Team

Nivatha Balendra is the Founder and CEO of Dispersa, a biotechnology company harnessing food waste to create biodegradable ingredients for industry. Her journey began at the age of 17, driven by a clear mission: to find an environmentally friendly solution to oil contamination. Inspired by the Lac-Mégantic train derailment, where millions of gallons of oil spilled into a rural town. Nivatha began collecting soil samples across Montreal and initiated her research at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). Since then, her work has earned international recognition and numerous scientific awards. In 2025, she was named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Science category and received the Governor General’s Innovation Award for her groundbreaking contributions to sustainable innovation. With a passion for translating research into real-world solutions, Nivatha founded Dispersa in November 2018. She continues to share her story and advocate for science-driven change as a keynote speaker on platforms such as TEDx and MUSE, inspiring the next generation of climate and innovation leaders.

Shay Prajapat holds a degree in Finance from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University. With experience in corporate finance and accounting across a range of industries, Shay brings a strategic and analytical approach to financial management. He is driven by a commitment to creating value and continuously challenging the status quo. As CFO at Dispersa, Shay plays a key role in aligning financial strategy with the company’s broader mission. He is focused on supporting Dispersa’s growth by integrating sound financial planning and decision-making into every stage of its development.

Antoine Bonnot earned his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Sherbrooke in 2016. Since then, he has gained diverse experience in Quebec’s chemical industry, working across areas such as composite materials and cleaning product formulation. For over two years, Antoine served as a formulator chemist at LAVO, where he contributed to the development of various biodegradable cleaning products. Motivated by a longstanding commitment to creating environmentally friendly products, Antoine’s personal values align closely with Dispersa’s mission. He is excited to bring his expertise and passion to Dispersa, aiming to make a meaningful impact on the surfactant industry.

Hela holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from the École Normale Supérieure of Paris, where she focused on developing fluorescent tools through yeast-engineering technologies for bioimaging. She graduated in 2017 from the National Institute of Applied Sciences of Toulouse (France) with a degree in Biochemical and Bioprocess Engineering. Passionate about both synthetic biology and chemical biology, Hela is driven by a mission to develop innovative, sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based and synthetic surfactants. By merging her expertise across these fields, she is committed to advancing science with impact and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Vinayak Pachapur brings over eight years of combined academic and industrial experience in molecular biology, microbiology, fermentation, and proteomics. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Biotechnology from INRS-ETE, where his research focused on biohydrogen production using a co-culture system. His innovative work earned him the “Best Thesis Prize for Innovation – 2017” across three INRS centers. At Dispersa, Vinayak is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge research and translating it into scalable, sustainable solutions that drive commercial impact and environmental benefit.

Melissa Hynes holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Brock University and brings over 20 years of experience dedicated to driving operational efficiency. With a passion for ensuring seamless processes behind the scenes, Melissa excels at supporting teams and optimizing workflows to maximize impact. She is thrilled to be part of the Dispersa “dream” team as they work toward delivering the world’s first biosurfactant derived from waste, contributing to a more sustainable future.

With over a decade of experience in human resources, Gina brings a strategic, people-focused approach to building inclusive, high-performing teams. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology (Human Resources) from Bishop’s University, a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Concordia’s John Molson School of Business, and an MBA in Management Consulting from ESG UQAM. Gina has held strategic HR roles across industries and consulted independently to help organizations strengthen their people practices. She has also taught undergraduate HR courses, providing students with practical insights into the field. As People and Culture Manager at Dispersa, Gina is dedicated to aligning people strategies with business goals to drive engagement and organizational success.

Eisha Ahmed is a PhD candidate at McGill University in experimental medicine. She is passionate about both scientific research and design, and has previous experience as a freelance graphic designer, in web development, and in data analytics. Eisha believes that strong science should be accompanied with strong communication, and is working to ensure Dispersa’s message is as impactful as its technology.

Gabrielle Desaulniers discovered her passion for industrial microbiology during her undergraduate studies in medical biology. To further explore this field, she pursued graduate studies in applied microbiology at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). Driven by a strong commitment to environmental preservation, Gabrielle is passionate about developing sustainable, nature-based alternatives. Her values align closely with Dispersa’s mission, and she actively contributes to the advancement of natural and biodegradable solutions that support a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Abdullah is a Fermentation Technician at Dispersa, where he applies his expertise in bioprocess development to advance sustainable fermentation processes. Passionate about sustainability, he is committed to contribute to Dispersa’s mission of creating eco-friendly products. Having graduated from the University of Ottawa with BASc in Chemical Engineering and Hons BSc in Biochemistry, Abdullah’s goal is to drive advancements in the field of biomanufacturing and sustainable technology, making a positive impact on the environment and contributing to the future of clean technologies.

Palmyra Mendoza Cabrer developed a passion for bioremediation, which led her to pursue a degree in Bioengineering at McGill University, where she gained hands-on experience in synthetic biology. She firmly believes that nature-inspired solutions are essential to reducing humanity’s environmental footprint, a vision that aligns closely with Dispersa’s mission. With a strong background in laboratory operations and research, Palmyra plays a key role in supporting Dispersa’s scientific efforts as Lab Coordinator, ensuring that day-to-day lab activities run efficiently and contribute meaningfully to the company’s sustainability-driven goals.

Asma Syed holds a BSc with a Specialization in Chemistry and brings a strong background in analytical and environmental research. Her work has focused on investigating environmental pollutants and using data-driven approaches to support monitoring and analysis. Passionate about the intersection of science and sustainability, Asma is dedicated to applying green chemistry to drive real-world impact. She joined Dispersa inspired by the company’s mission to transform food waste into high-performance biosurfactants. Asma is excited to contribute to circular innovation and help shape a more sustainable future.

Mahia holds a BSc with a Specialization in Chemistry and brings hands-on experience in formulation and environmental research. With a strong foundation in analytical techniques and a passion for sustainable innovation, she is focused on developing effective, eco-friendly formulations. Drawn to Dispersa’s mission of creating biosurfactants from food waste, Mahia is excited to contribute to the development of green chemistry solutions that support a circular economy. She is committed to turning scientific insight into practical, impactful change.