Central Office Team

Manager of Finance & Corporate Operations

Based at UNB in Fredericton, Tania is the backbone of Springboards’ finances, looking after operational funding aspects and Springboard’s Member Innovation Mobilization Program disbursements. In addition, Tania collects and consolidates the valuable metrics that are crucial to our planning and reporting processes.

Having worked with Springboard since 2008, Tania is extremely knowledgeable about the organization’s financial structure, including what counts as an eligible expense and what must be included in our reports.

Previously, Tania fine-tuned her financial expertise working for ten years in the private sector as senior accountant for a commercial real estate business who owned development properties as well as restaurants and eight subsidiary companies.

Coordinator, Administration and Events

Theresa MacLeod is our Coordinator, Administration and Events.

Theresa joined the Springboard team with over a decade of board administrative experience, having worked for the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Pinchin LeBlanc Environmental. Reporting to our President and CEO, Theresa is responsible for the efficient administration of Springboard’s Central Office, overseeing office administration, meeting, and event coordination. She leads with experience, enthusiasm, and a passion for the job. Theresa is a graduate of Hospitality Management from Cape Breton University.

Outside of the office, Theresa enjoys any off time during the summer at her home away from home in Pictou County, spending time with her husband, four children, two dogs, and her grandbabies.

Want to connect with Theresa? Email her here.

Manager of Partnerships and Member Support

Chris Fevens has joined Springboard as Manager of Partnerships and Member Support.

Chris will develop relationships between industry and Springboard’s network of 19 post-secondary institutions to enhance research commercialization in Atlantic Canada

Before joining Springboard, Chris was program manager in Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development.  His professional background includes more than 15 years of experience working in post-secondary institutions in Canada and abroad as an instructor and as an administrator.

He has considerable experience building partnerships with external stakeholders and working within multicultural environments.

He holds a B.A. and B.Ed. from University of New Brunswick, and a M.Ed. from the University of British Columbia.

Senior Communications Strategist

Gail is an exited (2018) ocean tech entrepreneur who co-founded subsea inspection company, developing technologies and exporting to clients globally.

She specializes in translating complex subject matter into content and stories that are accessible to target audiences.

She holds an undergraduate degree in Public Relations from MSVU and an MA in Adult Education from Dalhousie University. She holds a Certificate Change Management from the Prosci Institute and has obtained micro-credentials in User Experience (UX) design.

Director, Atlantic IP Advantage Program

Niraj Shukla is the Director for the Atlantic IP Advantage (AIPA) program for Springboard Atlantic, delivering the AIPA program to start-ups and business accelerators and incubators across the region. Previously, he served as the Regional Director for Mitacs in Atlantic Canada where he led a high-performing team responsible for delivering innovation-based funding programs and building relationships with industry, academia, government partners and the wider innovation ecosystem. Niraj has extensive experience in program management, strategic planning, as well as in assisting clients achieve their R&D goals. He possesses an MBA from Memorial University and is a doctoral candidate in Community Health at Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine.

IP Counsellor for Nova Scotia, AIPA

Shelley Hessian has more than 30 years of experience working with small and medium-sized businesses. Prior to joining Springboard Atlantic, Shelley was at Invest Nova Scotia (formerly Innovacorp) for 15 years. Her most recent position was as Manager, Start-Up Yard, the business incubator located at the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE). Previously, Shelley was Manager of Programs and Business Acceleration. She worked one-on-one with the organization’s early-stage technology client companies and led many acceleration initiatives. Prior to Invest Nova Scotia, Shelley was Manager of Consulting and Skills Development at Saint Mary’s University Business Development Centre. In this role, Shelley led the development and implementation of new projects, created annual strategic business plans, and mentored clients in several key areas, including business plans, market/feasibility studies and project management. Shelley holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University, and she is also a certified project management professional.

IP Counsellor for Newfoundland & Labrador, AIPA

Libby Carew is formerly the Senior Advisor, Business Development with Mitacs in Newfoundland & Labrador. She has extensive experience working in the research & development and innovation space across multiple industries. In her role at Mitacs, she acted as a connector between industry and academia, assembling applied research projects to support local industry and grow the economy. Libby is a graduate of Memorial University and Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson). Libby is bilingual in English and French.

IP Counsellor for New Brunswick, AIPA

Dr André Pelletier has spent his professional life working in various roles connected to applied chemistry, engineering, and innovation project management. He is a multi-industry professional with experience across a variety of industrial and tech sectors, from operational and R&D roles to strategy development.  He has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from UNB, and a Master in Science (Chemistry) from Université de Moncton.

In his personal life, André enjoys giving back to his community and spending time with family. He volunteers in the community through Rotary and as a member of the Board of Directors at the Greener Village. He also volunteers time to the entrepreneurial and STEM ecosystems within the Maritimes, and as occasional peer-reviewer for select scientific journals as time, and topic alignment, allow.