As CEO, Dr. Richard Ablett is responsible for bioscience sector developments and activities which will grow the province's economic base by way of new bio-business and enhanced innovation and R&D alliances between the public and private sector. Emphasis is directed to the field of nutraceuticals, bioactives, functional ingredients, bioproducts and renewable energy systems.

Following post-doctoral research in nutritional sciences at University of Toronto, Richard assumed a faculty position in the Department of Food Science with the Technical University of Nova Scotia. He moved to Prince Edward Island in 1987 to establish the PEI Food Technology Centre and over the years he has developed an extensive network between academe, industry and public sector agencies within Canada and Western Europe. Richard joined Nova Scotia Agricultural College in August 2005 from a former position as Director of BioScience Development with Technology PEI in Prince Edward Island. Richard is a member of the US Institute of Food Technologists, the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology and the Institute of Food Science and Technology in the United Kingdom.  He has an extensive “development requiring research” background in food sciences and is an author of a wide range of publications, holds several patents and serves on various national scientific committees including the Canadian Biomass Innovation Network.

Richard's special interests include developing new value-added and non-traditional food and bioscience products and helping to bring the results of this research to the private sector.