Shelley King

Role: CEO, Natural Products Canada (joined 2020)

Shelley King is a strategic, decisive, and highly respected leader in the Canadian technology commercialization, innovation, and investment space. For 25 years, she has married her scientific background in academia with her in-depth knowledge of entrepreneurship and industry to help Canadian innovations go from bright idea to market-ready product. As founding CEO of NPC, Shelley has positioned Canada as a global pioneer and trailblazer in the natural product sector. NPC has made connections with more than 800 organizations nationally, involved more than 600 companies in its development pipeline, invested in 10 early stage enterprises, and experienced two exits.

Previously, Shelley was VP, Research and Business Development for Genome Atlantic, where she catalyzed industry-academic relationships, putting Canadian genomics research on the international map. She spearheaded the development of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Genomics Strategy, directed the management of $28 million in research projects, negotiated $17 million in multi-stakeholder collaborative research and funding agreements, and raised $8 million in co-funding. She has also served as CEO of Synapse, a not-for-profit organization responsible for UPEI’s applied research and industry services and as president of biotechnology start-up NovaLipids Inc.

A sharp risk-taker, relationship broker, and bridge builder, Shelley holds an MSc in medicine specializing in neuroscience and an MBA from Memorial University. She sits on the board for Springboard Atlantic and has served on the boards of Genesis Centre, the Natural Health Products Research Society, the Aquaculture Association of Canada, the Pan American Marine Biotechnology Association, and the Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Technology Industries