Leveraging the city’s life sciences network
Name: Alex Muggah Age: 38 Position: Director, Synapse Life Sciences Consortium
Job description: I work for Synapse, a partnership of regional institutions representing the major life science anchor across Hamilton.
As director, my primary role is to act as a neutral concierge and strategic broker for the cluster, promoting and facilitating collaboration across public and private actors to attract businesses, investment and enable the commercialization of health innovation.
Synapse supports the significant efforts already underway to organize community-wide efforts to identify and accelerate opportunities for Hamilton’s dynamic life science cluster.
How did you come to be in this job? I had the good fortune to meet David Carter (Innovation Factory) and Keanin Loomis (Hamilton Chamber) when I returned to Hamilton last fall.
They introduced me to the Synapse partners, who decided that I had the right mix of experience, abilities and enthusiasm to take up the role as director.
What gets you up in the morning? The idea that I can make a small contribution to the amazing revitalization of Hamilton is more than enough to get me out of bed each morning.
Lessons learned? Be helpful and courteous to everyone, no matter their title or position.
You never know when you’ll need to leverage that relationship, or discover that they’re your new boss!
If you treat relationships as transactional, you’ll find yourself without a strong network when the going gets tough, so take the time to nurture and care for those with whom you interact.
Roots: Transplanted boomeranger.
Born in Ottawa and moved to Hamilton as a young kid, growing up exploring the rail trail from the top of Dundurn to Sulphur Springs Road and playing hockey at Chedoke Twin Pads.
Eighteen years after leaving for university, I had the good fortune to return with an amazing spouse and two kids, and discover that Hamilton was undergoing an amazing economic and cultural revitalization.
Recent social media post(s): I’m not a big social media guy, but do have a weakness for peaking at my friends’ capers on Instagram.
My most recent post was a picture of my two sons playing on the Baddeck boardwalk in Cape Breton while visiting my parents.
Contacts: Anyone interested in connecting with me, or the broader life science community in Hamilton should reach out via email (Alex.Muggah@SynapseConsortium.com) or check out the consortium website (www.SynapseConsortium.com)
Favourite place in the downtown: It is invigorating to stand at the corner of James North and King William.
To the north, the heartbeat of our amazing arts scene, Supercrawl and that fantastic Cock Robin mural.
To the east, a taste of our emerging foodie scene and occasional movie shoots. South is Gore Park, a link to Hamilton’s deep history and strong roots.
And finally, to the west, McMaster’s One James North (and the Braley building, art gallery, concert hall, etc.) showcasing the importance of the city’s institutions anchoring our great downtown.
What would make Hamilton a better city? Thoughtful and engaging public spaces and parks (e.g., interactive art, murals, trails, benches, etc.) to encourage Hamiltonians to walk, bike and explore the amazing place that we are blessed to live in.
What’s next for you? A lot of hard work!
As the Synapse grows, my hope is to continue to engage and support life science organizations in Hamilton so that they thrive and prosper.
Also, having a beer at The Shed in Dundas — my favourite watering hole — please say hello if you happen to bump into me there!