Jordan John, H.BSc, RAC, MBA

Distinguished Expert in Regulatory Affairs, Quality Management, and Cybersecurity

Jordan John is a recognized leader in regulatory affairs, quality management, and cybersecurity compliance, with over a decade of experience navigating complex regulatory landscapes in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, natural health products (NHPs), and other industries. He has held leadership roles, including Director of Regulatory Affairs, Director of Quality, and Security Officer, ensuring compliance with FDA, EU MDR/IVDR, Health Canada, TGA, PMDA, and other international regulatory frameworks.

As an Advisory Board Member at Humber College, Jordan provides strategic insights into clinical regulatory and compliance education. He has also served as a Professor at leading academic institutions, where he developed and delivered courses in regulatory affairs, quality assurance, and compliance. His industry experience spans top tier biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, including Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, Fio Corporation, Southmedic, and others.

With a deep understanding of global regulatory requirements and industry best practices, Jordan is committed to advancing education and training, ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance in regulated industries

Nishan Balakumar, HBSc

Global Clinical Operations Leader | Medicinal Product Development | R&D | College & University Instructor

Nishan Balakumar is an experienced clinical research instructor with over 15 years of expertise in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and contract research organization (CRO) sectors, as well as in hospital-based research environments. His career has spanned multiple roles, working alongside prominent industry leaders in drug and vaccine development, including Roche/Genentech, AstraZeneca, Cliantha Research (formerly Inflamax Research), Pharma Medica, and the University Health Network (UHN).

Throughout his career, Nishan has been involved in the portfolio and project oversight of large-scale, multi-center, global clinical trials across all phases of development. His experience covers a wide range of therapeutic areas, with particular focus on advancing treatments in complex disease fields.

Currently, as a Global Clinical Operations Leader at Hoffmann-La Roche, Nishan is responsible for the strategic planning, execution, compliance, and overall management of multinational clinical trials. His hands-on expertise in clinical operations, coupled with his leadership in global trial management, provides students with invaluable insights into the real-world application of clinical research principles.

Maria Becerra, HBSc, MD

Clinical Research Specialist | Educator | Global Oncology Trial Leader | Entrepreneur

Maria Becerra is a distinguished clinical research professional and educator with extensive experience across oncology, rare disease, and high-impact global trials. With a foundation in medical studies and an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc), she brings both scientific depth and patient-centered perspective to every project she leads.

Her career includes years of hands-on experience in oncology clinical trials across Phases I–IV, including serving as a lead on a global FDA-approved oncology trial, which positioned her as a trusted expert in navigating complex, multinational research programs. Maria has worked in senior roles with international clinical research organizations and sponsor-partners, where she oversaw vendor management, site engagement, regulatory compliance, and operational strategy. She is recognized for her ability to integrate ICH-GCP standards, inspection readiness, and risk management frameworks into streamlined, efficient operations.

Beyond clinical research, Maria is an entrepreneur committed to building and scaling innovative ventures. She has founded and grown companies in both the healthcare and service industries, applying her strategic vision and operational discipline to deliver results. Her start-up leadership demonstrates her ability to bridge science, business, and innovation—driving sustainable growth while creating new opportunities in competitive markets.

She is also passionate about advancing the digital transformation of clinical trials, integrating technology platforms to improve enrollment, strengthen compliance, and enhance site and patient experiences.

As an instructor, Maria is dedicated to preparing the next generation of clinical research professionals. She develops and delivers specialized courses in trial design, monitoring, compliance, and quality systems, ensuring students gain not only the technical foundations but also the adaptive mindset required in today’s evolving research and business landscapes.

Her values, integrity, innovation, collaboration, and mentorship shape her dual path as both a clinical research specialist and entrepreneur. She remains committed to building impactful projects that advance science, empower people, and bring meaningful therapies and solutions to the world.

Noushin Taghavi, MD, PhD.

Clinical Research Leader | Educator | Feasibility & Study Start-Up Expert | Global Trial Strategist

Dr. Noushin Taghavi,MD, PhD. is an accomplished Clinical Research and Medical Affairs professional with over 15 years of progressive experience spanning academic research institutions, hospitals, and top-tier global pharmaceutical companies. She has built a distinguished career in feasibility strategy, clinical operations, site engagement, and biomarker-driven research across Phase I–IV studies, with a strong focus on oncology.Currently serving as a Site Engagement Liaison at Pfizer/ICON, Dr. Taghavi specializes in study start-up activities, including pre-trial assessments, site initiation visits, and site activation. In this role, she partners closely with investigative sites to ensure operational readiness, accelerate recruitment, and maintain quality and compliance from study launch onward.Prior to joining Pfizer, Dr. Taghavi served as Senior Manager for Clinical Operations and Site Engagement at Bayer, where she led feasibility planning and portfolio delivery for diverse therapeutic areas across North America. Her work included protocol- and site-level feasibility, cross-functional risk assessments, and the integration of real-world evidence and diversity considerations into feasibility strategies. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) in Toronto, Canada, focusing on oncology research and contributing to biomarker and precision medicine initiatives. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator and Clinical Research Officer at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Michael Garron Hospital, giving her an in-depth understanding of clinical trial operations from the site perspective.

Dr. Taghavi is recognized for her ability to lead cross-functional teams, build strong relationships with investigators and key opinion leaders, and translate complex scientific and operational challenges into actionable strategies. She has been awarded multiple Top Performance Awards for excellence in trial execution, stakeholder engagement, and operational delivery.

In addition to her operational leadership, Dr. Taghavi is deeply committed to education and mentorship in clinical research. She has delivered training on multiple aspects of clinical research, including feasibility assessment, start-up, monitoring, and study document development, and is experienced in public speaking, teaching, and contributing to the scientific community through publications and conference presentations. Her teaching style blends scientific rigor with real-world application, empowering professionals to meet the demands of today’s evolving research environment.

With a strong foundation in oncology and a passion for improving patient outcomes through innovation, diversity, and collaboration, Dr. Taghavi continues to be a sought-after leader and educator in clinical research. She believes that excellence in clinical trials begins with empowered teams, inclusive trial design, and a shared commitment to quality and patient-centered care.

Kenny Olatunji, MSc, PMP®

Clinical Project Manager | Educator | Career Coach | Global Trials Expert

Kenny Olatunji is a strategic Clinical Project Manager and educator with over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry and more than 8 years specifically managing clinical trials. She has successfully led global studies across the full clinical development spectrum—from pre-clinical to Phase I–IV, including observational studies. Her therapeutic area experience spans oncology, gastrointestinal (GI), inflammation, and rare diseases, supporting both early- and late-phase development.


Kenny has held leadership roles at some of the world’s largest and mid-sized Contract Research Organizations (CROs), where she managed global cross-functional teams, vendors, sites, and sponsors. Her areas of expertise include trial planning and execution, regulatory compliance, vendor oversight, stakeholder management, risk mitigation, and quality assurance across regions including North America, the UK, and the EU.


Her foundation in clinical research is underpinned by a Master’s degree in Translational Oncology from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland’s top-ranked university, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), with additional background in pharmacovigilance and site-level operations. Having worked under direct sponsor assignments as well as in CRO-led models, Kenny offers a unique and well-rounded understanding of trial delivery from multiple operational perspectives.


In addition to her industry leadership, Kenny is passionate about mentorship and education. She has served as a university teaching assistant and actively supports aspiring clinical research professionals through training and career development coaching. Her experience bridges the academic and operational worlds—empowering learners to confidently transition from the classroom into high-performing clinical research roles. Kenny is known for her integrity, proactive leadership, and commitment to building inclusive, accountable teams that drive excellence in clinical research.

Stacy Hoffman, MCR, PMP®

Clinical Project Manager | Educator | Study Start-Up Expert | Global Trial Strategist

Stacy Hoffman is a highly accomplished Clinical Project Manager and educator with over 15 years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical research industry. Her career spans a wide range of roles within clinical operations, from early-phase research coordination to global oversight of study start-up and site activation processes. Stacy brings a distinctive combination of scientific rigor, operational leadership, and educational passion to every facet of her work.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Services from the University of Southern Indiana and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Clinical and Pre-Clinical Research Management at The Ohio State University—one of the premier programs in the country for research professionals. Stacy is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and her expertise reflects both the discipline of structured project leadership and the flexibility required to navigate the complexities of modern clinical trials.

Throughout her career, Stacy has led global and regional study teams across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, successfully managing trials through all phases of startup, conduct, and closeout. Her role as a Global Study Start-Up Project Manager and Country Study Operations Manager has given her deep experience with regulatory strategy, site readiness, feasibility, and cross-functional alignment in over 30 countries. She has been a core contributor in high-impact collaborations with Pfizer, ICON, Covance, and other leading clinical research organizations.

Stacy is known as a subject matter expert in vendor management, site technology systems (including pTMF, Veeva Vault, Siebel CTMS platforms, etc.), and clinical trial inspection readiness. She was recognized as the PharmaTimes "Start-Up of the Year" in 2020 and was a featured speaker at MAGI WCG Fall 2024, presenting on strategies to accelerate study start-up and overcome operational hurdles.

In addition to her industry work, Stacy has contributed meaningfully to the education of the next generation of clinical research professionals. From 2022 to 2023, she served as an instructor for Clinical Project Management courses helping students bridge academic learning with real-world application. Her curriculum was aligned with PMI’s core principles and focused on preparing professionals to excel in dynamic, high-accountability environments such as sponsor organizations, CROs, and clinical trial sites. She also helped develop course content and mentored peers on instructional techniques.

Stacy’s values—integrity, collaboration, excellence, and mentorship—guide every interaction she has with teams, students, stakeholders, and investigators. She takes pride in fostering inclusive, proactive environments where teams are empowered to meet milestones, manage risk, and uphold the highest standards of compliance and patient safety.

With a strong foundation in therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiometabolic disorders, neuroscience, infectious disease, and immune-mediated conditions, Stacy continues to be a sought-after leader for complex, global clinical programs. Her commitment to continuous learning, quality, and mentorship reflects her belief that excellence in clinical research begins with empowered people.

Admin Team

Instructor

Dr. Muhammed Kabir is the Division Head and the Vice President (VP) of the Business Development and Marketing (BDM) Division at NSRIC. He is also the Distinguished Faculty in Economics (ECO) at Commerce and Management (COM) Unit. Prof. Kabir is a Director of Clifton Education Group, Inc., Toronto. In addition, he serves as Professor Emeritus at Canadian University Dubai, Adjunct Professor at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, and University Canada West. He has recently retired from Yorkville University, Toronto where he served as VP Academic & Provost from 2017 to 2022. He served as VP Academic & Provost at the Canadian University Dubai (CUD) from 2010 to 2017. Before joining CUD he served for 16 years as academic administrator at the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ); nine years as Associate VP and seven years as Chair and Dean. Dr. Kabir has served as a consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Governments of Canada, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

He obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from McMaster University. In addition to administrative experiences, he has extensive teaching and research experiences. He worked as a Visiting Research Fellow at Yale University (New Haven, CT, USA) for a year. He has published many research articles in journals and has contributed to numerous conferences.

He served as the Editor in Chief for the International Journal of Management Development published by Inderscience Publisher of UK. Dr. Kabir was awarded a Merit Award by the University of New Brunswick for his excellent contribution in the field of international development and research.

His international work primarily focused on developing degrees and contribution to building educational institutions in many countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Bahrain, UAE and St. Kitts & Nevis.