Singapore: One of the Asia Pacific region's most successful biotech executives says that Australia's biotech industry is at critical crossroads. Former ChemGenex CEO, Dr Greg Collier, says that industry leaders need to question the capabilities of senior managers, including the CEO, as their companies advance from early R&D to commercialization.

Dr Collier will be speaking about his experience and sharing the lessons he learnt at the forthcoming AusBiotech conference to be held at the end of October in Melbourne, Victoria.

The AusBiotech national conference, from Oct 30-Nov 2, is the largest event of its kind in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region for the biotechnology industry. It attracts prominent individuals in biotech, offers key networking and partnering opportunities, and provides insights and inspiration on major trends affecting the industry. Last year, the conference was held in Adelaide, South Australia, and it opened to an audience of about 750, drawn from biotech industry from across Australia and rest of the world.

"Many of the biotech companies in Australia are at a point of maturity where they need to be disciplined and focus heavily on commercialisation," says Dr Collier. "These companies need the right management and leaders in place now, with commercialisation expertise or wisdom, in order to achieve their goals and deliver a solid return to investors."

The theme of AusBiotech conference this year is "realising the value" and it will focus on the strategies to achieve goals throughout the life-cycle of a company's commercial endeavours. From discovery, through commercialisation, to late-stage life-cycle management, it will be connected, relevant and focused on making an impact and realising value.