From an early age and involvement in 4-H, Claudia knew that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She holds a strong interest in the science and management of animal disease. She attended the University of Alberta and studied animal agriculture prior to obtaining her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. Claudia practiced in mixed animal practice in Cremona, Alberta, small animal practice in Oahu, Hawaii, and worked with Veterinarians Without Borders on a dairy project in Kenya.

Claudia then became a co-founder of Gaia Protein Ltd., a start-up applying science and engineering to the production of novel protein. Claudia was responsible for science program design and the startup and operation of lab facilities. Claudia integrated biological criteria with building envelope engineering, automation, and the development of machine learning systems. The technology development was successful and resulted in a production system delivering best in class results. Claudia jointly managed the successful divestment of the company and technology (ongoing).

Claudia then identified an opportunity to develop a software tool for veterinarians to provide optimized nutritional consultations and pet food recommendations. She has founded a company (Pet-Bytes) that is developing that tool and has a clear path towards the commercialization of the software.

Claudia is focused on achieving usable and meaningful results from R&D projects. She has a deep understanding of the cost and value of research and science, and the effective deployment of those projects inside organizations. Claudia’s exposure to venture capital and corporate finance has provided a framework with which to evaluate research and development projects for best value and outcomes. Her broad scientific background positions her to manage and execute complex challenges and define and communicate scientific and technical objectives.

Academic

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan)
• 3 years in Animal Science (University of Alberta)