Entering the workforce from a science background, I previously hadn't had to think about the financial side of medical treatments. However, taking a role in regulatory affairs and pricing was a real turning point for me because I was able to gain a greater insight into the importance of economic analysis in the justification of different medical or surgical treatments. For example, if a treatment was very cheap but not very effective, it would be much more cost-effective to use a more expensive drug that cured faster. All of a sudden, I was seeing financials as a way to make a better market case and drive resource allocation. This then inspired me to go back to university and complete my MBA. Now, when I make business decisions at BioDiem, there is a raft of factors I take into account, which I can attribute to my diverse background.

It's definitely less stressful to look back on a hurdle now than it was when I was facing it. In 2009, we found out our major flu vaccine licencee was being acquired through a merger and acquisition transaction. We suspected that we would lose our licence and the attaching income stream, and have the rights returned to us. Whereas this loss of income did turn out to be the case, we worked very hard on the opportunity that the return of rights presented to us. We converted the return licence rights into a new business opportunity for BioDiem and it is our "LAIV vector" project. We now have the worldwide rights to this opportunity to create many new vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases as well as influenza.

Beyond BioDiem

I'm not sure she is exactly my role model, but I have long-adored Eva Cox. She is an Australian feminist who delivers her views most passionately on building a better society. Eva has featured in my life since I became politically aware in my twenties. I love the way she is - fearless, politically astute and highly intelligent, and would love to be more like her to help drive the needed social change.

At the moment I'm really interested in finding out more about my family history. I'm using ancestory.com to trace generations of my family tree. Turns out that there are a plenty of very strong women ancestors and also quite a few convicts.