Our Company

Atif Zia is a member of the Septodont Group Executive Committee and a veteran in the sterile pharmaceutical industry. He joined Septodont in 2009 to lead Septodont’s Cambridge site in Canada, as Vice-President and General Manager. Atif’s executive responsibilities expanded to include US and Brazilian operations. He was appointed as the Group’s Chief Operating Officer in 2021 with responsibility for global operations.

Atif also leads the Group’s strategic growth serving as President of Novocol Pharma, Septodont’s injectable Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), embedded within the Cambridge operations.

Prior to joining Septodont, he spent many years at Apotex, having held a wide range of operations leadership roles. During his tenure there, he made a significant impact on the company’s rapid growth in becoming a world leader in generic ophthalmics, injectables, nasal sprays and oral liquids.

Atif graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Human Biology and holds an MBA in Healthcare and Life Sciences from the Rotman School of Management.

Sean has extensive experience within the CDMO pharmaceutical industry, including over 10 years of progressive responsibility at Thermo Fisher Scientific, within Engineering, Technology Transfer, Business Management, Portfolio Services, Strategic Customer Relationships, and External Manufacturing.

In his most recent role as Senior Director, External Manufacturing, Sean led the contracting, execution, and governance of key client accounts. In previous roles, he has been responsible for technology transfer activities, portfolio expansions, negotiating supply and quality agreements, spreading organizational alignment on vision and strategy, and leading global teams.

Sean holds a BSc in Life Sciences, a Master of Science and a Master of Business Administration, all from Queen’s University.

Katie Sippel is a seasoned quality professional with over 20 years of experience in sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing, specializing in sterile fill/finish and aseptic compliance. As Senior Director of Quality, Katie oversees Quality Assurance and Quality Control operations, including Microbiology and Chemistry laboratories, ensuring the highest standards of product integrity and regulatory compliance.

With extensive knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and global regulatory requirements, Katie has successfully led numerous customer audits and regulatory inspections by agencies from Canada (inclusive of Europe), the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Brazil.

Prior to senior leadership, Katie spent 8 years as a QC Microbiologist in sterile fill/finish operations, followed by a transition into Quality Assurance, building a strong foundation in both technical expertise and regulatory strategy.

With an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Immunology from Western University and the industry experience gained over the past 20 years, Katie is recognized as a subject matter expert in aseptic manufacturing and continues to drive excellence in compliance and quality systems across the organization.

Katie is passionate about quality culture and has led several initiatives to drive continuous improvement and embed quality throughout the organization.

John Sirna, P.Eng., MBA, is a seasoned operations leader with over 25 years of experience driving performance improvements in multinational corporations. With deep expertise in manufacturing and supply chain operations, John Sirna has led teams in highly regulated environments, notably within the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors. John has held executive roles such as Vice President of Operations at Novocol Pharmaceutical of Canada and Site Director at Apotex Inc., where John delivered significant gains in productivity, compliance, and cost efficiency. John is recognized for building collaborative teams, implementing lean management practices, and managing complex budgets and capital projects. John holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Laurent Belec is a seasoned product development leader with over 23 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. As Product Development Director, Laurent oversees end-to-end CMC activities, analytical chemistry, formulation development, and technology transfer for both drug substance and drug product. He is adept at managing integrated programs across small molecules, biologics, and peptides, and excels at leading multidisciplinary teams and external partners (CROs, CMOs, and CDMOs) to deliver high-quality outcomes from discovery through preclinical and clinical development.

With a comprehensive command of cGMP and global regulatory frameworks, Laurent has been extensively involved in regulatory filings and submissions to Health Canada, the U.S. FDA, the EMA, and Anvisa, including participation in face-to-face FDA meetings. He is skilled in building portfolio plans, timelines, and budgets; assigning objectives; and driving project execution while ensuring product integrity and compliance.

Prior to senior leadership, Laurent advanced programs across diverse therapeutic targets, developing strong foundations in Medicinal Chemistry (including SAR analysis), peptide chemistry, analytical method development, process development, and formulation. He has optimized drug substance synthesis and manufacturing and led the development of finished drug products across multiple dosage forms, including solid oral, powder, suspension, semi-solid, liquid, and sterile injectable.

Laurent holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Université de Montréal and a Graduate Diploma in Management from McGill University. He is passionate about bridging science and business, cultivating a robust quality culture, and continuously expanding industry knowledge to accelerate the delivery of impactful therapies.

Matt leads business development and related functions, for both Novocol Pharma’s CDMO and Duoject Medical Systems segments. His responsibilities include driving revenue growth through new business opportunities, marketing activities, managing strategic partnerships, overseeing RFP and proposal processes, and contributing to our long-term strategic planning. Matt also plays a key role in contract negotiations and in supporting seamless onboarding for new customers and projects.

Matt brings over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and sterile injectables industry, with a strong background in business development, supply chain management, and alliance management within CDMO environments. Most recently, he served as Business Development Executive at Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM), a CDMO where he managed key client relationships and led strategic proposals and commercial contract negotiations for sterile injectable programs. His career also includes senior leadership roles in manufacturing and supply chain operations at Rockwell Medical and Endo International/Par Sterile Products.

Matt holds a Master of Business Administration from Oakland University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan.

Kathryn Ida is a seasoned project management leader in the pharmaceutical industry, currently serving as Director of Project Management. With over 15 years of experience spanning engineering, project management, and leadership roles, she has guided complex pharmaceutical manufacturing initiatives from conception to execution. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Kathryn combines her technical expertise with strategic vision, holding a Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential that underscores her commitment to excellence in project delivery. Known for her ability to lead cross-functional teams, optimize processes, and align projects with organizational goals, she has built a reputation as a trusted professional in pharmaceutical project management.