Board of Directors
The Nova Scotia Fisheries & Aquaculture Loan Board of Directors is made up of Nova Scotians who are corporate or community leaders with varying backgrounds connected to the industry. They uniquely understand the fisheries and aquaculture business in Nova Scotia and the importance of the board to our coastal communities.
Board Members
Neil LeBlanc, Chair
Neil most recently owned and operated Southwest Nova Scotia and Pictou County based seafood company N. LeBlanc Enterprises Ltd. Neil previously served as Nova Scotia’s Solicitor General, Minister of Finance, Minister of Acadian Affairs, and Minister of Supply and Services. He was also Chief Administrative Officer of the District of Argyle prior to being appointed as Consul General for the Canadian Consulate in Boston (2006-2010), where he represented Canada’s interests in one of our key seafood markets. He is also the Past Chair of the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation and the 2012 Jeux de l’Acadie organizing committee. Neil is a graduate of St. Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce and has also been awarded an honorary doctorate in Political Science from the Université Sainte-Anne. Neil currently resides in Plymouth, Yarmouth County.
Robert Verge, Vice Chair and Audit Committee
Bob has a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He also holds professional designations as a Professional Engineer, Chartered Professional Accountant, and Certified Management Consultant. He recently retired as Managing Director of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation.
Nathan Boudreau, Director and Audit Committee Chair
Nathan has a strong accounting background and has been the Chief Operations Officer for Petit De Gras Packers in Arichat for over 20 years. He is an active member in his community, and he has served on numerous committees. Nathan is currently in his fourth term on the FALB.
Donna Upham, Director
Donna has a strong financial background, working at IG Wealth since 2016 and obtaining her CFP® during that time. Donna works closely with business owners and pre-retirees to build a solid financial plan which includes tax planning, retirement and insurance protection, and responsible debt management. Donna is an active member in her community serving and volunteering on several boards and clubs.
Matthew Tapper, Director
Matt has a strong background in business financing, spending 17 years working in the field of Indigenous business development for the Federal Government and more recently working as the General Manager of an Aboriginal Financial Institution (Ulnooweg Development Group). He spends a lot of his time volunteering within the sports sector.
Fanel Vasile, Director
Fanel is a licensed professional engineer in Nova Scotia and Ontario and has 23 years engineering experience in manufacturing, machine design, and shipbuilding. Fanel gained a deep expertise by managing and developing R&D projects in seafood processing after working over 5 years in this industry. Currently, Fanel is working as an Industrial Engineering Team Lead at Irving Shipbuilding.
Dr. Stefanie Colombo, Director
Dr. Colombo is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Aquaculture Nutrition at Dalhousie. She has published over 50 scientific papers and 2 book chapters. Dr. Colombo has served as the President of the Aquaculture Association of Canada and is currently the Science Advisor for the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia. She has received the Dalhousie President’s Research Excellence Award for an Emerging Investigator and the Faculty of Agriculture’s Early Career Research Excellence Award, as well as Innovator of the Year by the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia. Dr. Colombo holds a B.Sc. in Marine & Freshwater Biology from the University of Guelph, an M.Sc. in Biology from Dalhousie University, and a Ph.D. in Biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Leah Lewis-McCrea, Director
Leah is the Research Manager for the Centre for Marine Applied Research. Leah has 20 years of experience working in Nova Scotia’s aquaculture industry, initially focused on aquaculture nutrition then transitioned to managing the Nova Scotia division and environmental monitoring laboratory for the largest environmental monitoring company servicing Atlantic Canada’s aquaculture industry. Leah has held a position on the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS) since 2018 and is currently the Association’s Human Resource Chair. She is also certified as a designated Environmental Professional (EP) with Education and Training, Research and Development, Environmental Manager, and Sustainability specializations, through ECO Canada. Leah’s current focus is to provide scientific advice to support sustainability and improve management practices as it relates to aquaculture, fisheries, and coastal infrastructure in Nova Scotia.
Howard Blinn, Director
Howard has extensive knowledge of all aspects of the East Coast fishery through his varied work experience. Howard spent 28 years working for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), starting as the captain of a small patrol vessel and also serving as a Fishery Officer. Howard finished his career at the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) as a Maritime Search and Rescue Co-Ordinator. Howard Blinn currently resides in Church Point, Digby County.