WASHINGTON, DC (August 6, 2015) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, today announced that Martin Sabarsky, CEO of Cellana, has been appointed Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors for the 2015-2016 term, and Jacques Beaudry-Losique, Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development at Algenol, has been appointed Vice Chair. Previous Chair, Tim Burns, Co-founder and Board Member of BioProcess Algae LLC, remains on the board.
Sabarsky and Beaudry-Losique will build on the solid work of their ABO predecessors to guide the algae industry as its member companies continue to build out a competitive supply chain for a plethora of products, from fuels and feeds to chemicals and nutraceuticals while also providing a novel – and economically viable – pathway for utilities to reduce their overall emissions through carbon capture and utilization.
ABO’s board guides the organization in its mission to educate the general public, policymakers, and industry about the benefits and potential of algae to provide sustainable solutions for commodity chemicals, fuels, food, and feed applications, as well as for high-value applications such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics among other applications. In addition, ABO’s board works closely with its Executive Director to advocate for policies that can accelerate the development of key market segments and commercial-scale algae production facilities for the full range of products that can be made from algae.
ABO’s board comprises representatives from multiple sectors of an industry that is experiencing more investment and seeing new commercial facilities opening or being planned around the world. Board members come from industry sectors that include academia, professional services, algae biomass producers, technology suppliers, project developers, and end-users.
“Martin and Jacques are respected leaders in the algae industry, and I look forward to working with them as we position algae technologies to have wide-ranging impacts in dozens of markets,” said Matt Carr, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “They are both existing board members, and their experience and organizational knowledge will help ABO open markets, develop investment opportunities, and advocate for policies that will accelerate this cutting-edge industry. Outgoing Chair Tim Burns deserves thanks for his invaluable leadership and hard work. I look forward to working with him as he continues his service on the board.”
Martin Sabarsky has more than 15 years of experience in the industrial biotechnology/cleantech industry and has served since 2011 as the CEO of Cellana, a leading developer of algae-based nutritional and energy products. Prior to joining Cellana, he led the corporate development function at Diversa Corp. (now known as Verenium Corp., a subsidiary of BASF) as Vice President of Corporate Development. Before Diversa, Sabarsky worked as a life sciences investment banker with Bear Stearns, where he was a lead banker on Diversa’s $200 million IPO in 2000.
He also worked as a transactional attorney with Latham & Watkins LLP. Sabarsky has a B.A. in Biology and Political Science from Brown University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and an M.B.A. from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego.
Jacques Beaudry-Losique has more than 25 years of experience working in the energy and technology sectors and is the Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development at Algenol, a global technology developer of algae-based carbon emissions solutions and fuel production. Prior to Algenol, Jacques was the Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy for Codexis, a publicly traded biofuels and biopharma company. From 2005 to 2011, he held senior management positions at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
While at the DOE, he led efforts to build a second-generation biofuels industry across two administrations, managed three clean energy programs, and served for two years as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy. He was also instrumental in decisions to invest more than $1.5 billion of Recovery Act funds in renewable energy projects, including $800 million in biofuels projects. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Montreal, an M.S. in Engineering Management from Stanford University, and an M.S. in Management from MIT.
Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny but powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people, and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.