Board of Directors

Gordon Buchan has held a variety of senior business development and legal positions with several technology companies and law firms over a 25 year career. Educated as an electrical engineer and a lawyer (University of Western Ontario, 1971 and 1978 respectively), he initially specialized in Intellectual Property with an international boutique law firm in Ottawa. Most recently he retired as VP Business Development and Senior Legal Advisor from JDS Uniphase after 7 years with the company, where he had extensive experience in business development, intellectual property management, mergers and acquisitions, and was responsible for the management of the Commercial Legal Group and Intellectual Property Group.

Robert Cervelli, B.Sc, M.Sc., holds a Master’s Degree in Botany from the University of Wisconsin. Robert is the founder of Origin BioMed Inc. and has worked diligently to secure key international scientific, technical, business and investment relationships to support the company’s product development efforts and future prospects for growth. As a seasoned business executive with a number of biotechnology companies, he has also consulted for the public and private sector on technology patenting, commercialization and licensing.

Aki Georgacacos, CA, CFA, CF, has over 10 years of venture capital and corporate finance experience, most recently as Managing Director of FCC Ventures. At FCC Ventures, Aki led the majority of the fund's investments with a focus on industrial life sciences companies where he played an active role in the strategic growth of all portfolio companies. Before he became a venture capitalist, Aki was a Vice-President at Deloitte Corporate Finance in Calgary. He advised Canadian companies on public and private placements, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and strategies for maximization of shareholder value. At Deloitte, Aki led several assignments in the biotechnology, agri-food, distribution, health care, manufacturing, and oil and gas sectors. Previous investments include Agribiotics (Acquired by Merck), Bioniche Life Sciences (TSX: BNC). Brookside Foods, Ensyn, Kinnikinick and Sembiosys (TSX: SBS). Aki is a Chartered Accountant, CFA charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Murray McLaughlin is an internationally known life sciences and biotechnology commercialization expert. His 30 year career spans such posts as President of AgWest Biotech, Deputy Minister of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, President of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies and Executive Director of Foragen Inc, a life sciences investment fund. Murray was also recently appointed as one of the seven new members of the governing council for Science and Engineering Research Canada (NSERC). He also serves on many advisory committees related to agriculture and biotechnology and received national awards of recognition - Agriculture Marketer of the Year (1996), Alumni of the Year, Nova Scotia Agricultural College (1997), and National Merit Award, Ottawa Life Science Council (2000).

Mr. Ronald Mitton, B.A., LL.B., received his law degree in 1972 from Dalhousie Law School. He practiced law with Macleod Dixon in Calgary, Alberta, before returning to Halifax to establish his own firm - Franklin Mitton Fountain & Thompson where he was a managing partner between 1976 and 2004. Ron is currently Senior Advisor-External Relations to Acadia University, Nova Scotia, and is responsible for maintaining and strengthening the University’s relationships with its alumni, donors, philanthropic organizations, and the business community. Mr. Mitton has served on various Boards in the arts and cultural sector, including current Chairman of the Board of the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia, dedicated to improving the quality of life in Nova Scotia by distributing the earnings from a permanent pool of endowment funds.

Mr. Barry Turner retired from Warner-Lambert at the time when they were acquired by Pfizer in 2000.  He was Vice-President of Global Complementary Medicine for 3 years, directly responsible for global development of their natural medicines business segment and also involved in technology assessment and acquisition.  Prior to that, he was President of Warner-Lambert Consumer HealthCare Canada for 4 years, with an earlier 6 years as Vice-President or Director of Marketing for Warner-Lambert Canada.  Barry brings considerable experience in marketing and branding of consumer health products to Origin.