bioLytical® Board of Directors

Charles Westgard’s career in business spans more than thirty years, with a specific focus on real estate and finance.

Charles has directed and been involved in the development and sales of thousands of residential and commercial units in both Canada and the United States, as well as positioning and managing hundreds of millions of dollars for a range of projects and ventures. As a result of his experience, multiple businesses have sought Charles’ expertise and leadership.

Born and raised in British Columbia, Charles studied business and finance at the University of Washington, where his talent for baseball earned him a full ride scholarship. He later played internationally for Team Canada and professionally for the New York Yankee Organization.

Charles is proud to serve the community, sharing his extensive sports knowledge and providing sponsorships to several local organizations. He is a highly experienced coach and has led teams to win a total of seven national championships in women’s fastpitch.

Hans Croukamp brings more than thirty years of leadership expertise to bioLytical’s board. With an exceptional background in operations, manufacturing and sales, Hans is known for his formidable business acumen and his mastery of Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

An established leader, Hans has a consistent record of positioning organizations to achieve success, which has led several companies to seek Hans’ expert guidance. He has directed business strategies in Canada, the United States and in South Africa in a variety of industries, including construction, leisure, security, and signage. With experience in day-to-day management and strategic planning, he has driven companies to significantly improve efficiency and profitability throughout his career.

Hans has earned several professional qualifications including LSSMB Lean Six Sigma Masters Black Belt certification and an International business degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Hans has been bioLytical’s Chief Operating Officer since 2018.

Philip Bligh is an entrepreneur and executive with more than thirty years of experience. He has started and run a number of successful ventures in the technology and biotechnology industries. 

As the founder and CEO of the tech company Inforte, he guided the company through its NASDAQ IPO. Philip then led Inforte as a public company for seven years. He has since brought his leadership expertise to Zylem Biosciences, a cancer therapy and diagnostic company as its founder and CEO. 

A highly respected voice in business, Philip is the author of several publications, including the Customer Relationship Management book, CRM Unplugged. He also worked with Professor Michael Porter to write the article The Internet and Strategy, Harvard Business Review, 2001. He was E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000. Philip was born in London, graduated from University College London in Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, and now lives in the United States.

Robert Gelfand, MD is a hematology and oncology specialist with more than 30 years of experience in the medical field.

He is the founder and President of American Infusion Centers, a group of state-of-the-art infusion centres based in New York City. Dr. Gelfand is also the founder of two oncology practices, Hudson Hematology Oncology and East Side Oncology Associates.

He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical Center and at New York Presbyterian Hospital where he also teaches.

Dr. Gelfand received his undergraduate degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree with honors from State University of New York at Brooklyn. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and his fellowship in hematology and oncology at The New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center.

With a history of working with charities and private organizations all over the world, Dr. Gelfand is passionate about helping patients live their lives to the fullest.