Cascadia Seaweed appoints Leah Lawrence to board as Port Edward biorefinery launches

British Columbia's Cascadia Seaweed has appointed Leah Lawrence to its board of directors, the company has announced, as it prepares to scale its agricultural products business across North America.

Lawrence brings more than two decades of experience spanning climate innovation, sustainable finance, and technology governance. Cascadia said her background aligns with the company’s next stage of growth, following the commissioning of its Port Edward seaweed biorefinery in British Columbia.

“I’ve spent my career helping bold ideas move from concept to measurable value, and Cascadia is exactly the kind of company I want to be part of,” said Lawrence.

“They’ve built something real: science-backed products, genuine First Nations partnerships, and now a complete value chain from ocean to farm. My focus on this board will be translating that momentum into a clear growth strategy and the governance structures that allow it to scale responsibly,” she added.

“We are thrilled to welcome Leah to the Board,” said Ed Quilty, Cascadia board chair. “Her expertise in finance, technology, and governance comes at exactly the right time. Combined with the deep agricultural sales and market experience already on the Board, we have assembled a well-rounded leadership team to guide Cascadia through its next stage of growth and commercialization.”

The appointment follows Cascadia Seaweed’s recent grand opening of its Port Edward processing facility, which took place on 14 May 2026. The company said the facility marks an important milestone in the development of its northern processing capacity and completes its value chain from seaweed cultivation through to advanced processing.

The Port Edward project developed out of Cascadia’s relationship with the Metlakatla First Nation and the Metlakatla Development Corporation, which began in 2021 through early discussions around a potential northern hub for aquaculture and processing operations.

Since then, the collaboration has included site visits, technical planning, environmental baseline work, funding collaborations, and ongoing evaluation of integrated aquaculture systems, including kelp cultivation and processing capacity.

Cascadia formally began the construction and commissioning phase for the Port Edward facility after signing the lease in March 2025. The facility progressed through installation, commissioning, and early system validation, including first seaweed processing practice runs in March 2026.

“This facility represents a significant milestone in building a fully integrated seaweed-based agricultural inputs company in Canada,” Michael Williamson, CEO and co-founder of Cascadia Seaweed, said at the opening last month.

“We’ve built this business step by step from cultivation through to advanced processing, overcoming the challenges of scaling within this sector. With the facility now operational, our focus shifts toward expanding market adoption and growing our presence in agriculture markets, starting with North America,” he added.

Cascadia said full operational capacity at the facility is expected by summer 2026. The company also said it is continuing to explore potential joint venture structures with Metlakatla Development Corporation for both farming and processing operations.

Based in British Columbia, Canada, Cascadia Seaweed describes itself as the largest cultivator and processor of seaweed-derived agricultural products in North America. The company grows kelp in partnership with coastal First Nations in Canada, with its farms owned by First Nation communities.