Announcing the 2025 InnovateNB Award Nominees

We’re thrilled to announce the nominees for this year’s InnovateNB Awards, recognizing the people and organizations driving innovation, growth, and impact across New Brunswick.

This year’s celebration features nine award categories, plus the induction of Marcel LeBrun into the InnovateNB Hall of Fame — honouring his leadership, philanthropy, and long-standing commitment to innovation in our province.

Across these categories, more than 70 nominees represent every corner of New Brunswick’s innovation ecosystem — from emerging founders and groundbreaking researchers to tech companies, educators, and community leaders empowering the next generation.

The finalists and winners in each category will be announced at the InnovateNB Awards Celebration on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, starting at 5 p.m.

If you’d like to celebrate with us, tickets are on sale until Wednesday, November 19, or until the event sells out.

2025 Nominees

Emerging Innovator Award

• Punita Bhargava – Shreem Breeze Export Ltd

• James French – White Pine Medical

• Dr. Alli Murugesan – University of New Brunswick

• Daniel Lirette – FloraTrack AI Inc.

• Clodualdo Aranas – University of New Brunswick

• Nathan MacDonald – ClinicForward Technologies Inc.

• Shanthi Shanmugam – Urai AI Corp.

• Brody Hanson – Work Water Inc.

• Kara LeBlanc – MedReddie

• Aaliyah Lahai – Gáamai Hair Inc.

• Dustin Bowers – PLAEX Building Systems Inc.

• Isaac Barkhouse – Victory Advanced Technologies

• Lopsii Olagoke – Nezz

• Brendan Wood – SnapTrade

• Adetunji Adelakun – Scantranx

• Gerrard Kilfoil – INNOV

• Pascale Michaud – AgroGene Solutions

• Jade Yhap – InteractiveNB

Impact Innovation Award

• Thales

• Anessa

• SmartSkin Technologies

• Eigen Innovations

• CCNB-INNOV

• Introhive

Inclusivity & Empowerment Award

• Amandipp Singh – Enabled Talent

• Flora Gassier – Opportunities New Brunswick

• Kateryna Omelianchenko – Southeast RSC

• Kate Saeedi – Promise Partnership

• Cree School Board

• Karen Cummings – Centre for Youth Care

• Pablo Montreuil – CCNB and JEDI

• Bloom Funding

• Leon Morris – JEDI

Innovation in Academia & Research Award

• Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi – University of New Brunswick

• Edward Wilson-Ewing – University of New Brunswick

• Dr. Barry Blight – University of New Brunswick

• Dr. Alli Murugesan – University of New Brunswick

• Dr. Anna Ignaszak – University of New Brunswick

• Moulay Akhloufi – Université de Moncton

• Kenneth Kent – University of New Brunswick

• Erik Scheme – University of New Brunswick

• Jennifer Woodland – University of New Brunswick

• Dr. Marc Surette – Université de Moncton

• Partnering for Patti (Dalhousie Medicine NB + UNB + NBCC)

• AgroGene Solutions

• Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity

• Institute of Biomedical Engineering - University of New Brunswick

• UNB Faculty of Nursing + SPECTRAL Spatial Computing Research Centre

Innovative Product or Service Award

• AgroGene Solutions

• Pathific

• Parados

• NLU Technologies

• Bubbles Haircare for Kids

• SpatialOne

• MedReddie

• Uresta

• SnapTrade

• hatch + parley

Public Sector Transformation Award

• Department of Education & Early Childhood Development, Government of New Brunswick

• Project & Advisory Services, Government of New Brunswick

• Anglophone East School District (ASD-E)

Scale-Up of the Year Award

• Kognitiv Spark

• TrojAI

• PLAEX Building Systems Inc.

• SmartSkin Technologies

Startup of the Year Award

• ASETS-CA

• Premium Accounting Solution Services Inc.

• Saltwinds Coffee

• SpatialOne

• MedReddie

• Uresta

• Bubbly Cup

• Versos AI

• ClinicGlide Technologies Inc.

• Victory Advanced Technologies

The Beacon Award for Women in Innovation & Leadership

• Olga Palazhchenko – University of New Brunswick

• Dr. Alli Murugesan – University of New Brunswick

• Abby David – The McKenna Institute at UNB

• Madison Bell, Catherine Kerr and Kate Saeedi – Promise Partnership

• Laura Richard – Saltwinds Coffee

• Kara LeBlanc – MedReddie

• Josée Landry – Innov (CCNB)

• Nancy Butler – Mariner

Join us as we celebrate the innovators shaping New Brunswick’s future.
Get your tickets today and be part of the province’s biggest innovation celebration of the year!

Buy Tickets here.