John is CEO of SynBioBlox, Chair of McDougall & Secord, Limited and a director of several for profit and not for profit enterprises. Honoured as one of Alberta’s 50 most influential citizens, Mr. McDougall's career spans the globe across many sectors, with a far-reaching range of accomplishments and roles related to technology, innovation and business recognized by awards, medals and fellowships from organizations including the Canadian Academy of Engineers, Engineers Canada, Mexican College of Civil Engineers and PICMET. His career began as a petroleum engineer with Imperial Oil, and then evolved into the ownership and management of an international engineering consulting firm and subsequently a private merchant bank before becoming President of the Alberta Research Council and then the National Research Council. John has served, often as Chair, at the local, provincial, federal and international level on numerous public and private agencies, not-for-profits and advisory committees related to trade, education, technology, innovation, engineering, economic development and employment. His efforts to use biotechnology for mitigating greenhouse gases began during his time with the Alberta Research Council, and in 2019, he became a founding member of the Bio-Conversion Databank Foundation. John is a graduate in engineering from the University of Alberta where he also completed post-graduate courses in computing science and environment engineering. He was the Inaugural Poole Chair in Management for Engineers at the UA and the founder of “Innovation School” in collaboration with leading research and technology organizations across Canada. John provides perspective, direction and focus to inspire and guide SBB and its staff on their journey to mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr. Samanaidu (Bala) Balakrishnan is a successful entrepreneur and real estate developer, with keen interest in the applications of synthetic biology leveraging machine learning and advances in molecular biology. Previously, Dr. Balakrishnan has had a distinguished career as an innovative structural design engineer, with special emphasis on bridge design. He holds a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of Alberta, awarded for his research on the prediction of structural behavior using Finite Element Analysis. As a director of SynBioBlox, Dr. Balakrishnan focuses on development strategy and identification of opportunities. He spends a significant amount of his free time reading philosophy, cosmology, and literature.

Jan Bouma brings over 20 years of creative thinking, applied engineering and management experience from diverse industries, ranging from multi-national corporations to co-founding start-ups. Previously, Jan co-founded a startup where he successfully led the development of a terpene extraction process from industrial hemp. With a background in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, Jan has advanced his professional expertise through various technology development, project and quality management roles. As Vice President of Operations at SynBioBlox, Jan is currently responsible for planning and overseeing projects and process development; developing the product pipeline, techno-economic and life cycle analyses; and implementing the board of directors’ vision. In his personal life, Jan is passionate about the environment, being active outdoors, training and teaching martial arts, and volunteering for local arts festivals.

Quinn is a leader with over 20 years of experience in technology development, finance, international business, stakeholder engagement, government and the energy industry.  In a varied career with the Government of Alberta, Quinn led both regulatory and operational improvements of Alberta’s electricity metering and billing to leading the development of data driven international marketing strategies and performance management of Alberta’s international offices. During his tenure at the Alberta Research Council, Quinn led a national team, involving 5 provincial research agencies, in developing a unique algal growth system for capturing and converting carbon. He led technical reviews of nuclear power, energy storage and geological storage while raising nearly $20 million for clean energy technology projects. Quinn has also completed a Masters in International Trade Policy and Master in Business Administration, and has graduated from the Executive Program at Singularity University. As the VP Business Development of SynBioBlox, Mr. Goretzky oversees customer prospecting, government engagement, and developing revenue streams.  Beyond his professional work, Quinn is passionate about tasting new beers at craft breweries and spending time with his family and friends.

Bill Smith is a founding director and investor at SynBioBlox, bringing decades of experience in corporate governance, strategy, and finance. A former partner at Canada’s largest law firm, he has been a trusted advisor to numerous startups, including his role as counsel to the University of Calgary’s technology transfer arm. Bill has served on the boards of over a dozen companies developing innovative technologies, as well as multiple local, national, and international non-profit organizations. His expertise extends to publicly traded companies across a wide range of industries. With deep knowledge of major funding sources for growth-oriented businesses, Bill has held key leadership roles, including Interim COO of the Alberta Securities Commission, Chair of the Advisory Board for IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program), and Director of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (now Futurpreneur). Currently, Bill is focused on initiatives aimed at reducing the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions—an effort that aligns seamlessly with the mission of SynBioBlox.

Tom is a marketer and creative with a big interest in innovative technologies that strive to better the world and our communities. Over the last 15 years, Tom has worked with countless brands in BC and Alberta to help tell their stories and has collaborated with award-winning agencies to support their marketing campaigns. After graduating with a Masters in Recording Arts from the Centre for Digital Imaging and Sound, Tom’s career began with technical and artistic work in audio production, and over the years expanded into video/photo production and marketing. Over that time he has developed multiple skill sets that are technical, strategic and empathetic. At SynbioBlox, Tom is working to seek out and align with partners that want to help build a sustainable and abundant future. Tom lives with his wife and two sons in Calgary, where they make music and spend a lot of time in the outdoors.