Marc Richard, PhD 
Senior Business Development Officer 

Marc Richard is OCII’s Senior Business Development Officer. With a PhD in Pharmacology from Dalhousie University, Marc’s background is in biotech, where he worked in drug development for Alzheimer's Disease and neuropathic pain. He took on managerial and business development roles in the biotech industry before joining OCII. 

Marc works primarily with: 

• Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering 
• Faculty of Education 
• Faculty of Arts 

Marc enjoys a good practical joke, and outside of the office likes to go mountain biking and hiking. 

mrichard@upei.ca | 902-894-2877

Rebecca Mok, PhD 
Business Development Officer 

Rebecca Mok is one of OCII’s Business Development Officers. She has a PhD in Molecular Genetics from SickKids Hospital and University of Toronto and has worked as a senior scientist at a start up in the biosciences sector on PEI. 

She uses her knowledge in project management, communications, and R&D to support the development of multidisciplinary research partnerships. 

Rebecca primarily facilitates research collaborations for UPEI’s: 

• Faculty of Science 
• Faculty of Nursing 

Outside of the office, Rebecca enjoys baking and trying out new recipes, and hanging out with her two cats. 

rsmok@upei.ca | 902-620-5032

Wael Roshdi, MBA 
Business Development Officer 

Wael Roshdi is one of OCII’s Business Development Officers, bringing a strategic approach and a unique blend of scientific acumen and business insight. Holding an MBA in Global Leadership from UPEI, Wael has a strong background in business development and research commercialization. He has led initiatives that expanded market opportunities and supported the growth of early-stage innovations. 

Wael will primarily collaborate with: 

• Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) 
• Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies (IKERAS) 
• McDougall Faculty of Business 

Outside the office, he enjoys horse riding and exploring new culinary experiences. 

wroshdi@upei.ca | 902-620-5409

Maria Steele, MBA 
Manager of Research Administration, Partnerships, and Innovation Maria Steele is the Manager of Research Administration, Partnerships, and Innovation at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), where she oversees the Office of Commercialization, Innovation, and Industry (OCII) and the Office of Research Services. She plays a key role in managing UPEI's patent and licensing portfolio, reviewing research contracts, and building relationships with funding agencies to support collaborative research initiatives. 

Maria holds an MBA from McMaster University with a focus on innovation and new technology management, and she is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Her diverse background includes experience as a professional engineer in both the aerospace and IT sectors, which uniquely equips her to lead OCII and guide research administration at UPEI with both technical insight and a practical, solutions-oriented approach. 

Outside of her professional work, Maria spends a lot of time at the rink with her kids and enjoys quality time with her family and their dog. 

mlsteele@upei.ca | 902-566-6479