Meet QAI’s New Board Chair: Kathryn Hayashi
QAI is pleased to announce that Kathryn Hayashi has been appointed as our new Board Chair. A highly respected leader in science commercialization, finance, and governance, Kathryn brings over 25 years of experience advancing innovation at the intersection of research, industry, and public purpose.
Kathryn most recently served as President and CEO of TRIUMF Innovations, the commercialization arm of TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator centre. During her tenure, she led the translation of breakthrough science into commercial and societal impact and co-led the creation of the Canadian Medical Isotope Ecosystem, a national initiative strengthening Canada’s leadership in nuclear medicine and advanced technologies. Across her career, Kathryn has secured more than $200 million in public and private investment to build and scale innovation-driven organizations.
Previously, Kathryn was the Founding Chief Financial Officer of the Centre for Drug Research and Development (now adMare BioInnovations), Canada’s national drug development and commercialization engine. Her career also includes senior financial and operational leadership roles across biotechnology, deep tech, and internationally operating organizations.
In addition to her executive leadership, Kathryn is a seasoned board director and committee chair. She currently serves on multiple boards, including Michael Smith Health Research BC, where she is Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, and Discovery Parks (now Nimbus Synergies), where she chairs the Governance Committee. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with extensive experience in financial oversight, governance, and strategic leadership.
Kathryn’s ability to connect science, business, and government aligns closely with QAI’s mission to accelerate the growth and adoption of quantum technologies. We are excited to welcome her leadership as QAI continues to strengthen British Columbia’s quantum ecosystem and support impactful collaboration across sectors.