AusBiotech appoints new board members

Ms Julie Phillips, is appointed as chairman, replacing long-serving chairman, Dr Deborah Rathjen

AusBiotech has announced the appointment of a new chairman and three new directors to its board. Ms Julie Phillips, is appointed as chairman, taking the mantle from long-serving chairman, Dr Deborah Rathjen, and the board welcomes Ms Serina Cucuzza, Mr Barry Thomas and Mr Serg Duchini as directors of AusBiotech.

Ms Julie Phillips has been a passionate and vocal advocate for the biotechnology sector and the opportunity it poses for Australia. Julie has been a director of AusBiotech since October 2013, and she is currently an industry representative on the federal government's clinical trials advisory committee.

"I am very pleased to have been appointed as the chairman of the AusBiotech Board and look forward to continuing to work on behalf of the industry in the new role to ensure that the Australian biotech industry is duly recognised and supported for its valuable contribution to our economy and our lives," she said speaking on her appointment.

New director, Ms Serina Cucuzza, is the manager for commercial development and industry engagement at the Burnet Institute. In this role she is involved in the commercialisation of novel technologies developed from the Institute's research. This includes managing the Institute's IP portfolio; sourcing funding ; negotiating deals and managing spin out companies.

Newly appointed director, Mr Barry Thomas is Cook Medical's vice president, director, Asia Pacific and MD of Cook Australia. Mr Barry has more than two decades of international leadership and expertise in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

 

New director, Mr Serg Duchini is partner and tax COO at Deloitte tax services and is also a Deloitte board member. In his role as National Leader of the Deloitte R&D and Government Incentive Practice, he has already worked collaboratively and constructively with AusBiotech in engaging with the Federal Government in the design and development of the current R&D Tax Incentive and the proposed Australian Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Incentive.