John M. Hyshka, (President)

Mr. Hyshka is a senior executive leader and positive entrepreneurial business builder with a long history of establishing successful companies. His career has been focused on developing agricultural biotechnology and life science technologies.  Prior to joining Prairie Tide, he served as the Director of Economic Development for the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA), Chief Financial Officer for Performance Plants Inc., and Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Phenomenome Discoveries Inc.

Mr. Hyshka is a member of the Board of Directors for SaskPower.  He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Defyrus Inc., a life science company that develops anti-viral drugs and vaccines. He has also served as the chairman of AgWest Bio, and he was a founding Board Member of the Saskatchewan Nutraceutical Network.  Mr. Hyshka has sat on two venture capital advisory boards in Canada.  He was on the Board of the Saskatoon and Saskatchewan Chambers of Commerce, and the Business Development Bank of Canada. He has also been an adviser to Working Ventures for several years.

Throughout his career, Mr Hyshka has acquired instrumental experience in business development, finance, marketing, strategy and analysis, and human resources management in the life sciences arena. He is an accomplished relationship builder with a wide network of contacts in commerce and governments. He specializes in working with investment communities, especially those serving the food, pharmaceutical, medical device, and agriculture industries. He scouts for emerging technology opportunities with significant potential for growth and capitalization. John has an established track record of developing key business structures and raising equity and investment funds to drive the opportunities forward.

Email: john.hyshka@prairietide.com