co-owner of a local product grocery store, freelance foodservice/product development consultant and 8 years co-owning a local gourmet meat processing business – James knows what it takes to develop a product that consumers want and can create a livelihood.

James now supports the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries’ food and beverage processing file where he provides expertise to industry and designs/delivers programs for food processors.

Maria has over 20 years of investing and operational experience in emerging growth companies, with a focus on technology businesses. She currently heads up Pender Ventures, the private technology investing arm of Pender. Previously, she spent 11 years with one of Canada’s largest venture capital firms where she invested in multiple early-stage technology companies and served on a variety of boards, in the areas of enterprise software and health-tech. Along the way she worked at two start-ups assisting with operational activities and strategic initiatives.

Prior to that Maria worked in M&A for Deutsche Bank. ​Current board roles include Clarius Mobile Health, Jane Software, Teradici, Librestream, and One45 Software. She is also on the SFU Beedie School of Business Advisory Board and St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Board. She holds a BBA from Simon Fraser University, is a CFA charterholder and an active member and a past President of CFA Society Vancouver.

Shirley Choi has worked in the Aquaculture Management Program at Fisheries and Oceans Canada since 2011. She is currently the Regional Program Coordinator for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program (FACTAP) for the Pacific Region. In this role, she has helped numerous clients develop funding proposals to grow their seafood businesses through the adoption of clean technologies.

Shirley graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.Sc in Food, Nutrition and Health. She is interested in all aspects of food, including food production, food policy, nutrition, and cooking.

Myron has over 30 years’ experience working with finfish and shellfish aquaculture in the areas of applied research, production systems, best-practices, fish health management, biotechnology, genetics, data management, environmental monitoring, climate change and technology transfer.

Myron obtained his Ph.D. from the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, and a BSc (Zoology) from UBC. He has held Board of Director positions for the Aquaculture Association of Canada, Salmon Health Consortium, and the BC Institute of Agrologists. Myron is currently the Team Lead, Aquaculture and Marine Fisheries for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

Nadine leads the team responsible for delivering and optimizing Technology Adoption programs at Innovate BC to support and grow B.C. companies in all sectors. In doing so, she has led projects in artificial intelligence, internet of things, data visualization, agriculture and the natural resources. Nadine holds a Master of Science from the University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto.

Paul has spent the 35 years involved in seafood projects working in both large seafood companies and on his own aquaculture ventures.

Paul is president and founder of Island Sea Farms Inc., producer of Saltspring Island Mussels. Island Sea Farms has grown to become British Columbia’s largest producer of mussels and ships live mussels year-round throughout Canada, the US and Asia. Paul was a co-founder and director of Sablefish Canada Inc., a pioneering sablefish farming company with hatchery and farm operations.

Paul holds bachelor’s degree in natural resource economics from the University of Victoria, and an MBA from the University of British Columbia.

Professor Rich Moccia has spent his entire career in the agrifood sector, having specialized in aquatic animal food production systems.  He has held both faculty and senior executive cross-appointments at the University of Guelph, and has provided tech transfer and extension support services to the aquaculture sector for nearly 40 years. 

 Prior to joining the university, Rich was self-employed in the private sector, having established 2 small start-up companies specializing in ag-based technologies in aquatic food production. He holds awards of excellence in research, teaching, extension service and volunteerism, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aquaculture Association of Canada.