Executive Director
(she/her)

📍St. John's, NL

Dr. Paula Mendonça currently serves as the Executive Director of the Ocean Startup Project while on secondment from her role as Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Memorial University. Paula's expertise in marine biology, intellectual property, research commercialization and innovation ecosystems has contributed to the growth of ocean innovation in Canada. She has developed this expertise in Canadian and international contexts, having lived, worked and studied in ocean communities on both sides of the Atlantic: Portugal and Canada.

From the inception of the Ocean Startup Project, Paula has been the guiding force behind its Lab2Market Oceans program. This initiative has equipped graduate students and researchers across Canadian universities with entrepreneurial skills to validate the market potential of their ocean-related research.

Beyond her work with the Ocean Startup Project, Paula is a dedicated community member recognized for her contributions, receiving the Most Inspiring Immigrants of Atlantic Canada award from My East Coast Experience.

Finance Manager
(he/him)

📍Charlottetown, PEI

Matthew is a CPA, CGA with over 10 years of experience in a variety of accounting roles. Having worked in Toronto, New York state, and Charlottetown, Matthew excels at building accounting systems, and taking an organization to its next level. He has been with the Ocean Startup Project since 2023, working out of the PEI BioAlliance office, where he also provides accounting support.

Matthew’s first degree was a Bachelor of Music (piano) from UPEI. His wife Amy is a professional clarinetist with a woodwind studio out of their home. He is passionate about human rights in China, having worked with Chinese expatriates on various projects. He enjoys the Chicago Bears, dry humor, ice cream, and The Bold and the Beautiful. His motto is, “Don’t do drugs.” On second thought, he doesn’t actually enjoy the Chicago Bears, as they cause him consternation on a weekly basis each fall. With his role as finance manager at OSP, Matthew sees first-hand how funding impacts startups, and is pleased to contribute a small part on a great team.

Challenge Director
(she/her)

📍Dartmouth, NS

Natasha Legay is the Ocean Challenge Director at the Ocean Startup Project (OSP). In her role, she is responsible for leading initiatives, such as the Ocean Challenge competitions, and also oversees the planning and execution of various OSP events and mentorship activities.

Natasha is passionate about supporting innovation-driven enterprises and developed a keen interest in supporting technology startups while working for Volta, one of the largest innovation hubs in Atlantic Canada. Natasha made the transition to focusing on ocean tech when she joined the Ocean Startup Project in January 2020. She holds a Bachelors of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent and began her career in marketing before making the shift to focus on programming and ecosystem development.

Marketing & Communications Director
(she/her)

📍Sambro, NS

Laurie Batten is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Ocean Startup Project, where she leads national storytelling, brand strategy and communications initiatives that showcase Canada's ocean innovation ecosystem.

She holds a degree in History and Political Science from the University of British Columbia and a diploma in Print Journalism from Conestoga College Institute of Technology. With a background spanning nearly two decades in journalism and communications, Laurie specializes in translating complex ideas into clear, engaging stories that highlight innovation, entrepreneurship and community impact.

Laurie began her career as a journalist, including reporting on Canada's startup ecosystem as a multimedia reporter, before transitioning to non-profit communications and later returning to the innovation sector. Throughout her career, she has helped elevate the stories of founders, researchers and organizations through strategic communications, digital media and multimedia storytelling.

At the Ocean Startup Project, Laurie combines her passion for storytelling with her commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and advancing Canada's ocean economy. Outside of her professional role, she is an active community advocate in Nova Scotia and the founder of Safer Steps Chebucto, a volunteer-led, non-profit initiative dedicated to improving road safety, walkability and community connectivity.

Program Manager, Ocean Challenge
(he/him)

📍Montreal, QC

Iliass Lamrini is the Program Manager, Challenges at the Ocean Startup Project, where he works closely with founders, researchers and ecosystem partners to accelerate the growth of ocean innovation across the province. Passionate about building a more sustainable and regenerative future, Iliass supports entrepreneurs as they navigate the startup ecosystem, connect with key resources and bring innovative ideas to market.

With a master's degree in Marine Resource Management from the Université du Québec à Rimouski and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the Université de Montréal, Iliass brings a unique blend of technical, policy and ecosystem development expertise. During his time with the Ocean Startup Project, he also served as Interim Executive Director of Technopole maritime du Québec, further strengthening collaboration across Quebec's ocean innovation ecosystem. Prior to joining the Ocean Startup Project, he worked as a Maritime Emergency Advisor with CEGRIM and held a role with Québec's Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration. His experience spans program management, community building and cross-sector collaboration, helping strengthen Canada's ocean innovation ecosystem.

Program Manager, Lab2Market Oceans
(she/her)

📍St. John's, NL

Marie Curtis has been leading the OSP’s Lab2Market Oceans programming since 2022. Her work bridges academic research and the startup ecosystem, empowering researchers to commercialize sustainable ocean technologies. With nearly a decade of experience in higher education spanning research innovation, administration, and clinical research, Marie has a proven record of executing high-stakes initiatives. At Memorial University, she previously directed a complex pandemic-response program and oversaw a $2.3 million clinical research portfolio. Known for optimizing operations and building trusted stakeholder relationships, Marie expertly leverages digital tools to scale organizational impact. A passionate advocate for women in STEM, she serves as board Treasurer for Women in Science and Engineering Newfoundland and Labrador (WISE NL). Marie is a certified Medical Laboratory Assistant, holds a Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University, a Master's Certificate in Applied Project Management from the Schulich School of Business (York University), and has her PMP certification.