Joe Collura is Managing Partner of HelixPoint Capital, a Cambridge, MA, USA-based venture firm operating at the intersection of life sciences and drug discovery automation. HelixPoint combines an automated R&D infrastructure with a pre-seed to Series A fund to build and scale biotech companies faster, with less capital, and greater conviction. Joe’s background spans therapeutic commercialization, drug discovery & clinical R&D, and venture incubation, with a focus on accelerating drug development while reducing costs. He holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, an MS in Bioengineering from Northeastern University, and a BS in Biology from the United States Air Force Academy.

Jennifer Schultz is a partner at the law firm Nixon Peabody, LLP, and the Leader of the Nationwide Real Estate Development Team. Jenn specializes personally on large-scale complex mixed-use development in and around the Boston area, Worcester, and Providence, RI. She and her team have successfully permitted over 10 million square feet of development over the last 6 years, including over 4 million square feet of lab/R&D space. Nixon’s national development team includes more than 26 lawyers and professional staff across seven offices.

As Principal at ABI-LAB, David has been instrumental in the design, development, and strategic growth planning of ABI’s Biotech Campus. He brings extensive experience in real estate development, municipal permitting, and building design. Alongside his high-level responsibilities, David also serves as a hands-on, day-to-day partner, providing operational and IT support to each company at ABI-LAB. Before focusing on real estate, David spent decades building and managing companies in the B2B e-commerce and ERP software industries.

Mark leads the planning and design for Life Sciences projects that foster collaboration and that carefully respond to programmatic needs for laboratory, pharmaceutical, cGMP cleanroom, biotech, and core/shell projects. Spanning a 25+ year career in architecture, Mark cultivates an inclusive approach to the design process for corporate and institutional research clients nationally. His thought leadership contributions include recent Life Sciences publications and national speaking events.

Yohan has been the chief strategist in the growth of Mispro’s contract vivarium network to a robust multi-location entity, with facilities in every major US biotech hub. Recognized by today’s leading life sciences real estate developers as an innovator, visionary, and partner in bringing research ready vivarium lab space to the market, Yohan offers a unique perspective on the intersection of real estate development and scientific discovery.

Pete Conway is a life sciences executive with deep experience advising and partnering across the biotech ecosystem. He specializes in building strategic collaborations that connect emerging companies, investors, and established industry leaders to accelerate innovation.

As Biotech Ecosystem Development Lead at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Pete works closely with Flagship Pioneering leadership, incubators, and other ecosystem partners to structure partnerships and guide growth within the Boston/Cambridge innovation hub. He brings a broad Thermo Fisher enterprise perspective, leading cross-functional engagement across research, development, and commercial capabilities.

Previously, Pete held senior strategic account leadership roles at Thermo Fisher and spent over two decades at PerkinElmer in technical, commercial, and leadership positions, supporting Biotech and Pharma organizations and advancing life science technologies.

He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Fairfield University with additional graduate studies in Molecular Biology from Northeastern University.

At Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, Matt leads the real estate development team and is responsible for executing CC&F’s development strategy from site concept through construction and eventual disposition. This includes directing project design and market strategy as well as managing community relationships. Additional responsibilities include providing investment analysis for properties within the firm’s portfolio and providing oversight on the firm’s construction projects.

Matt received a B.S. and a B.A. from The University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Martin L. Togni is a partner in the San Diego office of Allen Matkins with a practice focusing primarily on Life Sciences, representing a variety of landlords and tenants in the development and leasing of Life Science and Biotech projects. He has successfully completed major leasing transactions totaling more than 40 million square feet in California, the Midwest, and East Coast over the past 25 years, representing some of the nation's leading real estate and end-user companies. Martin also represents a wide variety of clients in the acquisition, disposition, development, financing and ground leasing of shopping centers, industrial projects, office buildings and other commercial and mixed-use projects throughout the country

Edwin is a Senior Principal at HFA and leads the Science and Technology Team in Boston. With more than 35 years of experience, he guides an inquiry-based design process that delivers bespoke solutions aligned with each client’s mission. By asking the right questions, Edwin and his team uncover the core of a client’s DNA and apply a proven toolkit to create environments that advance research and innovation.

He works closely with project teams to keep efforts aligned with client goals, leads proposals for new work, cultivates strategic partnerships, and monitors emerging trends to keep HFA ahead of the curve. Throughout his career, he has contributed to award-winning projects, including recognition from clients’ own industries for advancing mission-driven outcomes.

A professional musician as well, Edwin brings the same foundation of skill and purpose to his architectural practice. He is energized by HFA’s national footprint and firm-wide collaboration.

As a Vice President at CSL Consulting, Eric brings over 20 years of experience leading owner’s complex capital programs and projects. With a background managing diverse project types across both private and institutional clients, Eric currently leads CSL's Science and Technology Sector, with a focus on R&D laboratory, advanced manufacturing, and mission critical facilities, providing strategic oversight from planning through construction. Eric's focus is on working with clients to deliver high-performance environments through disciplined program management, risk mitigation, and alignment with their operational goals. He brings a proven ability to partner with owners, designers, and builders to deliver technically demanding projects with certainty and value.

Tim Burke is currently Merrick’s Director of Strategic Partnerships focused on the biopharma and US Federal Markets. He recently spent 2020 to 2025 responsible for Merrick’s Life Sciences practice operations in the United Kingdom and Europe. Prior to Merrick, Tim’s built a technical and strategic knowledge base in both engineering and management consulting, and practiced leadership and program guidance as the federal Branch Chief for DHS’s Science & Technology Directorate’s Laboratory Operations. He oversaw operations and capital projects across S&T’s diverse laboratory portfolio performing RDT&E in BSL-3/BSL-4 biocontainment, physics, chemistry, and energetic environments. Tim’s career has afforded him a unique breadth of technical and leadership experiences to draw upon when novel solutions are required, from the USPS Anthrax decontamination to biotech start-ups to today’s largest research and life science facilities. Tim continues to provide strategic advisory services focused on optimizing the development, delivery, and operational performance of high-consequence RDT&E and life sciences infrastructure for industry, academic, and government clients.

John, an equal majority owner of SGA, spearheads the firm’s architecture practice, encompassing the life sciences, academic, commercial, technology, and residential markets. Known as a design innovator and thought leader, John leads many of the firm’s valued client relationships. Using his creativity, knowledge and strong communication skills, he has generated award-winning design concepts and has achieved public approvals for SGA’s largest and complex projects.

With over 16 years at SGA, John oversees the firm’s large-scale projects in both urban and suburban settings. He plays a major role in master planning, conceptual design, and the entitlements process, welcoming opportunities to present the perspective of clients to generate consensus among communities, municipalities and key stakeholders.

John’s talent for placemaking and architectural innovation has broadened recognition for SGA’s approach to design. Within the firm, John is a champion for design and an advocate for SGA’s culture, with an ongoing focus on fostering a supportive environment where people can thrive and grow as design professionals.

John received a Bachelor and Master of Architecture from Virginia Tech. Outside of the office, he spends time with his wife, two sons, and dog Brenna, who is a lab mix. He and his family enjoy traveling, the beach, and sports – they support Boston’s pro teams, his sons’ youth teams, and their alma maters, Virginia Tech and Ohio State.

Patrick Trainor is the Life Sciences Strategy Director at Interface, a global leader in modular flooring with a fully integrated collection of carpet tiles and resilient flooring. Interface focuses on key markets including Life Sciences, Healthcare, Education, and Workplace environments, creating products for the built environment that support and sustain the natural world.

Founded on a sustainability vision from founder Ray Anderson in 1994, Interface has become a leader in environmentally responsible manufacturing. The company achieved carbon neutrality across its entire product line in 2019, with several products now reaching carbon-negative status. Interface continues working toward its ambitious goal of becoming fully carbon negative by 2040.

Patrick is a military veteran and a biomedical engineer by training who found an unexpected passion in the flooring industry. The combination of material science, engineering innovation, and real-world impact keeps his engineering curiosity alive, and he enjoys sharing insights about the technology and strategy behind flooring in complex environments like life sciences facilities.