Traditionally the career pathway for those trained in health and medical research has been a linear path in academia. In recent years though, there have been more conversations about the diverse opportunities for researchers across the health and medical research ecosystem and beyond. Despite this, it is still tricky to navigate transitions into new roles and organisations.
So, we are excited to be hosting a Career Transitions event to help with just that.
At the event, you will hear from a panel of experts in supporting career transitions who will share their insights on how to identify and articulate your transferable skills and their value, both inside and outside of academia. You will also have the opportunity to chat over breakfast with one of our invited ‘table mentors’ – people who have already made the move into various roles from Industry and Government to Start-ups and Consulting. Our table mentors will candidly share how they grappled with the decision to move roles, how they went about it, and their professional and personal experiences since.
As always, there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with amazing women from across our sector while enjoying some great food!
You can find more information about our panelists and table mentors below. We have allocated a table number for each mentor so if you would like to chat with someone in particular, please head to their table when you arrive as there won’t be assigned seating at the event.
Event Information
Date & Time
Wednesday 30 June 2021
7.15 – 9.00am
(Proceedings start at 7.30am sharp)
Venue
Ticket Price (incl GST)
Members – $45
Non-members – $79
Includes a seated hot breakfast!
Our Panelists
Dr Annie Quan
Dr Colman Taylor
Jade Mortlock
Leesa Tongoulidis
Dr Annie Quan – Market Access Manager, Bayer Pharmaceuticals
My current role is a Market Access Manager at Bayer Australia. After dedicating 18 years to basic research in immunology, neuroscience, drug discovery and managing a research lab, I transitioned to a career in the pharmaceutical industry 3 years ago to manage how new drugs and health technologies reach the market for patient access via the Australian reimbursement system.
I completed my PhD in neuroscience at the Children’s Medical Research Institute and the University of Sydney and was then awarded an NHMRC Fellowship. During this time, I also completed a Master of Commerce at University of NSW.
I was fortunate to participate as a mentee in the Franklin Women Mentoring Program in 2018. The program was pivotal as it created a professional platform for me to critically evaluate the direction of my research career being a working mum with two young kids. Keeping true to the one continuing driver for my career to date has been my passion to making an impact and improving health outcomes, whether through my own research discoveries or witnessing new technologies improve the well-being of patients. So, I decided to combine my extensive scientific and research experience with my commercial and business economics training to make the move into Market Access. Fortuitously, at a similar Franklin Women breakfast event I made the connections and found the network to guide my transition to my current role. Thank you, FW!
Dr Colman Taylor – Managing Director, Health Technology Analysts; Research Fellow, The George Institute for Global Health
Dr Colman Taylor joined Health Technology Analysts (HTAnalysts, formerly Optum) in May 2014 and was part of a management buy-out in July 2016. During his time with HTAnalysts, Colman has provided strategic oversight for over 500 projects in Australia and the Asia Pacific, working with a diverse variety of companies from local start-ups to international pharmaceutical, digital health and medical device companies. During his career, Colman has contributed to over 100 reimbursement submissions and economic modelling projects, respectively, as well as multiple cost and burden of illness studies, clinical guidelines, market access strategy projects and late phase studies.
As part of HTAnalysts role as a member of the Australian Department of Health HTA Panel, Colman has provided guidance and contributed to multiple contracted assessments for Government in diverse areas including genomic screening, investigative technologies such as MRI and therapeutic technologies such as blue-light cystoscopy. In the area of health policy, Colman has worked with industry and not-for-profit organisations contributing to reports in areas such as funding guidelines for rare disease therapies, biosimilars and cancer genomics. Colman is currently President-Elect of the Australian ISPOR Committee and regularly contributes to policy workshops focusing on health technology assessment.
Colman has a strong background in academia and currently holds positions with The George Institute for Global Health (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow) and The University of NSW (Conjoint Senior Lecturer). Colman completed his PhD studies at the George Institute – examining the cost and benefit of helicopter emergency medical services. He has been a lead author or co-author on >40 peer reviewed publications (including The Lancet and NEJM), >45 conference proceedings and has provided several invited speaker presentations. He is also an active reviewer for several international and local journals and has been granted over $15m in peer-reviewed funding through bodies such as the NHMRC.
Twitter: @colmantaylor @georgeinstitute
Jade Mortlock – Randstad National Solutions Manager, Health & Social Care
Highly experienced in contemporary HR & recruitment practices, Jade has provided healthcare talent solutions to public and private healthcare, social and community organisations for more than 13 years. Jade brings a proven track record sourcing outstanding talent for leading employers in the public and private health sector, including NFP and NGO as well as Allied Health, life sciences and academia. Her reputation for successfully identifying key talent for “hard to fill” roles is well established and she has gained broad experience and professional connections throughout her career across Australia and the UK.
Leesa Tongoulidis – RiseSmart Transition Coach
Leesa is a certified executive coach, business mentor and facilitator with extensive experience in culture, leadership, talent, succession planning and workforce strategy. She is a natural connector and a collaborator with a flair for helping people navigate change and achieve their career dreams. With over two decades of experience in front line and senior HR leadership roles across multiple sectors and operating circumstances she has a deep understanding of the systems, people practices and operating circumstances that underpin success. Her coaching approach encompasses adaptive leadership practices and deep self-reflection including strengths assessment, values, purpose, re-imagining skills, capabilities, resume writing and brand management. She has worked with executives, leaders and employees at all stages of the career transition life cycle and is sensitive to the personal and commercial impact that this change often brings. Leesa is a strong advocate and ally of women in leadership and a mentor for women, refugees and teenagers.
Our Table Mentors
TABLE 1: Akanksha Arvind – Research Associate, SpeeDx
Ms Akanksha Arvind works as a Research Associate at the SpeeDx Pty Ltd, which is a molecular diagnostic company developing diagnostics kits for better patient outcomes. Before joining SpeeDx, Ms Arvind worked at the Centenary Research Institute and The University of Sydney as a Research Assistant. She has done MS in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Previously, she has also completed a MS (Pharm) in Pharmacoinformatics from the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research.
Twitter: @speedx
TABLE 2: Dr Annie Quan – Market Access Manager, Bayer Pharmaceuticals
My current role is a Market Access Manager at Bayer Australia. After dedicating 18 years to basic research in immunology, neuroscience, drug discovery and managing a research lab, I transitioned to a career in the pharmaceutical industry 3 years ago to manage how new drugs and health technologies reach the market for patient access via the Australian reimbursement system.
I completed my PhD in neuroscience at the Children’s Medical Research Institute and the University of Sydney and was then awarded an NHMRC Fellowship. During this time, I also completed a Master of Commerce at University of NSW.
I was fortunate to participate as a mentee in the Franklin Women Mentoring Program in 2018. The program was pivotal as it created a professional platform for me to critically evaluate the direction of my research career being a working mum with two young kids. Keeping true to the one continuing driver for my career to date has been my passion to making an impact and improving health outcomes, whether through my own research discoveries or witnessing new technologies improve the well-being of patients. So, I decided to combine my extensive scientific and research experience with my commercial and business economics training to make the move into Market Access. Fortuitously, at a similar Franklin Women breakfast event I made the connections and found the network to guide my transition to my current role. Thank you, FW!
TABLE 3: Dr Carole Ford – Research Solutions Specialist ANZ, BD
Dr Carole Ford is a research scientist with interests in stem cell transplantation, cancer and autoimmune diseases. She joined BD in 2018 and is now the Research Solutions Specialist in the Biosciences Unit. She provides technical support for research instruments and reagents and leads the Single Cell Multi-omics portfolio in Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Ford undertook her PhD at UNSW and Children’s Cancer Institute and focused on cord blood stem cell transplantation. After her PhD, Dr Ford moved to Sweden to continue her research at Lund Stem Cell Center. Back in Australia she worked at Westmead Millennium Institute and then had a science career break after the arrival of her second daughter. During this time she also pursued a creative career by becoming a pastry chef, teaching, ran her own cake decorating business and contributed to a book in the field. She returned to research in 2016 and joined the team at St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research for a few years before making the transition to a commercial role.
Twitter: @DrCarole_F
TABLE 4: Dr Colman Taylor – Co-director HT Analysts
Dr Colman Taylor joined Health Technology Analysts (HTAnalysts, formerly Optum) in May 2014 and was part of a management buy-out in July 2016. During his time with HTAnalysts, Colman has provided strategic oversight for over 500 projects in Australia and the Asia Pacific, working with a diverse variety of companies from local start-ups to international pharmaceutical, digital health and medical device companies. During his career, Colman has contributed to over 100 reimbursement submissions and economic modelling projects, respectively, as well as multiple cost and burden of illness studies, clinical guidelines, market access strategy projects and late phase studies.
As part of HTAnalysts role as a member of the Australian Department of Health HTA Panel, Colman has provided guidance and contributed to multiple contracted assessments for Government in diverse areas including genomic screening, investigative technologies such as MRI and therapeutic technologies such as blue-light cystoscopy. In the area of health policy, Colman has worked with industry and not-for-profit organisations contributing to reports in areas such as funding guidelines for rare disease therapies, biosimilars and cancer genomics. Colman is currently President-Elect of the Australian ISPOR Committee and regularly contributes to policy workshops focusing on health technology assessment.
Colman has a strong background in academia and currently holds positions with The George Institute for Global Health (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow) and The University of NSW (Conjoint Senior Lecturer). Colman completed his PhD studies at the George Institute – examining the cost and benefit of helicopter emergency medical services. He has been a lead author or co-author on >40 peer reviewed publications (including The Lancet and NEJM), >45 conference proceedings and has provided several invited speaker presentations. He is also an active reviewer for several international and local journals and has been granted over $15m in peer-reviewed funding through bodies such as the NHMRC.
Twitter: @colmantaylor @georgeinstitute
TABLE 5: Harriet Swearman – Fertility AI Consultant, Harrison AI
Harriet’s background is in Reproductive Biology and Fertility, having started on this path as an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh in 2005. She completed her Masters in Assisted Reproduction (i.e. IVF) in 2011 and found trainee embryologist roles in IVF clinics in the UK almost non-existent, this prompted her first career pivot and transition into global advisory firm, Deloitte, as a management consultant in their technology advisory business. After 2.5years at Deloitte, then a year at KPMG in Sydney, despite a lot of incredible experiences and learning, there was something lacking and this prompted a second career pivot back to science. Harriet began working as a clinical embryologist in a small IVF clinic in Sydney, and enrolled as a PhD candidate at University of Sydney. Towards the end of 6 years of juggling the two, Harriet was approached by upcoming healthtech startup Harrison.ai, who had pioneered the first product for embryo selection using artificial intelligence. The opportunity to combine her love of fertility medicine, with technology and business in an exciting and dynamic startup was a perfect fit for her experience over the last decade. Harriet is 10 months into her current role and loving it!
Twitter: @Harrr1et
TABLE 6: Hossai Gul – Implementation Practitioner Agency of Clinical Innovation
Hossai Gul is an implementation scientist and practitioner, specialised in individual, organisational, and system behaviour change to enable the translation and implementation of evidence-based interventions. Hossai has worked within the Australian health and medical sector for over 10 years and in that time has transitioned her career twice. First moving from lab-based science to implementation science and then into a research and practice role within government at the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, applying implementation science to advance implementation practice.
Twitter: @HossaiGul, @nswaci, @aihi_mq
TABLE 7: Dr Louisa King – Director of Aperture Insight
Louisa King is the Director of Aperture Insight, an intellectual property searching firm which provides clients with the IP research and market analysis needed to strategically build their businesses.
Before running her own company, Louisa’s career began in the research lab at the University of Sydney where she completed her BSc and PhD degrees in Organic Chemistry. Upon completion of her studies, she transitioned into the IP industry, working as a Trainee Patent Attorney for 4 years before taking time away to have a family.
Like so many women returning to the workforce, Louisa took a change of direction after having children, when she decided to move into an IP Searcher and Analyst role. In this capacity, Louisa conducts patent, design and trade mark searching and analytics, including complex freedom to operate searches in the life science area, competitor landscape intelligence, and provides litigation support.
Today, with 20 years of experience behind her, Louisa is regarded as a leader in this field. Along with the scientific knowhow, which is essential to do this work, her first-hand experience in the lab provided an understanding of the scientific research environment and the challenges and opportunities this presents, which has been invaluable in building her business.
TABLE 8: Dr Maryam Correa - Head of Operations, George Institute Australia
Dr. Maryam Correa is the Head of Operations at The George Institute for Global Health, Australia. She also holds a Conjoint Senior Lecturer appointment with UNSW, Faculty of Medicine, Executive Committee member of Clinical Trials: Impact & Quality (CT:IQ), Chair of AAMRI, Research Strategy Steering Committee, Member of NSW Health, Community of Practice and Advisory member of PRAXIS Training.
She has over 19 years of experience in clinical research and has previously lead activities within Australia as the Head of Academic Project Operations, Manager of Global Internal Training (Research and Project Operations), Lead Project Manager in Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Trial Specialist in the therapeutic fields of leukaemia, lung cancer, COPD and as a Clinical Trial Coordinator and Research Officer in the therapeutic fields of gastroenterology and hepatic disease. Her career transition has been across Academia, Industry, MRI/NFP and Leadership. Maryam is a lifetime member of Franklin Women (FW) and one of 2019 FW Mentors.
Twitter: @georgeinstitute
TABLE 9: Dr Melanie Zeppel - Data Scientist, Westpac
Dr Melanie Zeppel is a data scientist, who transitioned out of academia into industry early in 2020. She completed her PhD in 2005, in climate change and tree responses to drought, and she has worked in modelling vegetation responses to climate, health economics, and genomic medicine. She has over 62 peer-reviewed publications and an H index of 32, however she decided to move to industry immediately before Covid, for greater career stability and progression, and has since enjoyed the opportunities provided there. She is passionate about supporting women in STEMM, and is the parent of two teenage daughters, an ex-marathon runner, and the owner of a Covid Greyhouse rescue dog called Gracie.
Twitter: @MelanieZeppel
TABLE 10: Dr Sarah Furlong – Neurodegenerative Disease Biobank Manager, Macquarie University
Sarah earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine with a focus on the genetics of Schizophrenia and Autism spectrum disorders, from Trinity College Dublin, in 2013. Following this, she gained a quality control position with an analytical science company. In 2014, Sarah made the decision to move to Brisbane to work as a genomics research officer between the Queensland Institute of Molecular Medicine and the Queensland Brain Institute. This is where her passion for biobanking and research facilitation began.
In 2015, Sarah took on the role of biobank manager at Macquarie University where she oversees clinical and laboratory operations, data management and governance of biobanks and data registries. Sarah primarily manages the Neurodegenerative Disease Biobank, the backbone of the research program at the Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research.
Twitter: @mnd_mq
A big thank you to our event partner Randstad RiseSmart
