TORONTO– Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is pleased to announce and welcome Dr. Maura Campbell as its new chief executive officer. Founder and outgoing CEO, Gail Garland, will continue to work with OBIO in a consultant capacity to ensure a successful transition.
Dr. Campbell was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors for OBIO in March 2021 and brings with her over 30 years of experience in managing successful biotech companies. Most recently, Maura was the Vice President of Intellectual Property and Contracts for Turnstone Biologics and had a significant role in the company’s seed, and Series A, B, C and D financings, in addition to executing two large pharma-licensing deals, raising over US$370 million in the six years since the company was incorporated in Ontario in 2015.
“From my vantage point on the OBIO Board of Directors, I was inspired by Gail’s vision and the contributions OBIO has made advocating for a health science ecosystem that encourages companies to stay and grow here in Canada,” says Campbell. “As the incoming CEO, I look forward to continuing to work with industry and the entire OBIO team as we push forward in our goals to successfully support the many Ontario-based innovations looking to grow the health science industry in the province.”
Founded in 2009 under Garland’s leadership, OBIO has grown into a premier health sciences institution that advances solutions to achieve health and economic benefits for Canadians by building domestic and global networks, attracting investors to Canada, and implementing activities and programs to address industry needs in the areas of capital attraction, workforce development, technology commercialization and market access.
In 2010, OBIO led the pan-Ontario development and implementation of the Ontario Bioscience Economic Strategy Team (OBEST®), a collective mandate which outlines the health science industry’s strategic vision for sustainability, growth and long-term prosperity. With industry collaboration and participation in numerous consultations and summits over the ensuing years, OBIO has helped to advance strategic imperatives to establish anchor companies, address the issues of scaling companies and facilitate the procurement of innovative technologies.
Today, the OBIO team of experienced industry professionals delivers a suite of seven best-in-class programs, including the OBIO Investment Summit, which brings international attention to the Canadian health science industry; the Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN), which partners health technology companies with health organizations to evaluate their technology and gain access to domestic markets; and the Business Development Skills Program (BDSP), which provides senior management teams with the necessary skills to scale and grow their companies in Ontario.
“I am grateful to OBIO’s Board, our many members and adherents who provided our strategic direction and kept us focused on industry priorities while advocating alongside us,” says Garland. “I am proud of all that we have accomplished and know that Maura’s extensive leadership experience will propel OBIO forward in its goals. I look forward to working in conjunction with Maura as she transitions to her new role as CEO.”
