Coffee Connect

Coffee Connect:

Meaningful Conversations, Real Connections

Coffee Connect is one of ABTiP’s most engaging mentorship and networking programs — designed to foster authentic one-on-one conversations between members and industry leaders across Canada’s life sciences and pharmaceutical ecosystem.

Through these 30-minute virtual chats, members can:

  • Gain career insights and practical guidance from experienced professionals

  • Explore diverse perspectives across roles, functions, and organizations

  • Build confidence and expand their professional network

Whether you’re seeking advice on career growth, leadership, or navigating industry challenges — Coffee Connect offers a safe, supportive space to learn, share, and be inspired.


Meet The Coaches

Our volunteer Coaches represent a diverse range of expertise — from commercial operations and regulatory affairs to clinical development, communications, and consulting. Each coach is passionate about giving back and helping others thrive.

👉🏾 Browse the profiles below to learn more about each Coach’s background and expertise.

👉🏾LOG IN to your ABTiP membership account to view the booking tool and each coach’s schedule.

 **** The BOOKING TOOL will appear after the coach photos/images once you log into your member account ****

👉🏾 Book a Coffee Chat directly through their availability link to connect for a 30-minute virtual conversation.

Anne-Marie Bisson

Title: Managing Director
Company: Lumerate / Zebricks

I’m a scientist at heart with a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, but I’ve always been drawn to the business side of healthcare. After completing my Master’s in Biotechnology at the University of Toronto, I began my career in the pharmaceutical industry at Elvium Pharma, where I held various roles across sales operations, data analytics, and sales.
While I loved working in pharma, I wanted to be in a more agile, entrepreneurial environment, still within the healthcare space. That led me to join Lumerate, a Toronto-based health technology company, as a Business Development Manager about 4.5 years ago.
Two and a half years later, I took on the role of Managing Director to launch and grow Zebricks, the first patient advocacy market intelligence platform designed to help pharmaceutical companies bring their patient-centric vision to life.
Today, I lead an incredible team of eight, and together we’re focused on scaling Zebricks and expanding its impact across the industry.
Angelina Brathwaite

Title: Director Life Sciences/Regional Company: Diversity and Equity Leader

Angelina Brathwaite has been a dedicated member of Brunel Canada Limited for the past 18 years, where she currently serves as Director of Life Sciences and Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) Leader for North America. In 2006, Angelina established Brunel’s Life Sciences vertical in Canada, building it from the ground up into a trusted business line that now supports leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and emerging startup organizations. Over time, her portfolio has expanded to include the food, beverage, and agriculture sectors—further strengthening Brunel’s position as a comprehensive partner across the life sciences value chain.

 

As a leader, Angelina is known for fostering collaboration, confidence, and growth. She empowers others to think strategically, take initiative, and deliver their best work. Her ability to recognize potential and cultivate high-performing teams has been instrumental in building long-standing client partnerships and driving sustained business success.

 

Beyond her corporate achievements, Angelina is deeply committed to community and industry engagement. She currently serves on the boards of Women Leaders in Pharma, Advancing Black Talent in Pharma, and the Clinical Research Association of Canada, and is a member of the Advisory Board for The Mina Project under the Learning Enrichment Foundation.

 

Angelina’s passion for elevating others, advancing diversity and inclusion, and building meaningful connections continues to make her a respected voice and trusted leader within both Brunel and the broader life sciences community.

Corinne Buchannan-Russell

Title: CEP & Founder
Company: Culture Sparks Solutions

Corinne Buchanan-Russell is an experienced global pharmaceutical executive who leverages her thirst for knowledge to make people and companies better. She has 30+ years of continuously progressive experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She is passionate about people; their growth and development which has driven her to explore numerous professional and personal challenges across global and local leadership roles.  

 

As a strategic executive pharmaceutical business leader she has worked across a variety of multi-national pharma/biotech companies both locally in Canada and internationally.  She has a strong track record of performance and developing high-performing teams. Recently launching Culture Spark Solutions she is leaning into empowering companies to navigate commercialization challenges while building winning workplace cultures.

While achieving many career successes Corinne was struck by the fact that along her journey there were no mentors or leaders with shared experiences or understanding.  Boyed by this fact, Corinne partnered with likeminded individuals to form a not for profit company, Advancing Black Talent in Pharma (ABTiP).  This organization’s ambition is to achieve a sustained representation of Black Talent throughout the Canadian Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences industry.  Today ABTiP is growing in its members and through various initiatives strives to overcome the systemic barriers to growth and development of Black talent.

Impassioned by the words of Maya Angelou, Corinne’s mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.

Robert Burko
Title: CEO & Founder
Company: Elite Digital
Robert Burko is CEO and Founder of Elite Digital, a leading digital marketing agency based in Toronto. Robert started Elite Digital 20+ years ago when he was in high school and proceeded to earn his Bachelor of Business Administration with Honors, from the prestigious Schulich School of Business. Now, he leads over 50 people across multiple countries and is recognized as one of Canada’s chief digital marketing specialists.
As a key thought-leader in the marketing industry and award-winning entrepreneur, Burko has appeared on national television, radio, podcasts, and in countless print publications and blogs across North America. He was also a professor of Digital Marketing & Social Media at Seneca College in Toronto and is often invited to speak as an expert in his field at high-profile national and international events. Burko has provided strategic direction and insight for organizations like PepsiCo, Labatt, Rogers Communications, Mars Wrigley, Campbells, FranklinCovey, Disney, Merck Canada, Eli Lilly, Teva Pharmaceuticals, McMaster University, Roche, Sauza Tequila, HP, Black & Decker, Jewish Community Centres of Ontario, Scott Brothers (Property Brothers) Entertainment and more.
Burko was the “Under 30” entrepreneur of the year (Toronto Board of Trade) in 2011 and has led Elite Digital to be on the list of the 500 fastest growing companies in Canada three times.
In 2007, Burko was recognized by the Canadian House of Commons as an Outstanding Volunteer for his philanthropic service. Robert Burko currently resides in Toronto with his wife Michelle, daughter Violet and sons James and Lincoln, and continues to juggle growing both his family and his agency, with unprecedented passion and dedication.
 Dorothy Czylyski

Title: President and Partner
Company: No Fixed Address

Dorothy is an accomplished healthcare agency executive with over 20 years of success working with pharmaceutical clients across North America. In 2019 Dorothy founded healthcare agency “No Fixed Address (NFA) Health” in collaboration with No Fixed Address Inc., a rapidly growing independent consumer agency. Dorothy’s vision was to offer clients an insight-based and strategy-first approach to solving their business challenges, along with creative expertise that brings the consumer experience into the healthcare space. In addition to her daytime role, Dorothy is also on the Executive Leadership Team for Women Leaders in Pharma, Co-Founder of Canadian Healthcare Communication Professionals (CHCP) and a mentor with Scala Network, ABTip, and Executiv. In her free time Dorothy loves to spend time with her two teenage sons and also teaches downhill skiing.

Tim Dowell
Title: National Business Director – Canada
Company: Syneos Health

With over two decades of experience driving commercialization in Canada’s life-sciences sector, I partner with organizations — from early-stage biotech to global pharma — to bring breakthrough therapies to market and achieve meaningful growth. Currently, I serve as National Business Directort at Syneos Health Commercial Solutions, where I lead strategic initiatives, cross-functional teams and key stakeholder engagements within the Canadian market. I have held numerous progressive roles in industry; from rep, Product Manager, District Sales Manager, Marketing and Sales Director roles, and Head of Sales. I have extensive consulting experience as well. regarding all aspects of commercialization.
My strengths lie in:
– Building and executing go-to-market plans and teams that align with product lifecycle and payer/policy dynamics.
– Driving KOL engagement and field execution across primary care and specialty channels.
– Translating clinical, scientific and real-world evidence into compelling value propositions and impactful commercial executions.
– Leveraging strong business acumen, combined with science background, and hands-on experience in pharma commercialization.
I thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes settings where the ability to navigate complexity — from market access to sales enablement — is critical. I’m passionate about advancing therapies that make a difference for patients, while delivering sustainable commercial success.
Outside of work, I’m continually refining my communication and storytelling skills — for example, completing a course in “Business Storytelling” to enhance how I convey strategic narratives and insights.
Michael Kelley

Title: VP, Strategy and Operations
Company: Knightslab

Results-oriented global business leader with a 20+ year track record of driving growth and innovation within the pharmaceutical industry. Expert in global business operations, strategic planning, and problem-solving. Known for empowering teams to achieve peak performance and delivering tangible results for brands, healthcare providers, and patients through collaborative leadership.
Joe Franco

Title: General Manager – Canada
Company: IQVIA

Trilingual senior pharmaceutical executive with very strong record of generating strategic growth and putting in place innovative operational plans to grow spectacularly for new products and to protect market share for products nearing the end of their life cycle. Results-driven natural leader with strong presence who is at home negotiating at a high level or coaching and motivating his teams to meet and surpass their targets.

Yakob Makonnen

Title: Chief Digital Officer
Company: Oromo Digital Group

Yakob is the cofounder and Chief Digital Officer at Oromo Digital Group, a digital agency focused on pharma/biotech in Canada and the US. He specializes in developing digital strategies and tools that effectively reach, communicate and engage audiences such as HCPs, patients and caregivers.
Prior to establishing Oromo Digital, Yakob worked at Roche leading multichannel marketing for commercial operations.
Jennifer Meldurm

Title: Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Company: PEAK Pharma Solutions

Jennifer Meldrum is a 25+ year veteran of sales and operations in contract sales outsourcing. She has implemented more than 100 sales support programs during her tenure working with multi-national and start-up organizations. Jennifer has an in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry and combines her insight with confidence and acumen when it comes to advising our healthcare partners.
She utilizes her knowledge of industry trends to provide coordinated and strategic solutions for clients that optimize their strengths and addresses their challenges.
A strong leader, Jennifer seeks out challenges to help drive the healthcare industry forward. Jennifer recently served as the President of the Women Leaders in Pharma and currently serves as President of the Ontario Pharmaceutical Marketing Association (OPMA). In these high-profile roles, Jennifer utilizes her leadership skills and dedication to influence and inspire change in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. Her business acumen and integrity is an outstanding example for all to follow.
Jennifer is passionate about ensuring both clients and staff have a beneficial and positive win/win experience. She has worked hard to develop a culture of excellence at PEAK Pharma. Jennifer’s natural ability as a leader and her unique combination of integrity and knowledge means she is recognized as a business owner who leads the way with energy, integrity, new ideas and creative solutions.
Roussen Pascal

Title: Founder & Principal Consultant
Company: RP3 Management Consulting Inc.

Roussen Pascal is the Founder and Principal Consultant of RP3 Management Consulting Inc., a boutique firm that partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations to advance programs that ultimately improve patients’ lives. With over 20 years of experience across drug development — spanning regulatory, nonclinical, clinical, and CMC disciplines — Roussen has guided teams through multiple development milestones, including IND, NDA, NDS and commercial launches across North America and internationally. Through RP3’s Guide | Orchestrate | Deliver™ framework, he helps life-sciences leaders build clarity in strategy, strengthen cross-functional alignment, and achieve successful outcomes that drive meaningful impact for patients worldwide.

Josh Rubenschuh

Title: VP, Pharma & Biotech
Company: Operatic Agency

A Pharmaceutical Marketing Executive with a wealth of experience in brand strategy, regulatory and compliance, and content creation.

Aline Silahian 

Title: CEO & Founder
Company: Aline Silahian Consultation

Regulatory Affairs expert with 29 years experience in managing diverse and innovative portfolios and leading many highly successful teams in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Patient-focused approach with a proven track record in achieving outstanding results in multiple therapeutic areas including anti-infectives/antivirals, endocrinology, inflammation & immunology, rare diseases and vaccines. Instrumental in approval of over 20 new drugs in Canada and achieving unprecedented results with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Colin Vincente

Title: Managing Director
Company: Pivina Consulting Inc

25 years in the pharmaceutical industry focused on pricing, reimbursement and health economics.

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