Meet the top 20 young Canadian visionaries in the life sciences. Canada's life sciences industry is thriving. From groundbreaking drug discoveries to cutting-edge medical devices and transformative Al solutions, innovation is reshaping healthcare as we know it. Contributing more than $80 billion to the national economy, Canada leads the G7 in clinical trials per capita and has seen an unprecedented wave of investment in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, driven by strong partnerships between government and industry.
At the heart of this momentum is a new generation of leaders-visionary young professionals who are driving innovation, shaping strategy, and advancing patient care. As leaders of Bedford Group Transearch, a premier executive search and talent advisory firm in life sciences, and Catalytic Health, one of Canada's largest medical communications firms, we have the privilege of witnessing this talent firsthand. Across boardrooms, research labs, and conference halls, we consistently meet remarkable young professionals who are redefining what's possible in life sciences.
Yet, despite their significant impact, there was no dedicated recognition for young leaders in this field. So, we set out to change that. Last fall, we launched Canada's Top 20 Under 40 in Life Sciences Awards, calling on organizations nationwide to nominate outstanding professionals under 40 making a profound impact on the industry-both at home and abroad.
To ensure a fair and rigorous selection process, we assembled an independent jury of esteemed life sciences executives to evaluate the nominations. The response was overwhelming, and the competition was fierce. These leaders are not just excelling in their fields-they are shaping the future of healthcare.
We are proud to celebrate their achievements and amplify their contributions. Their work is breaking barriers, redefining standards, and pushing the boundaries of possibility in Canadian life sciences. If you know a rising leader deserving of this recognition, we invite you to nominate them for next year's awards-submissions open this fall.
Until then, we hope you find inspiration in the stories of these exceptional individuals. Their success is a testament to the strength and dynamism of Canada's life sciences sector-and to the bright future ahead.
Sincerely,
Howard Pezim (He/Him) & Darren Raycroft, Co-Managing Directors, Bedford Group/TRANSEARCH
Rohit Khanna, Founder and President, Catalytic Health
Congratulations to: Akeem Gardner, Alex Kopacz, Anne Forsyth, Chris Lenhu, Eva McLellan, Frank Yu, Gillian Strudwick, Harpal Sekhon, Jennifer Gunn, Kavisha Jayasundara, PhD, Kelly Thompson, Lauren Mifflin, Lucas Chartier, Mary Arsanious, Mike Melo, Nabanita Nawar, PhD, Paul Glavine, Shaan Chugh, Tori Ford, Yusuf Ibrahim.
Thank you to our jury of four highly accomplished life science executives, Patricia Gauthier, Cheryl MacDiarmid, John Helou, ICD.D, and Jamie Condie.
