Gold Leaf Awards

• Academic Excellence: Celebrating individuals at universities who have distinguished themselves through groundbreaking research, academic achievements, and the ability to inspire and lead their peers towards new horizons in biotechnology.
• Research Innovation: Recognizing peers in research laboratories who have demonstrated unparalleled dedication to advancing biotechnological research, developing innovative solutions, and contributing to the scientific community’s body of knowledge.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit in Pre-commercial SMEs: Honouring leaders within pre-commercial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who have shown extraordinary vision in steering their companies towards impactful biotechnological breakthroughs, thereby laying the groundwork for future commercial success.

The “Leadership Award” is not merely a recognition of what has been achieved, but a celebration of the potential to drive transformative change in the biotech industry. It highlights the recipient’s role in laying the foundation for the solutions that will address the most pressing challenges faced by society today and in the future.

Diane Gosselin is a leader who has  been passionately committed to the financing of  biomedical R&D for over 30 years. President and Chief Executive Officer of CQDM between 2012 and 2025, she joined the organization in 2008 as Vice-President, Research and Business Development where she has been actively involved in the creation of CQDM. She has demonstrated the relevance and the value of CQDM’s model in building an impressive portfolio of 150 outstanding technologies that strongly impact biopharmaceutical research and mobilizes more than 120 SMEs. She has raised $375M in funding at CQDM and  has developed several local and international partnerships that have generated another $225M to further support innovative R&D across Canada.

Prior to CQDM, she worked at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ where she managed an investment portfolio and helped several companies implement their drug development strategy. At PROCREA BioSciences, she led the research team that developed the first worldwide non-invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis. 

She took part in several Life Sciences matters, notably as a member of focus groups, investment Committees, and as a Board member (Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Genomics, Medicament Québec, INRS University, Montreal InVivo, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, BioteCanada, CQIB, Fonds Bio-Innovation, Cardianove). She is currently member of the Board of CQDM and CATALIS.

She holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from Université de Montréal, as well as an Executive MBA from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Université Paris-Dauphine. Also, she has completed the certification Corporate Governance from Université Laval.

• Technological Advancements: Celebrating companies that have made significant strides in biotechnology through innovative research, development, and application of new technologies. This includes breakthroughs that have the potential to transform healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and more.
• Business Milestones: Acknowledging companies that have reached critical business milestones, demonstrating strong growth potential, strategic leadership, and the ability to overcome obstacles. This includes notable achievements in funding, scaling operations, or achieving key regulatory milestones.
• Potential for Strategic Partnerships: Recognizing companies that have shown early indications of forming significant partnerships, which could amplify their impact on the biotech landscape. This includes collaborations with academic institutions, industry leaders, or other organizations that can provide complementary strengths and resources.

The “Promising Biotech Company of the Year Award” is not just an acknowledgment of past and present accomplishments but also a testament to the recipient’s potential to drive future innovations and contribute to the global advancement of biotechnology. This award honours those companies that embody the spirit of innovation, showcasing a promising trajectory in the biotech sector.

35Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in TGF-beta superfamily therapeutics for the treatment of Cardiometabolic Disease and Obesity. 35Pharma leverages its scientific leadership in TGF-beta biology combined with superior protein engineering to discover innovative compounds that selectively and potently neutralize validated pathological TGF-beta ligands while sparing beneficial homeostatic ligands.

• Promotion of Industry Growth: Recognizing leaders who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering the growth and development of the biotechnology industry within Canada. This includes efforts to enhance innovation, support startups, and attract investment, thereby strengthening Canada’s position on the global biotech stage.
• Achievement of Significant Milestones: Honouring individuals who have been instrumental in reaching pivotal milestones that have propelled the industry forward. This includes groundbreaking discoveries in biotech research, securing substantial investments, advancing the development of new technologies or therapies, and pioneering unique business models that are shaping the biotech industry landscape.

The “Game-Changing Industry Leadership Award” is designed to acknowledge those exceptional leaders whose contributions have not only propelled their organizations to new heights but have also inspired change and progress throughout the Canadian biotech ecosystem. Their visionary leadership, coupled with a commitment to innovation and excellence, exemplifies the transformative impact one individual can have in advancing biotechnology both domestically and on a global platform.

Nancy Harrison is a nationally recognized life sciences builder and investor with over 30 years of experience as a sector innovator and leader. Nancy is a Venture Partner with Amplitude Ventures.

Nancy previously spent 10 years as co-founder, Chief Business Officer, and President with MSI Methylation Sciences, which grew from start-up to phase II clinical trials for one of its drugs, having raised over US $70MM during her tenure. Prior to her time at MSI, Nancy spent 14 years as a Senior Vice President and Partner with Ventures West Management where she led the Life Sciences portfolio, growing it from zero to over 30 per cent of Venture West’s investment portfolio. She helped lead Venture West’s transformation from $90MM assets under management to over $800MM AUM in eight historical funds during her tenure. Some of these investments include companies such as Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AnorMed, Inc, Caprion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celator Technologies Inc., Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Salmedix Inc., Sembiosys Genetics Inc., and many other biotechnology firms while with Ventures West.

Currently Nancy sits on boards including Abdera Therapeutics, Congruence Therapeutics and Evolved Therapeutics on behalf of Amplitude as well as other portfolio company boards. She also serves on the boards and is an advisor for several companies and not-for-profits the including Nimbus Synergies, BC Genome I2 venture fund, BioteCanada advisory board for start-up companies, and is a fellow with the Creative Destruction Lab – West. During 2019 and 2020 Nancy served as the Co-chair of the Federal Government COVID Therapeutics Task force and Jointly Chairs the Biomanufacturing Task Force which advised the Canadian Government on topics related to COVID.

With both an MBA from McGill and an Engineering degree from Queens, Nancy is a recipient of the 2023 Barry Gekiere Life time Achieve Award from CVCA, the 2020 Milton Wong Leadership Award from Life Science BC, the 2020 PEAK Award for Excellence in Leadership from the Association of Women in Finance, was named CDL-West Fellow of the Year in 2019 and has previously been named to Globe & Mail’s Top 40 under 40 in Canada.