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For immediate release

AusBiotech has announced the appointment of a Director – Dr Megan Baldwin, CEO and Managing Director of Opthea Limited – which strengthens the AusBiotech Board with expertise in life sciences industry leadership.

AusBiotech Chair, Ms Julie Phillips, has welcomed the appointment and said: “The Board welcomes Dr Baldwin, whose appointment was based on principles for diversity of perspective at the Board, balance in Board Director profiles and with regard to membership engagement and needs.”

Dr Baldwin was appointed CEO and Managing Director of Opthea Limited in February 2014 and has over 20 years’ experience working on therapeutic drug development programs in both Australian and international biotechnology companies. Dr Baldwin joined the company in 2008 and has held various positions, including Head of Preclinical R&D and Chief Executive Officer of Opthea Pty Ltd.  As CEO of Opthea Limited, Dr Baldwin is now focussed on advancing Opthea’s OPT-302 clinical development program for the treatment of eye diseases including wet age-related macular degeneration.

Prior to Opthea, Dr Baldwin was employed at Genentech (now Roche), the world leader in angiogenesis-based therapies for cancer and other diseases. Her experience included several years as a postdoctoral researcher, before moving to Genentech’s commercial division and having responsibility for corporate competitive intelligence activities. In these roles, she developed extensive commercial and scientific knowledge in anti-angiogenic and oncology drug development.

Dr Baldwin holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Melbourne, having conducted her doctoral studies at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and is a member of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.

The current Board members include:

Ms Julie Phillips, AusBiotech Chairman and CEO and Executive Director, BioDiem
Dr Megan Baldwin, CEO and Managing Director of Opthea Limited
Ms Michelle Burke, Principal and Director, Indigo Advisory
Mr Glenn Cross, CEO, AusBiotech
Dr Andrea Douglas, Vice President, R&D Strategy and External Affairs, CSL Limited
Mr Serg Duchini, Partner, Chief Strategy Officer, National Leader R&D and Government Incentives & Co. Director, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Mr Lawrence Gozlan, Chief Executive Officer, Scientia Capital
Prof. Jan Tennent, CEO, BioMedical Research Victoria
Mr Barry Thomas, Director, Cook Medical Asia Pacific & Vice President, Cook Inc., Cook Medical / Cook Inc.

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Media enquiries: Lorraine Chiroiu, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, AusBiotech, lchiroiu@ausbiotech.org, 0429 801 118.

About AusBiotech

AusBiotech is Australia’s life sciences organisation, working on behalf of members for 30 years to provide representation and services to promote the global growth of Australian biotechnology. AusBiotech is a well-connected network of over 3,000 members in the life sciences, including therapeutics, medical technology (devices and diagnostics), food technology and agricultural, environmental and industrial sectors.