Life Sciences Ontario Awards Presentation

Now entering its 19th year, LSO’s Annual Celebration of Success has formed a reputation as an important platform to recognize the individuals and companies driving the success of Ontario life sciences. This year we are hopeful to have the event once again in-person. The LSO Awards are also our largest single fundraising vehicle—supporting our advocacy, educational, and networking events. The event also serves an important charitable function: proceeds from the event’s silent auction support the Sanofi Biogenius Challenge.

The 2022 awardees:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Ronnie Miller
• Community Service Award: Dr. Jack Gauldie
• Volunteer Award: Dr. Ryan Wiley
• Life Science Company of the Year: Nicoya
• LSO Leadership Award: Sabina Steinkellner

REGISTRATION

Registration is open for tickets or tables at the Annual Awards Presentation on May 18th.

***LSO is committed to the health and safety of all participants at the LSO Awards Presentation. We will require all participants to provide receipt of 2 COVID19 vaccination received at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

Sponsorship opportunities are available, click here to view the package.

Awardee Biographies

Ronnie Miller, President & CEO, Hoffmann-La Roche Limited

Lifetime Achievement Award

Ronnie Miller is the President and CEO of Hoffmann-La Roche Limited (Roche Canada). In this role, he is responsible for the growth and success of the Canadian Pharmaceuticals Division, particularly as it relates to the company’s mandate of developing and delivering innovative healthcare solutions for Canadians.

Ronnie’s early exposure to the healthcare industry was a matter of geography. Having grown up across the street from a hospital in Glasgow, Scotland and under the care of a mother who was a volunteer nurse, he believes that the success of any healthcare system is dependent on its ability to understand and respond to the evolving needs of its patients. In fact, the hospital in Glasgow was where Ronnie held his first job as a porter at the age of 15 and continued to work throughout his years at university. This early exposure helped spark his passion for helping patients and drove his interest in the pharmaceutical industry.

At age 21, after completing his Bachelor of Science in Economics and Geography at the University of Glasgow, Ronnie moved to London to accept a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Quickly advancing through a series of successive sales and management positions across the industry, Ronnie became the National Sales Manager for Roche in the United Kingdom in 1988, which served as a springboard for his career within the company.

Throughout his time at Roche, which included various roles in the UK, Switzerland and Japan, Ronnie has worked with several leaders that have both inspired and helped him mould his management style, which he credits for his success. While he describes himself as fiercely competitive, what truly drives him and provides him with the greatest sense of achievement is developing others and watching them meet their full potential.

During his years in the pharmaceutical industry, Ronnie has seen the sector transition from a one-size-fits-all approach to one that is focused on the individual and the delivery of precision medicine. As a company that has embraced this philosophy, Ronnie believes Roche is well positioned to maintain its leadership in innovating the way healthcare is delivered through the

integration of its Pharmaceutical (Commercial and Product Development) and Diagnostics divisions.

When he’s not working, Ronnie can usually be found on a golf course – a sport he enjoys with his three daughters, who share his passion and strong sense of competition. He also enjoys travelling with his wife, and spending time at their family home in Florida, a retreat always filled with friends and family from around the globe.

Dr. Jack Gauldie, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University

Community Service Award

Dr. Jack Gauldie is recognized in the academic world for defining the molecular regulation of acute and chronic inflammation and the role of factors, such as Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Transforming Growth Factor, in the regulation of chronic inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, as well as the molecular regulation of mucosal immunity. He has published more than 400 scientific articles and has a citation h-index more than 100.

Dr. Gauldie is Distinguished University Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University,1970-present, where he was Chair of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine for fifteen years. He was on the Gairdner Foundation Medical Review Panel and Advisory Board, 2002-2011. He was Vice President Research at St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton for the past 5 years and served earlier on the Board of St Joseph’s, 2012-2015. He was on the Board of Genome Ontario, 2011-2019, and served as Acting Chair, 2018-2019. He has been on the Ontario Research Fund Advisory Board since 2005 and is currently Chair of that Board since 2011.

He received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1976 for service to sport and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for service to medicine. He is a Member of the Order of Canada (CM), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC) and has received a number of academic honours and recognition.

Dr. Ryan Wiley, President, Shift Health

Volunteer Award

Dr. Ryan Wiley is President of Shift Health, which he has helped to grow into one of the most dynamic and trusted advisory teams within the health research and innovation ecosystem, with footholds in North America, Europe and the Middle East. Working with global leaders in the contexts of business, healthcare, science, policy and social justice, Ryan is committed to creating a healthcare future that’s collaborative, inclusive and person-centred.

Ryan received his PhD in immunology from McMaster University, where he is now Adjunct Professor. He is Policy Advisor to and Past Chair of Research Canada, Co-chair of Life Sciences Ontario’s Annual Policy Forum, a founding member of Building an Inclusive Life Sciences Future and the Inclusive Life Sciences Collaboration, and a Director on the boards of Amref Health Africa and CanHealth International. Ryan was honoured to receive Research Canada’s Leadership in Advocacy Award in 2019.

Nicoya 

Life Science Company of the Year

Nicoya is a Canadian life sciences tools company specializing in innovative biosensor technology for the academic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. In their mission to improve human life, Nicoya provides scientists with user-friendly and integrated solutions that accelerate label-free biomolecular analysis. With their world-class expertise in nanotechnology and microfluidics, Nicoya is now helping hundreds of scientists succeed in over 50 countries. Learn more at www.nicoyalife.com.

Sabina Steinkellner, General Manager, General Medicines Canada, Sanofi

LSO Leadership Award:

Sabina Steinkellner is the General Manager, General Medicines Canada, a division of Sanofi. This division is the primary sales contributor for Sanofi in Canada, and supports patients across Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, and multiple other diseases and conditions.

With 18 years’ experience at Sanofi, Sabina has contributed to the organization within multiple markets and roles.

Bringing with her both local and international experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sabina began her career at Sanofi Canada within the vaccines business leading the Financial Reporting team. Her business acumen and strong leadership skills facilitated her path through the Canadian vaccines organization to contribute to the organization through Business Planning, Marketing, Operations and Sales.

On a global level, Sabina has been a member of the Vaccines US Marketing team and lead the Regional Marketing team for Latin America. Most notably, she drove the successful launch of the influenza vaccine Fluzone Quadrivalent in the United States and subsequently contributed to launch efforts for the Dengue vaccine in Latin America.

Sabina spent 4 years as Chief Commercial Officer of the Canadian vaccines business in Canada where her division launched Fluzone High-Dose within the first market globally outside the United States. Before moving into her current role, Sabina held the role of Head of Communications, Sanofi Canada responsible for the organizations’ Corporate communications, Corporate Social Responsibility, and employee Communications. She is a member of the Sanofi Senior Leadership team and represents the General Medicines business unit on the Sanofi Canada Country Council. Sabina provides council to both the National Institute of Aging and Life Sciences Ontario as a member of their respective Boards.

Sabina holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Mathematics and an Executive MBA from the Kellogg-Schulich School of Business. She is a Chartered Accountant and received her designation while working with PricewaterhouseCoopers.