Emergence, the life sciences incubator based on Prince Edward Island and targeting a national market, has made a new hire: Bernadette Fernandes, a corporate consultant who specializes in export development.

Since 2011, Fernandes has been CEO of The Varanda Network -- the consulting firm she founded, which is certified by the non-profit Forum for International Trade Training and counts among its clients government agencies, startups and industry associations.

She also worked for Opportunities New Brunswick in 2015 and 2016, helping large exporters with business development. And she serves on the advisory board of ATIGS Group, which is a Delaware-based consulting company that specializes in facilitating trade and investment in Africa.

As Emergence’s lead mentor for market access and exporting, Fernandes is now tasked with helping resident companies go to market and plan their export development strategies.

“A dynamic, energetic and passionate leader, Bernadette has worked in the area of international market access since 2006, with a specific focus on exporting since 2013,” said Emergence in a press release.

“Having worked closely alongside BioNB, government, industry partners, and most recently academia, Bernadette is familiar with the nuances of the innovation ecosystem that allows bioscience companies to grow and thrive.”