Maude Tessier

COO, Hillstar Bio

Dr. Maude Tessier is a longtime biopharma executive with over 18 years of company building experience with a multi-disciplinary background in business development, corporate strategy, fundraising and investor relations (IR), corporate communications (PR), and IP, portfolio and program management, in public and private biotechnology, pharmaceutical and academic organizations. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Hillstar Bio, a private preclinical-stage immunology biotech company, where she is responsible for BD & strategy, finance, legal, PR and operations. Previously, she served as Chief Business Officer (CBO) at Seismic Therapeutic, where she led financing, partnering and corporate strategy, including driving a $146M Series B financing. As CBO of Ikena Oncology, she built and managed business development, legal, and corporate strategy functions, in particular, leading a $1B+ strategic partnership with BMS and contributing to over $260M in capital raises. Maude’s career also includes leadership roles at Merck & Co., Boston Children’s Hospital, and Xanthus Pharmaceuticals. Maude holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto.