No matter where you are within the health and medical research ecosystem, you can’t have missed the increasing chatter about ‘commercialisation’. From action plans and reports, to policies, and various accelerators and incubators!
Despite this, many in our sector are unsure if research commercialisation is relevant to their work, or feel that it is diverting much needed attention away from essential exploratory research. And even if you do find yourself keen to engage in the commercialisation pathway, knowing where to start and how to go about it can be overwhelming.
For this event, we have pulled together a star panel who bring a breadth of experiences and perspectives on research commercialisation. They will discuss whether this focus on commercialisation is here to stay, ways to embed it into your future career/research plan, and the various resources and opportunities available to support you on this journey. This is a particularly important discussion for women who are already under-represented in all things commercialisation, which impacts not only on our future opportunities in the sector but also upon how well commercialised research addresses women’s health outcomes.
We are looking forward to connecting with you – our wonderful community of women working in diverse roles across the health and medical research ecosystem – whether you choose to join us in person or via our livestream.
Event Information
Date & Time
Wednesday 11 May 2022
5.30 – 8.30pm
(Proceedings & Livestream start at 6.00pm)
Venue
Level 2/11 York St, Sydney NSW 2000
OR join the Live Stream
In Person
Members – $50
Non-members – $80
* Your ticket includes food and drinks!
Live Stream
Members – $20
Non-members – $35
Our Speaker
Dr Katja Beitat – Head of Health Tech at Cicada Innovations, Australia’s home for deep tech
Katja is an experienced entrepreneur, researcher and executive working within the healthcare industry for 16 years, both in Australia and internationally.
Katja is passionate about helping innovators accelerate technological transformation in healthcare at scale, and solve the many complex problems that need to be addressed to maintain and improve our healthcare system. As well as helping to bring the world class innovations conceptualised in Australia to a wider market.
Twitter: @CicadaInnov
Our Panelists
Dr Teresa Anderson - Chief Executive at Sydney Local Health District
Dr Teresa Anderson has more than 35 years experience as a clinician and health service executive. She has a well-established reputation for implementing strategies to foster innovation and best practice, supporting collaboration and building partnerships.
She is an internationally recognised Speech Pathologist and is passionate about developing programs and services to support and improve the health and wellbeing of all people in the community. Dr Anderson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2018.
Dr Anderson is a member of seven Medical Research Institutes, Health and Primary Health Network boards and is an active member of the Sydney Health Partners Governing Council and Executive Management Group, one of the first four centres in Australia designated by the NHMRC as an Advanced Health Research Translation Centre.
Twitter: @SydneyLHD
Dr Linda Kennaugh - Principal, Wrays
Prior to joining the patent profession, I spent ten years in research and completed my PhD in the field of biochemistry.
During that time, I worked within the University of Western Australia on a number of research projects, including studying the role of various proteins in the development of respiratory diseases, investigating the role of cytochrome P450 and esterases in the development of pesticide resistance.
Now, qualified as both a Patent Attorney and a Trade Marks Attorney, I practise predominantly in the area of patents across Australia and New Zealand. I have extensive experience in drafting patent specifications, patent prosecution, and oppositions on behalf of both local and overseas clients. I also have extensive experience in providing patent validity and freedom to operate assessments, as well as providing patent litigation support.
My practice focuses on the life sciences sector where I primarily work with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university researchers and direct pharmaceutical companies, both locally and overseas.
The outcomes I deliver for my clients include gaining patent protection, enforcement of patent rights via opposition proceedings, and assistance with patent litigation. This translates to value through cost-effective, strategic decision-making together with my knowledge of Australian and New Zealand law.
I thoroughly enjoy using my knowledge and experience to assist my clients, as well as interacting with the inventors and their technology. I firmly believe that this interest in my client’s achievements assists with gaining the best protection for their inventions.
Twitter: @Wrays
Dr Cindy Shu - MTP Connect REDI Fellow, Kolling Institute
Dr Cindy Shu had long been fascinated in science. She loves nature and scientific documentaries and was always curious in how things worked. She studied the biological sciences at uni and had the good fortune to have been accepted to undertake an honours project of her choice, and later a PhD, both in biotechnology at UNSW. However, her project on cell-line engineering for optimised production of biologics didn’t appeal to her curiosity and her aspirations to contribute, so after her PhD she chose a career in medical research. In 2008 she joined the Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Labs at the Kolling Institute, under the guidance of Prof Chris Little, investigating the mechanisms and treatment options of musculoskeletal diseases primarily on osteoarthritis as well as intervertebral degeneration and tendinopathy. As the years go by it became challenging to have a sustainable academic career path – the all-too-familiar story of many EMCRs – again fortune was on her side, as she got to assess weigh up her options and capabilities with the help of Franklin Women’s program in 2021. Serendipitously in the same year she received a REDI Fellowship in collaboration with Regeneus to evaluate the efficacy of their proprietary product on preclinical model of osteoarthritis. She is currently analysing data while doing more preliminary work for their NHMRC Ideas Grant Application. Outside of science she loves to cook, eat, seeing the world, be humble by nature, and is a proud Ravenclaw who dwells in Middle Earth.
Nirelle Tolstoshev - Managing Director, Organon ANZ
Nirelle Tolstoshev is the Managing Director of Organon ANZ, the largest biopharmaceutical company dedicated to women’s health.
Since starting her career in cancer research, she has held commercial roles across most therapeutic areas in the pharmaceutical industry.
She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Gene Therapy, an MBA and also completed the Company Directors course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2021.
Nirelle is also a Non-Executive Director with the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Foundation.
Nirelle is married with twin fourteen year old boys and lives in Sydney.
Twitter: @NirelleT
Dr Julie Wheway - Manager, Strategic Engagement, gemaker
An experienced commercialisation specialist, facilitator and mentor with over 8 years’ experience at the interface of research and industry after a successful 15 year career in medical research.
Dr Julie Wheway combines her passions for scientific research, science communication and technology transfer. Her strong marketing and communications skills come from extensive commercial experience in the education and science sectors.
Julie helps to take new ideas to market by developing and implementing commercialisation, funding and marketing strategies for research organisations and innovative businesses. She also trains researchers to navigate the cultural differences between academia and business and develops and facilitates networking events to promote and enable research-industry collaboration. Julie previously worked as a researcher and lecturer in immunology at the University of Sydney.
Julie’s 15 year academic career saw her complete a PhD in Immunology at UNSW before going on to become a Young Garvan Post-doctoral Fellow in 2006, and an NHMRC Post-doctoral Fellow in 2009. During her eight years at the Garvan Institute of Medical research, Julie was named the 2004 QANTAS Australia Young Scientist of the year.
A big thank you to our event partner Wrays
