Chris Damas is principal of BCMI Research, an independent equity research and trading company based in Barrie, Ontario. He has a biochemistry degree from McGill University followed by three years of industrial research at the M.Sc. level. Damas has co-authored journal articles in chemical research and managed a chemical synthesis laboratory in California. He has twenty years of experience researching and/or investing/divesting in private equities, business start-ups, venture capital, IPO's, mezzanine financings and new technologies. He testified as an expert witness before the Canadian Senate Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Bill C-33.