Our Team
At Genome Alberta, our people are our strength. We are a team of dedicated individuals committed to advancing research and innovation in genomics for the betterment of all Albertans. Our collective efforts aim to create a healthier and more prosperous future for our province.
David Bailey
President and CEO
(403) 210-5290
(403) 210-5290
David is a passionate and devoted leader. With a background in genetics and animal breeding and over 60 peer-reviewed publications in the field, David has built Genome Alberta into a vibrant organization, ensuring strong collaboration as the basis for our success. David is highly recognized in the genomics community with awards for excellence in research and transferring research into commercialization. Outside of work, David loves spending time on his farm and raising and showing horses.
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Gijs van Rooijen
Chief Scientific Officer
(403) 210-5253
(403) 210-5253
Gijs obtained a Ph.D. degree from the University of Calgary in 1993 and in 2006 he became the inaugural Chief Scientific Offer for Genome Alberta. He is an inventor on several U.S. patents and currently serves on several science advisory boards. In September 2017, he was elected to the University of Calgary Senate and is engaged in several volunteer activities, including mentoring students that are considering a career in science. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and traveling across Europe.
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Mitthua Sarkar-Banks
Human Resources Manager & Executive Assistant to the CEO
(403) 210-5275
(403) 210-5275
Mitthua is a cheerful, devoted professional who is the glue holding our organization together. Mitthua has extensive experience in human resources management and legal assistance. She is currently obtaining her HR Management Certificate at the University of Calgary as she works toward her CPHR designation. Mitthua handles a myriad of tasks for our organization including support to the CEO and board, IT, and privacy. Her favourite activity is cuddling with her rescue dogs.
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Matt Bryman
Director of Programs
(780) 905-5229
(780) 905-5229
Matt is a charismatic, knowledgeable thought leader who completed his MSc in plant physiology at the University of Alberta. Prior to leading teams and overseeing Genome Alberta’s funded initiatives, Matt honed his management and leaderships skills at the U of A where he was pivotal to the success of a large-scale forestry/genomics project. He loves playing and watching soccer and spending time with his family, cats and dog.
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Erin Tessier
Director of Communications and Partnerships
(587) 643-9973
(587) 643-9973
Erin is a down-to-earth connector of people and ideas. With over 15 years of experience in the public service in several natural resource departments, she loves the challenge of working in the space where science meets policy and finding innovative ways to share scientific data and information so it can be used for positive change. Outside of work, Erin loves to pursue outdoor adventures, either on foot or on her bike, and loves to experiment with food in the kitchen with her kids.
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Megan Allen
Controller
(403) 210-5257
(403) 210-5257
Megan effectively manages all financial matters across our organization. She has over 23 years of experience in financial management and leadership, is a CPA, and has prior experience as a Corporate Controller across the transportation and energy industries. The last 13 years of her career path inspired her to work with research-focused organizations. Megan most recently worked with WestGrid, STARS, and the University of Calgary, where she managed operational units with budgets of up to $60M.
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Olaide Ogunseye
Senior Accountant
(403) 210-5269
(403) 210-5269
Olaide is a vibrant, driven accounting professional. With strong experience in handling financial information and a passion for process efficiency, Olaide is committed to simplifying the experiences of everyday users, which she accomplishes by organizing quantitative data. Olaide is currently working towards her CPA designation. Outside of work, she never passes up on the opportunity for a good day of shopping or spending time with her loved ones.
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Georgia Balsevich
Manager, Project Development
Georgia is a curious, driven individual. With a BSc in Biochemistry from U of S, a MSc in Neuroscience from UBC, a Ph.D. in Biology from MPI of Psychiatry, and a post doc from U of C, Georgia is fascinated by understanding gene x environment interactions underlying disease susceptibility. Georgia shares her knowledge with those around her, helping others see the value of genomic solutions and why more funding is needed towards these efforts.
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Vanessa Carias
Research Program Manager
(780) 220-4334
(780) 220-4334
Vanessa is a hardworking, compassionate advocate for science with a Ph.D. in Medical Genetics obtained from the University of Alberta. Her expertise lies within rare genetic disease research and her passion for bettering the world through genomic solutions positively impacts the funded initiatives and projects at our organization. Her passion for science extends to making a difference through her various volunteering efforts and her podcast, The Science Brief.
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Tom Finn
Senior Program Officer
Tom is a thoughtful and dedicated team player with a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Genetics and two post docs in the field of antimicrobial resistance. He is intrigued by getting to the root of problems and enjoys maximizing the competitiveness of a diverse range of genomics-based proposals, in order to develop meaningful solutions to today’s challenges. Tom likes snowboarding in the winter and hiking in the summer.
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Athena Cochinamogulos
Program Officer
Athena is a bright and cheery contributor to the management and reporting of funded projects across our organization. Her education in health and infectious diseases and career experiences in rural villages of Ghana and the Dominican Republic, federal health departments of Virginia, United States, and Canadian non-profits have equipped her to perform program development and management tasks with efficiency.
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Mack Campeau
Communications Intern
Mack is a creative, detail-oriented communications student who brings a fresh perspective on functional and visual design assets that she uses to improve web usability. Mack is passionate about making complex information simple for anyone to understand, wilderness photography and watercolour painting in Alberta’s beautiful eastern slopes, traveling, and spending quality time with her friends and family.
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Meet Our Board of Directors
With solid leadership and a proactive strategic direction, our Board of Directors is helping to ensure we achieve our goal to promote and advance genomics research in Alberta and beyond.
Make a big impact with us. You’ll work collaboratively in a diverse and supportive environment to improve lives and strengthen our province through genomics research and innovation.
