As a self-professed risk taker anxious to make an impact, Mubrouka Elharram ‘07 is doing the former and realizing the latter as the CEO of Peterborough-based GoatGEN.

The goat genetics company, which Ms. Elharram co-founded with Trent Biology department chair Dr. Bradley White, provides genomic-based predictions of novel multi-gene traits for breeding programs that advance the genetic potential of goats.

“Goats provide more animal protein to the world food supply than beef or dairy cattle; Canada has high quality goat genetics desired by developing countries and there is an increasing demand for Canadian goats,” says Ms. Elharram. “At this time in Ontario there is limited goat semen and no goat embryo production facilities dedicated to production, processing or distribution of goat genetics to the international marketplace. The long-term goal is to build our own production facility to evaluate Canadian and target market dairy goats, and build an integrated and commercially sustainable supply and value chain for live animals, semen and embryos.”

Born in Toronto and of Libyan descent, Ms. Elharram attended high school in Peterborough before choosing Trent for a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She credits Professor White with igniting her passion for genetics. In 2011, she completed her Masters under his guidance.

That same year, Ms. Elharram ventured to post-revolution Libya where she applied her genetics background to the benefit of Physicians For Human Rights, working alongside forensic experts to construct a mass human identification plan in Tripoli.

“My education at Trent really prepared me for this kind of real-world experience where my education, even though it was in the wildlife field of genetics, was extremely valuable in a country where the field of the genetics is so unfamiliar. The experience gave me confidence in my abilities and further ignited my passion for genetics as well as project management.”

Now, with GoatGEN her primary focus, Ms. Elharram is committed to stimulating the development of a major new export economy based in Peterborough.