Our Team
Stephen Hartlen, MBA, B.Comm — Assistant Vice-President, Industry Relations
"I’m very fortunate to be in a role at Dalhousie that involves growing the research enterprise to the benefit of our researchers and students, while also growing our Atlantic economy at the same time — they’re two things I’m very passionate about."
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Stephen Hartlen has been leading the OCIE team since 2011. He’s the university’s Assistant Vice-President, Industry Relations with a mandate of growing the research enterprise by partnering with the private sector and providing excellent customer service to our research community. Stephen is a member of the Vice President of Research and Innovation’s senior leadership team and a member of the Dal Innovates Steering Committee. Stephen holds an MBA from Saint Mary’s University and a Commerce degree from Dalhousie. Contact Stephen: |
Adam Haller, BSc, JD – Managing Director, Commercialization & Licensing
“I am lucky to play a role in bringing Dalhousie’s research and innovation to bear on real world issues for the benefit of the local community, the country and beyond.”
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Adam Haller draws on a career spent at the intersection of science, business, and law to help Dalhousie researchers bring their world leading innovations to market and put to impactful use. Adam joined Dalhousie after ten years practicing intellectual property law at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP in Toronto. He brings significant experience helping companies ranging from start-ups to multinational corporations solve some of their most complex intellectual property and related challenges. He has been a trusted advisor and advocate on strategy, transactions and disputes before the courts in a range of industry sectors including life sciences and pharmaceuticals, financial institutions, hi-tech, consumer brands, energy and cleantech. Adam holds a BSc in Mechanical and Materials Engineering from Queen’s University and a JD from the University of Toronto. Contact Adam: |
Ben Goldberg, MBA — Managing Director, Industry Engagement and Customer Experience
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Ben Goldberg joins OCIE with 10 years of experience in post-secondary education, focused on commercializing science and technology. Most recently, Ben was instrumental in the establishment and growth of the Creative Destruction Lab, both at Dalhousie University and at the University of Oxford. Ben holds a BA from Mount Allison University, and an MBA from Dalhousie. As Managing Director, Industry Engagement and Customer Experience, he will focus on further strengthening OCIE’s relationships with industry partners. Contact Ben: |
Michelle Gurrola-Gal, MSc, BSc, LVT, RLATg — Manager, Engineering and Science
"It's a privilege to be serving the expansive research community by facilitating research initiatives in various fields of study while prioritizing efficiency and optimization to get research underway as swiftly as possible."
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Michelle Gurrola-Gal is an experienced biomedical research and management professional. She's been a member of the OCIE team since January of 2020, joining with the aim of keeping processes moving. Her experience includes project managing clinical trials, managing a zebrafish research program, technical and corporate training for a preclinical safety assessment contract research organization, as well as years in veterinary practice. Michelle received her MSc in Biology from Villanova University and her bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology (minor in Management) from Quinnipiac University. Michelle is a licensed Veterinary Technician and Laboratory Animal Technologist. Contact Michelle |
Brennan Gillis, MBA — Manager, Agriculture and Aquaculture
“It’s exciting to support businesses and researchers as they bring new products, services and processes to market."
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Brennan Gillis brings a wealth of economic development experience including time spent working in the Mitacs program supporting industry and academic collaborative research. His most recent experience was as CEO of the Truro & Colchester Partnership, where he developed local business development programming to help Truro and Colchester businesses start, grow and overcome challenges. He is also a founding Director of Truro Cannabis Inc. Brennan’s solid background in business and community economic development will make him a great addition to the research support team. Brennan has an undergraduate Commerce degree and obtained his MBA from Saint Mary’s University in 2011. Contact Brennan: |
Annette Rushton, PhD — Manager, Health and Life Sciences
"I love being at the interface of academia and industry, the two worlds that have shaped my career."
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Annette Rushton is a research scientist with industrial, academic and governmental experience in life and health sciences. Her role at OCIE is to engage industry and commercialize intellectual property developed by faculty, students and staff within the life and health science faculties at Dalhousie. Prior to joining OCIE in 2018, Annette led the biology program at DeNovaMed Inc., a local antibacterial start-up company, where she was involved in drug discovery, business development and translational research. Annette received both her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Dalhousie University, and pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in yeast genetics at Columbia University. Contact Annette: |
Matthew Doyle, PhD, PEng — Manager, Computer Science
"The Faculty of Computer Science is experiencing unprecedented growth and its research spans across all sectors. I am excited to used the breadth of my experience to support this growth through the engagement of diverse industrial partners."
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Matthew Doyle is a research project manager who joins OCIE after 9 years in an academic research environment at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network. He previously led a multidisciplinary research team working on engineering and clinical research projects in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. He has extensive experience in writing research grant proposals, developing partnerships, and negotiating contracts. Matthew holds a BEng in Biological Engineering from Dalhousie and an MASc and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ottawa. He is a licenced Professional Engineer. Contact Matthew: |
Ayodeji Arowolo, LLM - Associate Legal Counsel
“I am thrilled to be a part of the team putting good ideas to work and creating several success stories for posterity!”
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Ayodeji Arowolo is an international lawyer with experience in contract, corporate and commercial law, and labour and employment law. He holds an LLM degree in International Trade and Commercial Law from Durham University in the UK. Ayodeji’s resourcefulness, in-depth understanding of legal principles and distinctive ability to simplify and resolve complex legal issues draws roots from a combined experience of 14 years of dispute resolution practice in top law firms and from occupying roles as in-house commercial and regulatory & compliance counsel in multinational companies within the FMCG and telecommunications sectors. Contact Ayodeji: |
Christine Reid — Office Manager
"Our team is always working with new researchers and industry partners — it means that no one day is the same, but every day is interesting!"
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Christine Reid has been with OCIE since 2006. Her role as Office Manager includes being Prime Administrator for IP Management Database, IP Docketing Manager, Annuities management, maintaining the patent, technology and agreement files, assisting with administration on various programs and general office related duties. Christine is administrative assistant to Stephen Hartlen, Assistant Vice-President, Industry Relations. Christine is currently a Fire Warden for LSRI Building – Innovacorp Labs Tower and member of Innovacorp Labs Safety Working Group. Contact Christine: |
Aishwarya Mohan — Business Development Specialist
Mitacs-Dalhousie University
I am passionate about research innovation, particularly in Atlantic Canada. And being able to contribute to the ecosystem under the umbrella of Mitacs and Dalhousie (my Alma matter) is a privilege.
Aishwarya completed dual degree (B.Sc. Agriculture & B.Tech. Environmental Landscape Horticulture) and a master’s degree in agriculture with a focus on bioproduct development from byproducts and waste streams. She has over eight years of experience in conducting research and five years of experience in managing and facilitating research as research manager in bioproducts. She has managed several multistakeholder projects and collaborations, particularly working with industry partners and start-ups. Contact Aishwarya: |
Shivani Dave - Finance Manager
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Shivani is the the Finance Manager at OCIE, overseeing financial operations, including Patents & Royalty Accounts. She brings over 15 years of experience in financial management within both the service and manufacturing sectors. Since joining Dalhousie in 2019, she has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in managing budgets and financial administration. Contact Shivani: |