Board members
Cataya is governed by a board of seasoned leaders dedicated to advancing our mission, accelerating our growth, and securing a sustainable future.
Dr. Lishan Zhao, Founder and CEO of Cataya, brings over 20 years of leadership in engineering biology and a proven track record of scaling bio-based technologies.
Previously, as Vice President of R&D at Amyris, he helped build a premier synthetic biology platform and successfully commercialized more than ten products from laboratory to market. A strategic leader in international expansion, he also spearheaded Amyris's entry into the Chinese market.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Zhao was a key scientist at Diversa Corp, where he discovered and engineered enzymes for diverse industrial applications. He holds a BS and MS in Chemistry from Fudan University and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Minnesota.
Previously, as Vice President of R&D at Amyris, he helped build a premier synthetic biology platform and successfully commercialized more than ten products from laboratory to market. A strategic leader in international expansion, he also spearheaded Amyris's entry into the Chinese market.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Zhao was a key scientist at Diversa Corp, where he discovered and engineered enzymes for diverse industrial applications. He holds a BS and MS in Chemistry from Fudan University and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Minnesota.