Staff

Committed, dedicated, passionate.

The Ag-West Bio team is working to grow the bioeconomy in Saskatchewan. Keep us aware of your needs, so we can work for you. Knowing your challenges, we strive to keep our government informed so the sector can flourish.

Ag-West Bio Staff:
Wilf Keller – President and CEO
Brad Bly – Director of Commercialization
Boni Dorish – Chief Financial Officer
Lana Mollard – Corporate Secretary and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
Patrick Pitka – Special Advisor - Corporate Strategy
Jackie Robin – Director of Communications
Allison Sigstad-Kirzinger – Events Coordinator
Bev Stangeland – Manager of Industry Development
Betty Timmons - Administrative Assistant
Pamela Warren - Administrative Assistant

Ag-West Bio Staff

Wilf Keller (President and CEO)

Throughout his 40-year science career, Wilf led many major research initiatives. These included the application of genomics in canola improvement; the development of industrial bioproducts from vegetable oils; and production of bioactive natural products in plants for enhanced human health and quality of life. In 2015, he received the province's highest honour, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. In 2017, Wilf was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, and on July 4, 2018, Wilf was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
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Brad Bly (Director of Commercialization)

Brad manages Ag-West's Commercialization Fund, an early stage financing vehicle that can invest in Ag-bio companies with promising technology and an economically feasible plan for commercialization. In this capacity Brad works with companies, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to help get them ready for immediate and follow-on investment.
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Boni Dorish (Chief Financial Officer)

Boni oversees all financial reporting, budgeting and information technology for Ag-West Bio. She is responsible for the financial reporting to the Ag-West Board of Directors.
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Lana Mollard (Corporate Secretary and Executive Assistant)

Lana was born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She graduated from Secretarial Business School, returning to school in 2000 to refresh her skills at the Saskatoon Business College. As Corporate Secretary and Executive Assistant to the President, Lana manages and supports the office of the president and is responsible for the oversight and management of the operations of the Board of Directors and its committees.
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Patrick Pitka (Special Advisor - Corporate Strategy)

Pat acts as a special advisor to Management and the Board of Directors of Ag-West Bio. His duties also include overview of financial reporting, risk management and internal controls. Pat has been a mentor for small businesses through the Raj Manek Mentorship Program in Saskatoon for the past 20 years.
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Jackie Robin (Director of Communications)

Jackie grew up on a farm north of Saskatoon in the early days of canola. She attended the University of Saskatchewan and then the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, AB where she earned a bachelor degree in Visual Communications. Her experience ranges from custom-designed interpretive centres, to part-owner of a weekly newspaper, to freelance graphic design and communications.
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Allison Sigstad-Kirzinger (Events Coordinator)

Allison grew up in west central Saskatchewan and from her youth was involved in 4H – which encouraged her love of horses. She began helping on the family farm at a young age, cooking meals and making her way to the field when she was old enough to drive. As a young adult, Allison moved to Alberta to pursue post-secondary schooling. She later moved back to Saskatchewan to help out with the family farm.
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Bev Stangeland (Manager Industry Development)

Born and raised in Wadena Saskatchewan, Bev began her career in banking and commercial leasing. She left the bank to partner in a business consulting firm that engaged in numerous projects aimed at helping small and medium sized businesses grow and prosper.
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Betty Timmons (Administration Assistant)

Betty joined Ag-West Bio in April 2016 in a support role for the President’s office. Betty grew up in Dublin, Ireland, of farming parents and spent most of her summers on the farm with her grandparents.
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Pamela Warren (Administrative Assistant)

Pamela has more than 35 years experience in administration, and has worked in the municipal, legal and entertainment industries.
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