Our Team
Cannovations Bioscience Corporation is led by a team of seasoned, experienced and accomplished members with history of creating shareholder value
Yahia Gawad
MB. Ch.B., MD., MSc., Executive Chair & Chief Scientist
Dr. Gawad is a Physician/Scientist with primary training in Cardiology, Biochemistry and Immunology. He is the founder, CEO of CardioGenics Inc. Before that, he was a co-founder of Syn X (previously Skye Pharmatech) where he held the position of Vice-President, Medical Affairs. Prior to that, he was Director of Clinical Research and development at Spectral Diagnostics Inc.
Dr. Gawad’s commercial research experiences of over 25 includes working extensively on cardiac diagnostic test products, where he took several products from the concept stage through proof of concept, patent applications, bench development to commercialization, through regulatory approval processes. Project funding was done through private fund raising, offering securities to public market as well as several grants of National Research Council (NRC) of Canada.
Hardik Kukreja
MMS., BCom., Chief Executive Officer
Hardik has over 18 years of experience in financial services and wealth management at Royal Bank of Canada in Toronto. For the last 4 years he led a high performing team of specialists at RBC. He provides strong leadership and innovative change management.
Hardik has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Economics and a Master of Management Studies (MBA equivalent) from University of Bombay India.
Prior to his move to Canada, Hardik worked in reputed advertising agencies and marketing firms in Bombay India.
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James A. Essex
CA, MBA, Chief Financial Officer
James founded J. Hunter & Associates Inc. in 1990, a private accounting and financial consulting firm. In addition, he is a co-owner and CFO of The Lunch Lady Group Inc., a private company which is franchisor of a cross-Canada food services business, and co-owner and CFO of Adler Graduate Professional School Inc., a private company providing adult training in the mental health field. Prior to that, he was a Vice President of Confederation Trust (1989) and a Vice President of Chemical Bank of Canada (now Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada) from 1977 through 1987.
Linda J. Sterling
F.Inst.L.C.O., Corporate Secretary
Linda has been in the legal community in the capacity as a Senior Corporate Law Clerk since 1999. She is licensed as a Legal Executive (F.Inst.L.C.O.) with the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario, of which she is a member. Currently, she is a senior law clerk at Aird &Berlis. Previously, she has been with both Stikeman Elliott LLP and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. She developed expertise with both public and private company legal compliance and has been responsible for compliance and maintenance of corporate governance for several private and public companies.