OUR PEOPLE
At RPC, our strength lies in our people. For more than six decades, our scientists, engineers, technologists, and professional staff have worked side by side to deliver innovative solutions to industry within New Brunswick and beyond.
Our multidisciplinary teams collaborate across laboratories, field environments, and client sites transforming research into real-world applications that improve products, processes, and environmental outcomes. With the guidance of our senior management team, RPC delivers responsive, client-focused service grounded in scientific excellence.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
DIANE BOTELHO, Ph.D.
Executive Director & CEO
Dr. Diane Botelho is the Executive Director and CEO of RPC, bringing more than a decade of experience guiding innovation from concept to commercialization. She holds a PhD in Bioanalytical Chemistry from Dalhousie University and a BSc in Mathematics and Chemistry from Mount Saint Vincent University.
Prior to becoming CEO, Diane served as RPC’s Chief Science Officer and Director of its air quality laboratories. In these roles, she led strategic planning, developed novel testing methodologies, expanded RPC’s services, and provided scientific guidance to government, academic, and industry partners.
Diane is a passionate champion for youth development, leading multiple mentorship initiatives at RPC that helps build the next generation of scientific leaders across Atlantic Canada. She is a chartered chemist, registered biosafety officer, adjunct professor at the University of New Brunswick, and a registered highland dance instructor with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing. Outside of work, Diane is a proud mother of two teenage daughters.
STEVE HOLMES, P.Eng.
Chief Operating Officer
Born and raised in Fredericton, NB, Steve Holmes is a seasoned professional engineer, project manager and executive, with a diverse background that includes forestry, engineering, manufacturing, product development, and operations management. He joined RPC in 2010 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2017. Steve plays a key role in helping to grow and strengthen RPC’s operational performance and impact, with a special focus on the renewal of the organizations infrastructure to ensure RPC can meet its mandate for generations to come.
SHAWN WOOD, CPA, CA
Director of Finance and Administration
Shawn Wood is a Chartered Professional Accountant and seasoned finance executive with 20+ years of finance experience. As Director of Finance and Administration at RPC, Shawn plays a pivotal role in strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
Prior to RPC, Shawn held senior finance roles at Siemens Canada, Computer Generated Solutions, CACEIS Investor Services, and Grant Thornton LLP. His contributions have included launching new service lines, developing pricing strategies, leading compliance initiatives, and managing multimillion-dollar hedge fund reporting.
Shawn holds a Bachelor of Commerce with First Class Honours in Accounting from Mount Allison University. He actively contributes to his community through volunteer work with CPA NB, local scouting, and youth sports organizations.
PETER CROWHURST, B.Sc., C.Chem.
Senior Director – Chemistry
Peter Crowhurst is a veteran chemist and senior leader at RPC. Over the past 30 years, he has been instrumental in expanding and enhancing analytical chemistry services throughout the province and beyond. Peter earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Mount Allison University and holds the designation of Chartered Chemist with the Association of the Chemical Profession of Ontario (ACPO).
As Senior Director of Chemistry, Peter oversees a diverse portfolio of laboratory services, including environmental testing, food safety, and industrial analysis. His leadership has been instrumental in projects that address public health and environmental sustainability—such RPC’s expertise in radon measurement and its support of research into metal accumulation within food webs.
Peter mentors emerging scientists while fostering a culture of continuous improvement that aligns with RPC’s dual mandate to enhance the quality of life for New Brunswickers and strengthen the province’s economic competitiveness through science and innovation.
BRUCE PHILLIPS, B.Sc.
Director of Organic Analytical Services
Bruce Phillips holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Mary’s University and has worked in environmental analytical laboratories since 1990. He joined RPC in 2003 as Director of the Organic Analytical Chemistry Department, bringing broad expertise in organic analytical chemistry and extensive experience in drinking water, food, cannabis, and environmental sectors. Bruce has an exceptional ability to identify complex issues and deliver timely, effective solutions to address industrial challenges.
ATTIQ REHMAN, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Director of Bioscience
Attiq Rehman holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics and brings extensive postdoctoral experience from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Prior to joining RPC, he spent over five years at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), where he led the Genomics Research and Development Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRDI-AMR), a key program focused on mitigating antimicrobial resistance. His expertise spans food safety, pathogen genomics, and qPCR analysis, and his research portfolio includes numerous publications in leading scientific journals on rapid molecular assay development, qPCR, genomics, and antimicrobial resistance.
Since June 2021, Dr. Rehman has served as Director of RPC’s Bioscience Department. Under his leadership, the Bioscience department has evolved into a hub of innovation, comprising three specialized groups that deliver world-class bioanalytical services and contract research & development for industry, government, and academia. The microbiology group ensures safety and compliance through testing of cannabis, food, water, and environmental samples. The fish health diagnostics and research group addresses aquaculture challenges with expertise in disease testing, genotyping, pathogen surveillance, sea lice resistance, and therapeutant development, while also providing wildlife forensics, tick testing, and cannabis genotyping. Completing the trio, the sequencing services group offers advanced omics solutions including whole genome sequencing (WGS),16S/18S metagenomic profiling and eDNA/eRNA analyses, empowering clients with deep insights into complex biological systems.
Together, these teams drive innovation, deliver actionable results, and strengthen RPC’s position as a leader in bioscience research and analytical excellence.
ANDRIEN RACKOV, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Controlled Substances
Dr. Andrien Rackov and his team help clients from diverse sectors answer critical research questions. Andrien received both his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from McGill University, where he trained as an analytical chemist and focused on applied research. For the last decade, Andrien has supported industry and government with applied research projects and brings a broad lens to solving challenges in key areas, including environmental testing, biopharmaceutical testing, food testing, agriculture, aquaculture, and renewable energy. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists and holds an adjunct professor appointment at the University of New Brunswick.
LEO CHEUNG, P.Eng.
Director of Industrial Research and Engineering
Leo Cheung brings 35 years of experience developing and commercializing innovative process technologies for clients worldwide with expertise spanning sectors such as mining, oil and gas, pulp and paper, agriculture, aquaculture, food and beverage, and cannabis. Heavily involved in research projects to help industry integrate cleantech into their operations, Leo works in collaboration between the research and business communities, assisting organizations to move these innovative technologies from concept to implementation.
Leo holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Brunswick and is a registered professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick.
SARA COCKBURN, J.D., M.Sc.Eng.
Director of Business Growth and Excellence
Sara Cockburn is a veteran strategist, quality professional, and project manager with more than 20 years of experience managing teams to achieve strategic objectives. As the Director of Business Growth and Excellence at RPC, Sara and her teams play key roles in formulating and executing business development and marketing initiatives, and in ensuring compliance and the support of quality across the whole organization.
Sara’s past roles have included driving internal change management initiatives, managing multimillion-dollar competitive bids, and leading large-scale, multi-year projects for military and ocean survey organizations. Sara holds an M.Sc.Eng. in Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering from UNB, a law degree, and an undergraduate double-major in Paleobotany and Honors History.
MATT ASHFIELD
Director of Information Technology
Matt boasts an extensive near 30-year tenure in the IT industry, marked by a diverse range of experiences across sectors such as utilities, higher education, and government. Beyond his robust technical acumen, Matt is recognized as a collaborative leader adept at seamlessly navigating both the server room and the boardroom. Currently steering the IT transformation at RPC, Matt has been instrumental in reshaping the IT architecture and spearheading the implementation of the new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).