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For immediate release

AusBiotech announced the election of Professor Jan Tennent as a Director at today’s Annual General Meeting – an addition that will bring a strong industry-research conduit to the AusBiotech Board.

Prof. Tennent (PhD GCertMgt FASM GAICD) is a respected senior executive and networked business leader with international and national experience in the pharmaceutical, agribiotech and research sectors. She has a proven record of contribution and accomplishment in the governance and management of NFP organisations and highly-matrixed organisations including CSIRO, CSL and Pfizer.

Prof. Tennent is currently the CEO of Biomedical Research Victoria, the premier voice linking health and medical research with clinical care in Victoria.

In her previous role as Director for Business Development & Global Alliances at Pfizer Animal Health, Prof. Tennent was responsible for maximising the growth and profitability of APAC business units and leading the due diligence and negotiation teams for a number of company and product acquisitions and numerous technology licenses and collaborative R&D agreements.

As a member of the CSL Animal Health executive team Prof. Tennent was responsible for new product opportunity evaluation and leadership of product development and the launch teams for unique vaccines in Australia and the UK.

Prof. Tennent’s research career included periods as Director of the CRC for Vaccine Technology and Program Manager for the Vaccines and Immunology group of CSIRO Animal Health. In these roles, Jan honed her innovation and management skills having oversight of the research and vaccine clinical trial activities of a 20-strong team.

An alumnus of Monash and Deakin universities, Jan was appointed in 2017 as Collaborative Professor at the University of Osaka. She is a Principal Fellow at The University of Melbourne, Fellow of the Australian Society for Microbiology and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

AusBiotech Chair, Ms Julie Phillips said: “We are very pleased to welcome Professor Jan Tennent to the Board. Jan’s combination of industry experience with Pfizer and CSL, strong network and expertise in the research sector and her renowned integrity and diligence, will bring innovation, expertise and focus to this role.”

The election result will see Director, Ms Serina Cucuzza, Manager, Commercial Development & Industry Engagement, Burnet Institute, depart the Board after three years’ service to AusBiotech.

Ms Phillips said: “On behalf of the Board, I extend our sincere thanks to Serina for her valuable contribution over her Board tenure. She has brought strong governance skills, a research and early commercialisation perspective to the Board, for which we are most grateful.”

The current Board members include:

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

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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.