Avtar Dhaliwal
About Avtar Dhaliwal
Avtar Dhaliwal, age 30, has served as an independent director of iSpecimen Inc. since September 2024. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and brings multi-industry management experience, including CEO roles in plant-based foods and agri-tech, and board roles in cannabis extraction and fuel cells . The Board has affirmatively determined his independence under Nasdaq rules .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Plant Based Foods | Chief Executive Officer | Since Dec 2021 | Led operations; previously operations/logistics starting Oct 2019 |
| Pontus Protein Ltd. | Chief Executive Officer | Since Mar 2022 | Agri-food and technology leadership |
| Trilogy AI | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Jan–May 2024 | AI-driven beauty industry focus |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advent Technologies Holdings Inc. | Director | Since Aug 2024 | Renewable energy/fuel cells; public company board |
| Halo Collective Inc. | Director; Compensation Committee member; Audit Committee member | Director & Comp Comm since Mar 2022; Audit Comm since Aug 2024 | Cannabis extraction; governance oversight on comp and audit at Halo |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments (ISPC):
- Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee: Chair
- Compensation Committee: Member; the committee is chaired by Siyun Yang
- Independence: Board determined Dhaliwal is independent under Nasdaq Rule 5605 .
- Board class/term: Class II director; term expires at ISPC’s 2026 annual meeting .
- Indemnification: Entered into standard nonemployee director indemnification agreement (form referenced to prior S-1/A exhibit) .
- Attendance disclosure: For FY 2024, the Board met informally and acted by written consent numerous times; individual attendance rates not disclosed .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Terms |
|---|---|
| Nonemployee Director Compensation Policy (cash/equity) | Standard director compensation, pro-rated for 2024 service; specific dollar amounts not disclosed |
| Committee Chair/Membership Fees | Not disclosed for ISPC’s current cycle |
Performance Compensation
| Metric/Condition | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Performance-based elements (e.g., TSR, EBITDA, revenue growth) | None disclosed for director compensation; policy references standard nonemployee director compensation |
| Equity vesting/performance conditions | Not disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Connection | Details |
|---|---|
| Shared Halo ties | Dhaliwal is a director and sits on Halo’s comp and audit committees; ISPC director Siyun Yang previously served as In-House Counsel at Halo, creating a network link that may influence information flow (no related-party transactions disclosed at ISPC) |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Education: B.Sc. Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan .
- Cross-industry experience: Leadership in plant-based foods, agri-tech, AI, cannabis extraction, and fuel cells .
- Governance: Committee leadership at ISPC (Nominating Chair) and committee experience at Halo (Compensation and Audit) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avtar Dhaliwal | Nil | 0.00% | Oct 13, 2025 |
- Related-party transactions: None between ISPC and Dhaliwal reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths:
- Independent director with committee leadership (Nominating Chair) and active role on Compensation Committee, reinforcing board oversight of governance and pay .
- No related-party transactions disclosed; standard indemnification agreement in place .
- Concerns/RED FLAGS:
- Zero beneficial ownership (0.00%) suggests limited “skin-in-the-game” alignment unless future equity grants are made .
- Multiple concurrent executive roles (Modern Plant Based Foods, Pontus Protein) may create time-commitment risk for ISPC oversight .
- Interlock/network tie via Halo (Dhaliwal’s board/committee roles; Yang’s prior counsel role) warrants monitoring for potential conflicts or undue influence, despite no related-party transactions disclosed at ISPC .
- Transparency gap:
- ISPC has not disclosed Dhaliwal’s specific director compensation amounts or any performance-linked criteria; Board noted acting by written consent, but individual attendance rates are not provided for FY 2024 .