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Progressing BioIndustry

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John Raff was previously CEO, Chairman and founder of Starpharma Holdings Ltd. Prior to Starpahrma, John was General Manager of the Biomolecular Research Institute from 1990 to 1997. John Raff received a Ph.D. from Melbourne University in 1982 for molecular biology studies on cell recognition systems, under the supervision of Professor Adrienne Clarke. He is the co-founder, director and major shareholder of a technology-based agricultural seed company with subsidiary operations in India. John Raff is also founder and investor in a number of start-up technology companies.
Prior to retiring from Starpharma John had been one of the longest serving biotech CEOs in Australia. He has been the driving force in taking Starpharma from a small start-up to a company with a developing clinical pipeline of pharmaceutical products, and valuable equity in two complementary businesses in US based DNT and Australian company Dimerix Bioscience.

Mr Pappas is the Vice Chairman of the BioMelbourne Network and was appointed Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne in May 2005. George is a Senior Advisor to The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), having retired as a Senior Vice President in June 2002. George was engaged on a part-time assignment as Under Secretary in the Department of Premier and Cabinet for the State of Victoria, leading a project to develop the State’s future economic strategy.

Stella Clark is CEO of the Bio21 Cluster, a health sciences cluster of research institutions. She holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne and had a distinguished biomedical research career for almost 20 years. Stella has been President of the Australian Society for Medical Research, and of the Australasian Research Management Society. Stella is currently a Director & Member of Council for Leadership Victoria and Chair of their SkillsBank advisory team. Stella is a Director and Honorary Secretary of the BioMelbourne Network.

Mr Macdonald is the President of YM BioSciences Australia Ltd. Previously holding the role of Chief Financial Officer at Biota Holdings, he has over twenty years commercial experience working across the biotechnology, technology and finance sectors. Mr Macdonald has an extensive background in managing national and international operations and corporate activities including partnership deals, mergers and acquisitions and capital raising activity.

He has held a variety of executive management positions with companies including Willis Ltd, Richard Oliver and Sharinga Networks and has been based in the USA and the UK at different times of his career. In addition to board responsibilities within the YM BioSciences group, Mr Macdonald has previously held a board role at Verva Pharmaceuticals Ltd and is currently on the board of a number of private investment companies as well as a Victorian Government sponsored biotech Working Group. He is a CPA, with Science and Business degrees, and a member of the AICD.

Michelle Gallaher joined the BioMelbourne Network as Chief Executive Officer in late June 2008. With 18 years experience in the Victorian healthcare, research and biotech sectors, principally in investor relations, government affairs and communications,  Michelle has an indepth understanding of the needs and pressures of the local biotech industry.
For the past four years Michelle was the Director of Public Affairs at the Australian Stem Cell Centre fully engaged in the very public presentation and perceptions of this new and rapidly developing field of research.  Michelle began her career as a health care provider, working within major teaching hospitals and private practice, moving into pharmaceutical marketing and eventually into a listed Biotech company.
Michelle has an undergraduate degree in allied health (Orthoptics) and postgraduate qualifications in business and public relations.

Michelle’s role is to continue the success of the BioMelbourne Network in designing and delivering activities that contribute to the growth in knowledge, experience and connectivity of the 185 members and the environment in which we all operate.

Ashley graduated with a PhD from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland and has been working in the Pharmaceutical Industry for around 20 years.  During this time he has held positions in the UK, USA and Australia.  He joined Glaxo Wellcome Australia in 1998 and has held several positions including Head of Pharmaceutical Development and, most recently, Head of R&D Alliances Australia and New Zealand.  In his current role he is responsible for the ongoing management and future development of GlaxoSmithKline’s collaborative research efforts in Australia and New Zealand which include over 30 projects with research institutions and biotechnology companies across the country.

Niall is a science writer and publicist based in Melbourne. The focus of his work is helping scientists bring their work into the public space through the media, events and festivals. He also guides science organisations in the development of communication strategies to reach their stakeholders, customers and the public.

Brought up in Hadleigh, Suffolk in the UK, Niall completed a biology degree at Durham University before running away to the Antipodes.

Joe Baini has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry focused primarily on commercialisation, marketing and sales of a variety of top selling drugs.  His vast responsibilities have also included partnership, government relations and licensing negotiations.  He now heads up Exec Factor, focusing on Executive Coaching of senior Executives across the industry and providing meaningful and positive strategic input to a cross section of industry companies.  Prior to founding Exec Factor in 2008, Mr. Baini was the General Manager of Gilead Sciences Australia, New Zealand and Asia.  At Gilead, Mr. Baini grew the business in Australia and New Zealand by almost 900% during his five years as head of the subsidiary.

Dr Julian Chick was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and executive Director of Avexa from August 2005 till June 2010. He graduated with a PhD in Muscle Physiology from La Trobe University in 1998 and joined Amrad Corporation Limited as a Senior Business Development Manager in April 2002. Prior to joining Amrad Corporation Limited, Dr Chick had five years experience as an investment adviser and financial consultant with Prudential-Bache Securities, BNP Paribas and Salomon Smith Barney. Dr Chick also spent time working for Foursight Associates as the principal analyst reviewing healthcare and biotechnology investment opportunities for private equity investors and venture capitalists.

Jerry T de la Harpe, BComm, LLB, AFAIM, AIAMA

Jerry is a member of the senior management team at The University of Melbourne having recently taken up the appointment of Executive Director (Knowledge Partnerships). The position is directed to the implementation of key parts of the University’s engagement agenda, with a particular emphasis on developing strong links with external partners and establishing close working relationships across the university.
Previously, Jerry was Director of Commercialisation and Associate Director (Research) at Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, where over a 10 year period he largely focused on the business development and commercialisation aspects of the Institute’s research effort,  which embraced company “start-ups” and negotiation of a wide array of agreements mainly with the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors both within Australia and overseas. 
From 1990 to 2000 Jerry was General Manager of the Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine (now the Florey Neurosciences precinct) and before that appointment, was The University of Melbourne’s inaugural Head of its first Contracts and Technology Transfer Office.
Prior to 1985, Jerry (a lawyer by training) also worked in various corporations in senior management positions.

A successful research career (over 100 publications) in UK universities and at NIBSC, a UK government regulatory institute, Joined industry with British Biotech and ran R&D programmes in inflammation, infection and oncology, developed a profitable laboratory reagent portfolio and then transferred into business development.  Arrived in Australia in 2001 to establish Biocomm services,  a life science commercialization company, that raised $17m and completed 14 international deals.  Started Biocomm2 in 2006, provided business development services to more than 24 organizations in 6 countries.

Alun is an Executive Director in Ernst & Young’s Research & Development practice in Melbourne and has extensive experience in assisting clients access government support for innovation and R&D activities.  Alun has been with Ernst & Young since 1996, having joined the firm from the (now) Commonwealth Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, where he was involved in delivering government innovation incentives to industry.

Whilst at Ernst & Young, Alun has worked closely with many biotech and pharmaceutical companies and is a longstanding member of Ernst & Young’s national Health & Life Sciences practice.  He has a Masters Degree in Physics from the University of Melbourne and is a member of the Australasian Industrial Research Group.

Alun is also at the forefront of the Ernst & Young response to government policy developments in the innovation area.  The release of the Cutler Green Paper in late 2008 following the review of the National Innovation System is a case in point, with Alun heavily involved in the preparation of submissions of behalf of clients and in discussions with government and the Review Panel.

Based in Parkville, Zita Peach is the Vice President of Business Development with CSL Limited.  Zita’s role is primarily responsible for the following areas: In & out licensing and acquisition of opportunities for CSL Limited R&D, Commercialising early stage research opportunities, including overseeing commercial assessments, business cases and commercialisation strategies whilst providing input into the R&D strategy and portfolio management from a commercial perspective.  Zita also contributes to the health economic input into early stage global research projects and for obtaining reimbursement in the Australian market place.

Zita completed a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University in 1985. Prior to joining CSL, Zita worked as Commercial Director/Sales & Marketing Director of AMRAD Pharmaceuticals and then as the Commercial Director for Merck Sharp Dohme.

Zita is a member of BioMelbourne Network, AusBiotech, Australian Institute of Marketing (AIM) and is a committee member for the Victorian branch of the Licensing Executive Society (LESANZ).

Zita is fluent in English, Hungarian and French and enjoys snow sports and is an active committee member of the Mt Buller Rate Payers Association.