The leaders changing the game in disease detection.

Bill Dawes

Chief Executive Officer

Bill is an experienced leader in the pharma and diagnostics space, having held executive level positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lantheus Medical Imaging and LikeMinds. He brings broad experience in business and operations functions within highly regulated, public, and private company settings with experience ranging from large companies to start-up settings including the launch of public companies and the execution of strategic exit transactions. Bill joined Breathe BioMedical two years ago as the leader of business development and external partnerships in the US market. He became Chief Executive Officer for the company in August 2023. Bill holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Hofstra University and recently completed the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Program.

Dr. Rachel Brem

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Brem is a world-renowned expert in breast cancer and the Director of the Breast Imaging and Interventional Center at the George Washington University. She is a cutting-edge clinician, researcher with over 120 peer-reviewed publications, author of a recently published book, No Longer Radical: Understanding Mastectomies and Choosing the Breast Cancer Care that’s Right for You (Simon and Schuster, 2023), advocate, and a breast cancer survivor. She has been recognized as a Top Cancer Doctor by Newsweek as well as a Best American Physician, Best Cancer Doctor by numerous organizations as well as Who’s Who in American Medicine.

Sandra Veenstra

Chief Regulatory Officer

Sandra Veenstra is the Chief Regulatory Officer at Breathe BioMedical. Sandra is responsible for overseeing all quality assurance activities, developing and managing our regulatory strategy and developing and monitoring our Quality Management System (QMS). Sandra graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Cellular and Molecular Biology, and received her Master’s from the University of Otago in Bioethics and Health Law. Sandra started her career far away from her hometown of Riverview, New Brunswick at The Health Research Council of New Zealand in Legal and Ethics. From there, Sandra moved closer to home and worked as an Ethics Director for the Health Research Ethics Authority in St. John’s, Newfoundland. We are so grateful that Sandra brought her exceptional skills and talent to our team in 2020 in the role of Director of Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs where she led the successful development and implementation of the company’s ISO 13485 quality system.

Chris Purves

Chief Technology Officer

Chris Purves co-developed Breathe BioMedical’s technology and leads the company’s product development. Chris’ expertise lies in BioPhotonics, product design and development, process engineering, test engineering and ISO9000 implementation. Chris is a Professional Engineer and has a B.Sc. in Engineering Physics, from the University of Alberta, Edmonton.

Jean Nadeau

Board Chair

Jean Nadeau is a Biotech and Fintech investor. He has years of expertise and executive experience in venture start-ups, business reorganization, product development, growth acceleration, shareholder and media relations, and private fundraising. Jean’s corporate knowledge includes board experience with research centres, economic development agencies and academic institutions. His track record covers 30-years’ experience in IT and digital media, including at executive and senior leadership levels.

Dr. Rachel Brem

Executive Director

Dr. Brem is a world-renowned expert in breast cancer and the Director of the Breast Imaging and Interventional Center at the George Washington University. She is a cutting-edge clinician, researcher with over 120 peer-reviewed publications, author of a recently published book, No Longer Radical: Understanding Mastectomies and Choosing the Breast Cancer Care that’s Right for You (Simon and Schuster, 2023), advocate, and a breast cancer survivor. She has been recognized as a Top Cancer Doctor by Newsweek as well as a Best American Physician, Best Cancer Doctor by numerous organizations as well as Who’s Who in American Medicine.

Don Hardison

Director

Don Hardison has a wide range of C-suite experience, with senior leadership experience in both public and private healthcare companies. He has specific expertise in raising private and public equity, strategy development, team building, and go-to-market planning and execution as well as deep experience in complex health care reimbursement framework and processes. Don is the former CEO of EXACT Sciences, a company dedicated to the early detection of cancer, and led the company through its Initial Public Offering (IPO). Don is also a former VP and C-Suite executive for multinational health care companies including Labcorp, Quest Diagnostics, and SmithKline Beecham (Now GSK). Most recently Don was the president and CEO of Biotheranostics Inc. which was acquired by Hologic in 2021.

Peter Savas

Director

Peter Savas is a serial life-science CEO, venture capitalist, (executive) director and advisor. He’s best known for financing and leading Aderis, the company that discovered, developed and partnered Neupro to treat people worldwide with Parkinson’s Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome. Peter is currently the CEO of LikeMinds, a brain health company; an advisor to AGP Life Science Ventures; and, a Breathe BioMedical director.

Stephanie Lewis, CPA, CA

Director

Stephanie Lewis received her Charted Professional Designation in May 2012 after graduating from the Université de Moncton. She has been involved with Breathe BioMedical as a shareholder since 2018, and as an observer to the Board of Directors since October 2022. Stephanie has extensive experience in business and audit, working as CFO of the Wildwood Group of Companies since 2017. Previous to this, she worked as a Senior Auditor for the Office of the Auditor General of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as a Senior Auditor for Ernst & Young and LeBlanc Nadeau Bujold LLP. Stephanie is also Treasurer and Chair of the Audit Committee for MCRI Inc since September 2022, as well as President of the Centres Parascolaires Le Garoussi et le Pavillon du Sommet.

Bill Dawes

Director

Bill is an experienced leader in the pharma and diagnostics space, having held executive level positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lantheus Medical Imaging and LikeMinds. He brings broad experience in business and operations functions within highly regulated, public, and private company settings with experience ranging from large companies to start-up settings including the launch of public companies and the execution of strategic exit transactions. Bill joined Breathe BioMedical two years ago as the leader of business development and external partnerships in the US market. He became Chief Executive Officer for the company in August 2023. Bill holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Hofstra University and recently completed the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Program.

Dennis Nowlan

Director

Dennis Nowlan is a graduate of the Université de Moncton Law School (Class of 2001). He practiced law for nearly a decade, including with Atlantic Canada’s largest law firm and as corporate counsel for a leading national industrial group. During this time, he developed a reputation for strategic insight, sound judgment, and effective advocacy.  In 2009, Mr. Nowlan transitioned to the business sector, founding Castlemount Construction Inc. and Castlemount Properties Inc. Under his leadership, both companies have grown into respected and successful enterprises. His combined legal and entrepreneurial experience provides him with a strong foundation in governance, risk management, and operational execution.  Mr. Nowlan is also actively involved in his community and has volunteered for many years as a youth sports coach. He lives in Bouctouche, NB with his wife and three children.