Photo by Redd Francisco on Unsplash

Edmonton Unlimited has appointed Justin Riemer and Dr. Nir Katchinskiy to its board of directors, adding two critical perspectives for an organization trying to move founders from idea to market: someone who’s done it, and someone who knows how capital and policy really move.

Riemer is the CEO of Emissions Reduction Alberta, where he oversees one of Canada’s largest clean technology investment portfolios across energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. Prior to this position, he held senior executive roles with both the federal and Alberta governments, working on economic diversification and investment attraction. 

Katchinskiy co-founded PulseMedica in 2020 out of doctoral research in femtosecond laser applications in ophthalmology at the University of Alberta. He has since raised more than $20 million USD, and built a team of more than 35 engineers and scientists working on imaging and treatment tools for eye diseases. He raised the money, hired the team, and navigated the gap from lab to commercial product, i.e. the very path Edmonton Unlimited founders are trying to navigate.

“Justin and Dr. Katchinskiy bring precisely the perspectives our board needs to serve this ecosystem well,” says Lindsay Dodd, Board Chair of Edmonton Unlimited. “Dr. Katchinskiy has done what so many of our founders are working toward — he has built a globally competitive technology company from the ground up, right here in Edmonton.”

The appointments, confirmed at Edmonton Unlimited’s shareholder meeting on May 8, reflect a deliberate move to make the board’s governance grounded in practice. 

For an agency whose value is bridging founders to resources and relationships, having people on the board who’ve navigated both sides of that bridge makes the case for Edmonton as a place to build.

Final Shots

Justin Riemer leads Emissions Reduction Alberta, which manages a major clean technology portfolio spanning energy, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Dr. Nir Katchinskiy co-founded PulseMedica in 2020 and has raised over $20 million USD building ophthalmic imaging and treatment technology.

The appointments were confirmed at Edmonton Unlimited’s shareholder meeting on May 8, 2026.