Contact Us

Life Science Association of Manitoba
1000 Waverley Street
Winnipeg, MB R3T 0P3 Canada

Tel: (204) 272-5095
Fax: (204) 272-2961
E-mail: info@lsam.ca


About Our Staff

Darren Fast - Interim Executive Director
Darren Fast, a Board Member with the Life Science Association of Manitoba has taken a three-month leave of absence from the board and agreed to serve as the Interim Executive Director of the Association.

Darren Fast, PhD, is the President and founder of Solalta Advisors. Prior to Solalta Advisors, Darren was Chief Technology Officer at Lombard Life Sciences, the general partner of the Western Life Sciences Venture Fund LP, a Canadian-based Venture Capital fund, where he identified and evaluated more than 300 early stage technologies for investment. In addition to assessing and investing in technology, Darren was intimately involved in packaging companies for follow-on investment/exit, and in helping lead portfolio company development and commercialization activities.

Prior to Lombard Life Sciences, Darren was Manager, Product Planning and Development at Viventia Biotech (formerly Novopharm Biotech) where he was responsible for the development of several human therapeutics projects. Darren led the project teams that moved these products from research into clinical trials. Darren has a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Alberta and a M.Sc. in chemistry from the University of Manitoba.

Contact Information
E-mail: dfast@lsam.ca

Jonathan Frate - Manager, Membership Services
Jonathan Frate joined LSAM's team on September 29, 2008, taking over responsibility for regular member relations, membership benefits development, events and event partnerships. Previously, Jonathan spent over two years in the not-for-profit sector, managing special events and major donors for the Manitoba Theatre Centre, and more recently as the Fund Development Manager at the Manitoba Reh-Fit Centre.

Jonathan has also worked as an advisor to a federal member of Parliament from Manitoba, and two MLA's in the B.C. legislature. He has also worked in marketing and promotions positions in the private sector. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Jonathan moved to Vancouver to attend University, where he studied political science and Canadian studies.

Contact Information
Telephone: (204) 272-5094
E-mail: jfrate@lsam.ca

Norma Niefer - Training Coordinator
Norma Niefer first joined LSAM as its training administrator on August 15, 2005, and has worked as LSAM's training coordinator since the summer of 2008. Previously, she worked as coordinator for AATI, managed a training initiative under the Regional Area Management Board and worked as an office manager and instructor in Northern Manitoba for a First Nation Training provider. Norma also served as a Board Director for Ikwe-widdjiitiwin. Prior to her return to Manitoba from British Columbia, she was employed at RCMP depot division as assistant manager, and as owner of a construction company.

Contact Information
Telephone: (204) 272-5095
E-mail: nniefer@lsam.ca

LSAM’s Board of Directors, 2008-2009

Executive Committee Members
Dawson Reimer, LSAM President
Vice President, Operations, Medicure Inc.

Rob Godin, LSAM Vice President
Senior Manager, External Relations, AstraZeneca

Rachel Cahill, LSAM Secretary-Treasurer
Senior Vice-President, Finance, Vita Health Products

Directors

Sergio Camorlinga
eHealth R&D Manager, TrLabs

Lori Christofalos
QA/RA manager, Apotex Fermentation

Michael Coutts
Director, Business Development, Genesys Ventures

Darren Fast - On Leave of Absence from Board
President, Solalta Advisors

Earl Gardiner
President, RANA Respiratory Care Group

Louise Gordon
Dean-School of Health Sciences & Community Services, Red River College

Gord Harris
Senior Director, Technical Services, Cangene Corporation

Ben Lee
Chief Operating Officer [North America], Pharm-ENG Technology

John Pacak
President, Sphaera Technologies

Samba Sow
Director of Quality, Biovail Corporation

Phil Unger
President, Element Life Science