ABOUT US

At the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), we’re privileged to be in a position to help people propel their innovative ideas onto the global stage.

Since 2003, NBIF has invested more than $175 million into startup businesses and applied research in New Brunswick. These foundational investments have attracted an $825 million of additional investment, giving New Brunswick innovators $1 billion to take their ideas further.

Today, NBIF is investing in and supporting a portfolio of more than 60 technology companies. Those companies have attracted more than $700 million in outside investment to New Brunswick.

These companies are driving increased economic activity in the province with an annual GDP impact of more than $110 million. That’s an impact that’s up 86 per cent since 2017.

And together these companies employ more than 700 people, with plenty of growth potential ahead of them yet.

There has never been a better time to develop innovative solutions with global appeal. NBIF helps put New Brunswick businesses right in the centre of the action, by embracing the world’s challenges as opportunities.

INVESTMENT IMPACT OBJECTIVES

1. INNOVATE FOR THE FUTURE:  Foster and invest in innovation for future economic growth and ignite transformational change.

2. ADVANCE DIVERSITY: Engage and empower equity-seeking groups and underrepresented regions.

3. PRIORITY SECTOR GROWTH: Contribute directly to the development and expansion of New Brunswick’s economic priority sectors.

4. GENERATIONAL RETURNS: Invest capital to generate long-term financial returns and social and environmental impacts, while ensuring long-term organizational stability.

OUR TEAM

Eden Hoang

Communications & Events Coordinator

Eden Hoang

Communications & Events Coordinator

Heather Libbey

Vice President of Strategy and Operations

Heather Libbey

Vice President of Strategy and Operations
Hilary Lenihan

Hilary Lenihan

Director, Client & Employee Experience

Hilary Lenihan

Director, Client & Employee Experience

Jaime Christian

Investment Manager

Jaime Christian

Investment Manager

John Alexander, CPA, CA, ICD.D

Director of Finance

John Alexander, CPA, CA, ICD.D

Director of Finance
Kamrul Arefin

Kamrul Arefin

Investment Analyst

Kamrul Arefin

Investment Analyst

Laila Thériault

Investment Analyst

Laila Thériault

Investment Analyst

Paul Thornton, PhD

Innovation Partnerships Manager

Paul Thornton, PhD

Innovation Partnerships Manager
Cathy Simpson smiling in pink suit

Cathy Simpson

Board Chair, CEO, TechImpact

Cathy Simpson

Board Chair, CEO, TechImpact
eric cook smiling headshot

Eric Cook

Board Vice Chair, Executive Director, Cleantech, Prince Edward Island BioAlliance

Eric Cook

Board Vice Chair, Executive Director, Cleantech, Prince Edward Island BioAlliance

Leslie Watchorn Magee

Board Secretary, Principal, Maytree Developments

Leslie Watchorn Magee

Board Secretary, Principal, Maytree Developments

Rob Miller

Board Treasurer, Edgewater Consulting Inc.

Rob Miller

Board Treasurer, Edgewater Consulting Inc.

Dr. David MaGee

Vice President Research, University of New Brunswick

Dr. David MaGee

Vice President Research, University of New Brunswick

Francis Leblanc

Associate Vice-President & Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Université de Moncton

Francis Leblanc

Associate Vice-President & Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Université de Moncton

Nicole LeBlanc

Partner, Woven Capital (Toyota)

Nicole LeBlanc

Partner, Woven Capital (Toyota)

Traci Simmons

CEO, Opportunities New Brunswick

Traci Simmons

CEO, Opportunities New Brunswick

Tony Van Bommel

LL.B., MBA, BDC Capital Inc. (Retired)

Tony Van Bommel

LL.B., MBA, BDC Capital Inc. (Retired)

ANNUAL REPORTS

Indigenous land acknowledgement

As a New Brunswick organization, NBIF acknowledges that it carries out its work on the traditional unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq and Peskotomuhkati peoples.

This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which these nations first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources, but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqey and Peskotomuhkati title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, we pay respect to the elders, past and present, and descendants of this land. We honour the knowledge keepers and seek their guidance as we strive to develop closer relationships with the Indigenous people of New Brunswick.