Life Sciences Queensland - Supporters
Life Sciences Queensland Steering Committee Members
Peter Riddles
Sandra Harding
Cherrell Hirst AO
Mario Pennisi
Peter Smith
Stuart Hazell
Jay Hetzel
William Lyons
Tony Webber
Peter Riddles - Director and Founder, ViciBio
BSc(Hons), PhD, Grad Dip Bus, FAICD.
Peter seeks to contribute to sustainable economic development through realizing and applying the benefits of innovation from science. He has broad experience in innovation including at the economic, company and technology level. He continues to contribute in two broad activities: working with governments and economic regions on innovation and strategies for industry growth; and working with new ventures and universities in innovation and commercialisation.
He works through ViciBio Pty Ltd (a company he founded and directs for these purposes) and which provides advisory services on governance and strategy for government, universities and industry where innovation and science are core activities.
In that context he is the Chairman of Griffith Enterprise, a Director of the Australian Stem Cell Centre Ltd, and strategic advisor to a number of private biotechnology firms. He also acts as a member of the Alberta Research and Innovation Authority (Canada), the Innovation Australia Board (including Chair of its Innovation Grants Committee) for the Federal Government of Australia, and the Queensland Government Industry Advisory Group.
He was previously Founder and President of AusBiotech (Australia’s biotechnology organization), Chairman and Member (since its inception) of the Queensland Biotechnology Advisory Council, and has been a Chair of technology start-up companies Healthlinx Ltd and Dosimetry and Imaging Pty Ltd, and a Director of several others. He presently advises a number of private firms seeking to commercialise life science products and in the past has worked for both commercial and government clients in Europe, Asia and New Zealand while maintaining a large network in the global innovation system. Peter was made an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland (1998 – 2000); Honorary Life Member of AusBiotech in 2004 and was awarded the Queensland Life Sciences Industry Excellence Award in 2010.
Professor Sandra Harding - Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University in Queensland
Professor Sandra Harding is Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University in Queensland. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring clear and effective leadership and management of the University.
Professor Harding is an economic sociologist with a keen scholarly interest in markets and how they work, and organisation survey methodology. She also has a keen professional interest in education policy and management. She has authored and co-authored a wide range of publications, conference papers and press articles in her areas of interest.
Professor Harding has extensive academic and academic leadership experience, including more than 12 years in Australian university senior executive positions. In addition, she has undertaken a wide variety of senior university-aligned roles, including memberships of national and international Boards and Councils.
Current roles include: Australia’s representative on the University Grants Commission for the University of the South Pacific, Board member of Universities Australia and Chair of UA’s Audit Committee; Board member of Skills Queensland; Council Member of the Australian Institute for Marine Sciences; Board member of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, Director of Townsville Enterprises and of Advance Cairns (regional economic development bodies) and Member of the Queensland Premier’s Smart State Council.
Professor Harding’s previous external roles include: inaugural President of the Australian Business Deans Council; Vice-President of the Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance; Chair of the Australian Statistics Advisory Council; Member of the HIH Assessment Review Panel; Chairman of Brisbane Marketing Pty Ltd; Director of the Australian Institute for Commercialisation; Chair, Innovative Research Universities (an alliance of seven Australian universities: Charles Darwin, Griffith, La Trobe, Flinders, Murdoch, Newcastle and James Cook universities); and; Director of the Global Foundation for Management Education Ltd (Montreal).
She was a delegate to Australia’s 2020 Summit in 2008 as a member of the Productivity stream, has attended the Australian Davos Connection Leadership Retreat and has participated in the Australian American (West Coast) Leadership Dialogue at the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University. She was recognised as North Carolina State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences Distinguished Alumna in 2003 and, in 2010, received an honorary doctorate for services to education from Japan’s Josai International University.
Professor Harding is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
Cherrell Hirst AO - Chief Executive Officer, The Queensland BioCapital Funds
MBBS, BEdSt, D.Univ (Hon), FAICD,
Cherrell’s initial career focus was in clinical medicine and for almost 20 years she was Director of the Wesley Breast Clinic. Her interest in the value of education took her to the Council of QUT in 1990 and she was Chancellor from 1994-2004.
Research related to Cherrell’s clinical work and her exposure to research at QUT drew her to biotechnology where she has filled the following roles:
o Director of Peplin Inc 2000-09 (Chair 2000-07)
o Member of the AusIndustry IR&D Biological Committee 2001-06
o Member of the Qld Smart State Council since 2004
o Director of Impedimed Ltd since 2005
o Director of Xenome Ltd since 2007
o Director of Tissue Therapies Ltd since 2009
o Director of Hatchtech Pty Ltd since 2010
o CEO of the Queensland BioCapital Funds (QBF) since 2007
Cherrell has been a member of the Queensland Biotechnology Advisory Council and is now a member of the Biotech Reference Group which replaced that Council. She is a voice for Biotechnology on Queensland’s Smart State Council and has served as speaker and on expert panels at conferences and other forums in the area of biotechnology - especially life sciences. In 2009 she was an elected as a member to the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. In 2010 she has accepted the role of Chair with the Tropical Health Alliance and has served as a Reviewer of Academic Research Institutes.
Cherrell holds a number of other directorships in financial services companies including Avant and Medibank Private and previously Suncorp and has been a director of not-for-profit organisations over the years.
In recognition of her work in breast cancer and education Cherrell has been recognised with three Honorary Doctorates (SCU 1988, GU 2002 and QUT 2005), and the award of Officer of the Order of Australia (1988) and a centenary medal. Cherrell was Queenslander of the Year in 1995.
Mario Pennisi | Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Clinical Trials Network Inc. (QCTN)
Mario has extensive experience managing laboratory medicine services. In the mid 1990s, in affiliation with US and German-based organisations, he established the first Queensland-based ‘central laboratory’ in order to service international trials in the Asia-Pacific region. He was also a founding member of Queensland’s first contract research organisation.
Since establishing in 2005, Mario has overseen QCTN’s growth to become Australia’s peak industry group for therapeutic product service providers – now representing over 100 members with numerous strategic partners across the Asia Pacific Region and in Germany.
Peter Smith - Chief Executive Officer, Alchemia Limited.
MA, PhD
Peter is seasoned senior executive in the biotechnology industry with a wealth of experience on both the finance and business sides of the industry. He has had senior roles in the banking industry as well as in venture-backed and publicly quoted biotechnology companies. He is currently CEO of one of Queensland’s leading biotechnology companies, Alchemia Limited, which has a late-stage pipeline of assets including generic fondaparinux and HA-irinotecan which is in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Peter Smith joined Alchemia in May 2006 and was appointed Head of Alchemia's Commercialization and Business Development Division. He was appointed to the role of CEO and Managing Director on 26 April 2007. Prior to joining the company Peter was acting Chairman and CEO of Cerylid Biosciences Limited from 2005 to 2006 and CEO and Managing Director of Amrad. Previously Peter founded UK cancer vaccine company Onyvax where he was a Director and CFO. Before moving into executive positions in the biotech industry he was a top-rated healthcare analyst based in London with HSBC and UBS, covering large-cap European pharmaceutical stocks as well as IPO ing and fundraising for a number of UK and international biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies. Peter has a PhD in biochemistry from Cambridge University where he also gained his BA in Natural Sciences.
Professor Stuart Hazell - Managing Director Fusidium Pty Ltd
PhD (NSW), MASM GAICD
Stuart has more than 30 years experience in biomedical science. This includes research, consulting within the biomedical industry and senior management at the level of Dean within the university sector.
In 2002 Stuart joined the public company Panbio Ltd as Vice President, Research and Development and was responsible for reorganising the company’s research and development activities to provide clear direction and outcomes in the core business and advanced technologies. Stuart played a pivotal role in securing the rights to intellectual property that underpinned the Advanced Technologies Division within Panbio, which was developing new platform technologies.
Stuart was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer in May 2005 and led a number of significant improvements in operational areas of Panbio. In 2006 Stuart was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer and formally became Chief Executive Officer in 2007. Stuart was actively involved in setting the strategic direction of Panbio and the company achieved growing profits in financial years 2006 and 2007 following significant losses in the years preceding. Inverness Medical Innovations Inc acquired Panbio in January 2008 for approximately $43 million.
Stuart established Fusidium Pty Ltd as a consulting company servicing the Life Sciences industry. Activities include: Business Development, Strategic Planning, Governance & Management Services, Technology Assessment and Distributor Assessment and Due Diligence in the Asia Western Pacific region. He is currently the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Fusidium Pty Ltd and is engaged in consulting activities, including strategic planning and business development within the biotechnology sector.
Stuart maintains an active involvement in the life sciences community and is on the Board of Research Australia and Chair the state committee of AusBiotech in Queensland. In October 2010 he became Non-Executive Director of Holista Colltech Ltd.
Jay Hetzel - Independant Director and Consultant
PhD, FTSE, FAICD
Dr Jay Hetzel has a background in animal genetics research and technology commercialisation. During a career with CSIRO spanning 20 years, he was a world recognized pioneer in cattle genomics and genetics research and played a key role in establishing the foundations for industry applications of DNA technology. In 1998 he left CSIRO to start up Genetic Solutions Pty Ltd with a mission to commercialise DNA technology in livestock. He was the founding Chairman and Managing Director of Genetic Solutions and later served as Scientific Director and non executive Director. The company morphed into Catapult Genetics in 2006 and was acquired by Pfizer Animal Health in 2008.
Jay was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2001 for his research and commercialization achievements. In 2003, he was also awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal and the ‘Beef Industry Achiever of the Year’ award.
Jay now works as an independent director and consultant as well as undertaking various mentoring activities. He also has a cattle breeding venture in Northern NSW and is involved in the Tasmanian tourism industry.
Dr Bill Lyons - Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Research and Technology - Australia
Dr Bill Lyons is Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Research and Technology – Australia. He is also a Technical Fellow, one of the Boeing Company’s enterprise experts in aerospace. Prior to taking over the General Manager position, he was based in Seattle in the Global technology Organization and was responsible for conceiving, planning and implementing international technology alliances, and collaborative R&D.
In his technical career with Boeing, he led a number of development programs related to space-based remote sensing as well as modeling of atmospheric emissions by aircraft. He also is a member of the Boeing Company’s Sustainable Biofuels Steering Team, guiding Boeing strategy to enable a viable commercial market for sustainable aviation fuel.
He has over 18 years experience in Systems Engineering and Systems Development for satellite applications. Before joining Boeing he was an Assistant Professor in Satellite Remote Sensing and Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. He has also held Australian Government appointments in the Departments of Defence and Agriculture, including international assignments in South East Asia, representing Australian Government interests.
He is originally from Australia and has lived in the United States since 1998 and holds dual U.S. and Australian Citizenship.
Prof Tony (AJ) Webber – Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, CNS
Tony brings over 40 years of academic and commercial experience to CNS which he established in 1998 after leaving his position as Dean of Health & Science at Queensland University of Technology. In this position (1980 to 1996) Tony was instrumental in the spinout of intellectual property into Australia's emerging Biotechnology industry. Tony has continued to promote Australia's unique advantages internationally with CNS being the first private Australian CRO to exhibit at many of the US and European summer conferences. Tony’s inexhaustible energy in promoting Queensland was recognised in 2009 as the inaugural recipient of Queensland Life Sciences Industry Excellence Award. Tony has also been the President of the Queensland Clinical Trial Network Inc.(QCTN) since its inception.
Life Sciences Queensland - Supporters
Life Sciences Queensland Steering Committee Members
Peter Riddles
Sandra Harding
Cherrell Hirst AO
Mario Pennisi
Peter Smith
Stuart Hazell
Jay Hetzel
William Lyons
Tony Webber
Peter Riddles - Director and Founder, ViciBio
BSc(Hons), PhD, Grad Dip Bus, FAICD.
Peter seeks to contribute to sustainable economic development through realizing and applying the benefits of innovation from science. He has broad experience in innovation including at the economic, company and technology level. He continues to contribute in two broad activities: working with governments and economic regions on innovation and strategies for industry growth; and working with new ventures and universities in innovation and commercialisation.
He works through ViciBio Pty Ltd (a company he founded and directs for these purposes) and which provides advisory services on governance and strategy for government, universities and industry where innovation and science are core activities.
In that context he is the Chairman of Griffith Enterprise, a Director of the Australian Stem Cell Centre Ltd, and strategic advisor to a number of private biotechnology firms. He also acts as a member of the Alberta Research and Innovation Authority (Canada), the Innovation Australia Board (including Chair of its Innovation Grants Committee) for the Federal Government of Australia, and the Queensland Government Industry Advisory Group.
He was previously Founder and President of AusBiotech (Australia’s biotechnology organization), Chairman and Member (since its inception) of the Queensland Biotechnology Advisory Council, and has been a Chair of technology start-up companies Healthlinx Ltd and Dosimetry and Imaging Pty Ltd, and a Director of several others. He presently advises a number of private firms seeking to commercialise life science products and in the past has worked for both commercial and government clients in Europe, Asia and New Zealand while maintaining a large network in the global innovation system. Peter was made an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland (1998 – 2000); Honorary Life Member of AusBiotech in 2004 and was awarded the Queensland Life Sciences Industry Excellence Award in 2010.
Professor Sandra Harding - Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University in Queensland
Professor Sandra Harding is Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University in Queensland. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring clear and effective leadership and management of the University.
Professor Harding is an economic sociologist with a keen scholarly interest in markets and how they work, and organisation survey methodology. She also has a keen professional interest in education policy and management. She has authored and co-authored a wide range of publications, conference papers and press articles in her areas of interest.
Professor Harding has extensive academic and academic leadership experience, including more than 12 years in Australian university senior executive positions. In addition, she has undertaken a wide variety of senior university-aligned roles, including memberships of national and international Boards and Councils.
Current roles include: Australia’s representative on the University Grants Commission for the University of the South Pacific, Board member of Universities Australia and Chair of UA’s Audit Committee; Board member of Skills Queensland; Council Member of the Australian Institute for Marine Sciences; Board member of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, Director of Townsville Enterprises and of Advance Cairns (regional economic development bodies) and Member of the Queensland Premier’s Smart State Council.
Professor Harding’s previous external roles include: inaugural President of the Australian Business Deans Council; Vice-President of the Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance; Chair of the Australian Statistics Advisory Council; Member of the HIH Assessment Review Panel; Chairman of Brisbane Marketing Pty Ltd; Director of the Australian Institute for Commercialisation; Chair, Innovative Research Universities (an alliance of seven Australian universities: Charles Darwin, Griffith, La Trobe, Flinders, Murdoch, Newcastle and James Cook universities); and; Director of the Global Foundation for Management Education Ltd (Montreal).
She was a delegate to Australia’s 2020 Summit in 2008 as a member of the Productivity stream, has attended the Australian Davos Connection Leadership Retreat and has participated in the Australian American (West Coast) Leadership Dialogue at the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University. She was recognised as North Carolina State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences Distinguished Alumna in 2003 and, in 2010, received an honorary doctorate for services to education from Japan’s Josai International University.
Professor Harding is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
Cherrell Hirst AO - Chief Executive Officer, The Queensland BioCapital Funds
MBBS, BEdSt, D.Univ (Hon), FAICD,
Cherrell’s initial career focus was in clinical medicine and for almost 20 years she was Director of the Wesley Breast Clinic. Her interest in the value of education took her to the Council of QUT in 1990 and she was Chancellor from 1994-2004.
Research related to Cherrell’s clinical work and her exposure to research at QUT drew her to biotechnology where she has filled the following roles:
o Director of Peplin Inc 2000-09 (Chair 2000-07)
o Member of the AusIndustry IR&D Biological Committee 2001-06
o Member of the Qld Smart State Council since 2004
o Director of Impedimed Ltd since 2005
o Director of Xenome Ltd since 2007
o Director of Tissue Therapies Ltd since 2009
o Director of Hatchtech Pty Ltd since 2010
o CEO of the Queensland BioCapital Funds (QBF) since 2007
Cherrell has been a member of the Queensland Biotechnology Advisory Council and is now a member of the Biotech Reference Group which replaced that Council. She is a voice for Biotechnology on Queensland’s Smart State Council and has served as speaker and on expert panels at conferences and other forums in the area of biotechnology - especially life sciences. In 2009 she was an elected as a member to the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. In 2010 she has accepted the role of Chair with the Tropical Health Alliance and has served as a Reviewer of Academic Research Institutes.
Cherrell holds a number of other directorships in financial services companies including Avant and Medibank Private and previously Suncorp and has been a director of not-for-profit organisations over the years.
In recognition of her work in breast cancer and education Cherrell has been recognised with three Honorary Doctorates (SCU 1988, GU 2002 and QUT 2005), and the award of Officer of the Order of Australia (1988) and a centenary medal. Cherrell was Queenslander of the Year in 1995.
Mario Pennisi | Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Clinical Trials Network Inc. (QCTN)
Mario has extensive experience managing laboratory medicine services. In the mid 1990s, in affiliation with US and German-based organisations, he established the first Queensland-based ‘central laboratory’ in order to service international trials in the Asia-Pacific region. He was also a founding member of Queensland’s first contract research organisation.
Since establishing in 2005, Mario has overseen QCTN’s growth to become Australia’s peak industry group for therapeutic product service providers – now representing over 100 members with numerous strategic partners across the Asia Pacific Region and in Germany.
Peter Smith - Chief Executive Officer, Alchemia Limited.
MA, PhD
Peter is seasoned senior executive in the biotechnology industry with a wealth of experience on both the finance and business sides of the industry. He has had senior roles in the banking industry as well as in venture-backed and publicly quoted biotechnology companies. He is currently CEO of one of Queensland’s leading biotechnology companies, Alchemia Limited, which has a late-stage pipeline of assets including generic fondaparinux and HA-irinotecan which is in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Peter Smith joined Alchemia in May 2006 and was appointed Head of Alchemia's Commercialization and Business Development Division. He was appointed to the role of CEO and Managing Director on 26 April 2007. Prior to joining the company Peter was acting Chairman and CEO of Cerylid Biosciences Limited from 2005 to 2006 and CEO and Managing Director of Amrad. Previously Peter founded UK cancer vaccine company Onyvax where he was a Director and CFO. Before moving into executive positions in the biotech industry he was a top-rated healthcare analyst based in London with HSBC and UBS, covering large-cap European pharmaceutical stocks as well as IPO ing and fundraising for a number of UK and international biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies. Peter has a PhD in biochemistry from Cambridge University where he also gained his BA in Natural Sciences.
Professor Stuart Hazell - Managing Director Fusidium Pty Ltd
PhD (NSW), MASM GAICD
Stuart has more than 30 years experience in biomedical science. This includes research, consulting within the biomedical industry and senior management at the level of Dean within the university sector.
In 2002 Stuart joined the public company Panbio Ltd as Vice President, Research and Development and was responsible for reorganising the company’s research and development activities to provide clear direction and outcomes in the core business and advanced technologies. Stuart played a pivotal role in securing the rights to intellectual property that underpinned the Advanced Technologies Division within Panbio, which was developing new platform technologies.
Stuart was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer in May 2005 and led a number of significant improvements in operational areas of Panbio. In 2006 Stuart was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer and formally became Chief Executive Officer in 2007. Stuart was actively involved in setting the strategic direction of Panbio and the company achieved growing profits in financial years 2006 and 2007 following significant losses in the years preceding. Inverness Medical Innovations Inc acquired Panbio in January 2008 for approximately $43 million.
Stuart established Fusidium Pty Ltd as a consulting company servicing the Life Sciences industry. Activities include: Business Development, Strategic Planning, Governance & Management Services, Technology Assessment and Distributor Assessment and Due Diligence in the Asia Western Pacific region. He is currently the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Fusidium Pty Ltd and is engaged in consulting activities, including strategic planning and business development within the biotechnology sector.
Stuart maintains an active involvement in the life sciences community and is on the Board of Research Australia and Chair the state committee of AusBiotech in Queensland. In October 2010 he became Non-Executive Director of Holista Colltech Ltd.
Jay Hetzel - Independant Director and Consultant
PhD, FTSE, FAICD
Dr Jay Hetzel has a background in animal genetics research and technology commercialisation. During a career with CSIRO spanning 20 years, he was a world recognized pioneer in cattle genomics and genetics research and played a key role in establishing the foundations for industry applications of DNA technology. In 1998 he left CSIRO to start up Genetic Solutions Pty Ltd with a mission to commercialise DNA technology in livestock. He was the founding Chairman and Managing Director of Genetic Solutions and later served as Scientific Director and non executive Director. The company morphed into Catapult Genetics in 2006 and was acquired by Pfizer Animal Health in 2008.
Jay was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2001 for his research and commercialization achievements. In 2003, he was also awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal and the ‘Beef Industry Achiever of the Year’ award.
Jay now works as an independent director and consultant as well as undertaking various mentoring activities. He also has a cattle breeding venture in Northern NSW and is involved in the Tasmanian tourism industry.
Dr Bill Lyons - Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Research and Technology - Australia
Dr Bill Lyons is Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Research and Technology – Australia. He is also a Technical Fellow, one of the Boeing Company’s enterprise experts in aerospace. Prior to taking over the General Manager position, he was based in Seattle in the Global technology Organization and was responsible for conceiving, planning and implementing international technology alliances, and collaborative R&D.
In his technical career with Boeing, he led a number of development programs related to space-based remote sensing as well as modeling of atmospheric emissions by aircraft. He also is a member of the Boeing Company’s Sustainable Biofuels Steering Team, guiding Boeing strategy to enable a viable commercial market for sustainable aviation fuel.
He has over 18 years experience in Systems Engineering and Systems Development for satellite applications. Before joining Boeing he was an Assistant Professor in Satellite Remote Sensing and Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. He has also held Australian Government appointments in the Departments of Defence and Agriculture, including international assignments in South East Asia, representing Australian Government interests.
He is originally from Australia and has lived in the United States since 1998 and holds dual U.S. and Australian Citizenship.
Prof Tony (AJ) Webber – Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, CNS
Tony brings over 40 years of academic and commercial experience to CNS which he established in 1998 after leaving his position as Dean of Health & Science at Queensland University of Technology. In this position (1980 to 1996) Tony was instrumental in the spinout of intellectual property into Australia's emerging Biotechnology industry. Tony has continued to promote Australia's unique advantages internationally with CNS being the first private Australian CRO to exhibit at many of the US and European summer conferences. Tony’s inexhaustible energy in promoting Queensland was recognised in 2009 as the inaugural recipient of Queensland Life Sciences Industry Excellence Award. Tony has also been the President of the Queensland Clinical Trial Network Inc.(QCTN) since its inception.