Transforming waste into sustainable value

As the President and CEO of Arbios Biotech, Rune Gjessing brings over 30 years of experience in the biofuel, forest resource, and investment industry in Canada and Norway. 

Prior to joining Arbios, he was the founding CEO of Silva Green Fuel, a start-up JV company created in 2014 to commercialize the production of advanced biofuels.  Rune has also held various corporate management positions at Norske Skog, a global publication paper producer based in Oslo, where he led multiple successful optimization initiatives, extensive financing and investor relations programs, and was responsible for asset transactions worth more than USD 1 billion.

Rune’s passion for creating a sustainable future is evident from his work in advancing translatable manufacturing technologies that promote a sustainable future.  He holds a B.Sc. (Wood Science) from the University of British Columbia, an MBA from Simon Fraser University, and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

As Chief Operating Officer for Arbios Biotech, Stef is a results-driven technical leader, and is passionate about accelerating global decarbonization.  Leading operations, technology development and project delivery in the forest-based biomass industry for more than 20 years, Stef’s long-range goal is to maximize the economic and environmental value of residuals.  He does this by leading every stage of large decarbonization infrastructure projects from concept to fruition.  

Prior to joining Arbios Biotech, Stef held the position of President at Vyterra Renewables and SVP Project Engineering at Ensyn where he oversaw the design, engineering, and construction of Canada’s largest biofuel facility. Stef has held various other roles in senior management within related fields, including engineering, business development, operations and research and development, and is the co-inventor on several patents.  Stef is a chemical engineer and received both his BEng and MEng from McGill University.

Katie Platt, the People and Culture Lead at Arbios Biotech, brings nearly a decade of experience from her time as a people and operations leader at lululemon. With a background in psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University, she is deeply passionate about leading individuals to their fullest potential. Katie is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments where diversity, equity, and inclusion thrive organically. Dedicated to cultivating spaces where every voice is heard and valued, Katie brings a unique blend of strategic vision, and empathetic leadership to her role, driving Arbios Biotech towards greater heights of excellence in people management and organizational culture   

As Director of Corporate Finance, Stephen drives financial strategy to accelerate Arbios’ role in the global energy transition. He leads the Corporate Finance team, overseeing strategic financial planning, capital allocation, financial reporting, and operational efficiency initiatives.

Stephen brings expertise in M&A and corporate strategy, having successfully led US $1.6 billion in transactions during his tenure at RB Global’s Strategy and Corporate Development team. His transaction experience spans technology and industrial sectors, with a focus on strategic growth and value creation. Previously, in EY’s Strategy and Transactions practice, he advised clients on M&A and divestitures.

Stephen is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) from Simon Fraser University.

As the External Relations Lead at Arbios Biotech, Tessa’s focus is the building of relationships and strategic partnerships in alignment with Arbios’ cultural intention “collaboration with humility”.     

With over a decade in External Relations roles with major infrastructure projects, Tessa’s career is built on a technical foundation of Engineering, construction, project management, and commercial and contracts management.  With experience in manufacturing, construction, natural resources and marine transportation, Tessa’s more recent experiences with large energy industry projects has led to working and partnering with local and Indigenous communities and supporting and leading regulatory functions.

Tessa holds a BEng in Mechanical Engineering.

Ian Rose is the General Manager of Operations at Arbios Biotech and a forward-thinking manufacturing leader with experience driving organizational success across international markets. As a professional engineer, Ian utilizes his technical background to analyze inefficient processes, generating improvements in productivity and resource management. Known for cultivating solid and enduring relationships with staff, stakeholders and communities, Ian excels at moving organizations from reactive to proactive strategies in meeting customer demands and excellent operational performance.

Ian is a chemical engineer with a B.E from the University of Auckland and a PhD from the University of British Columbia