2025 Women in Leadership Awards Celebration
November 12 @ 3:30 pm - 5:45 pm AEDT
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The 2025 Women in Leadership Awards Celebration aims to inspire and encourage nominations for the upcoming Women in Leadership Awards.
This event will bring together industry leaders, past award recipients, and the broader BioMelbourne Network community to celebrate the achievements of women in leadership roles within the healthtech industry.
By showcasing the impact of previous award winners and highlighting the importance of recognising female leadership, we hope to drive awareness and motivate individuals to nominate deserving candidates for the 2025 awards.
Date: Tuesday 12 November 2024
Time (AEDT):
3:30 pm: Guest arrival and registration
3:45 pm: Welcome, keynote and panel discussion
4:45 pm: Networking function
5:45 pm: Close
Venue: Allens, 37/101 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Keynote speaker: Dr Emma Ball, Head of Illumina for Startups Australia, Illumina
Panelists:
Professor Mimi Tang, Director Allergy Translation and Group Leader, Allergy Immunology, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Scientific Founder and CEO, Prota Therapeutics; and Founder/Director, AllergyPal
Professor Michelle McIntosh, Director Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Monash University; Co-Founder, Monash Quality of Medicines Initiative; and Leader, Inhaled Oxytocin Project
Dr Amanda Vrselja, Program Head, CUREator, Brandon BioCatalyst
Facilitator and host: Caroline Ryan, Partner, Allens
BioMelbourne Network host: Karen Parr, CEO, BioMelbourne Network
Registration
In-person: Members $95; Non Members $195
Online: Members $25; Non Members $45
Unsure if your organisation is a member? Check our member directory.
Cancellation policy:
In person registration:
Full refund given up to 7 days prior to the event
No refunds within 7 days of the event
Online registration:
Full refund given up to 3 days prior to the event
No refunds within 3 days of the event
This event is delivered in partnership with Allens.
Dr Emma Ball, Head of Illumina for Startups Australia, Illumina
Dr Emma Ball is Head of Illumina for Startups Australia, a local expansion of the global company creation and growth engine of US genomics company, Illumina (NASDAQ: ILMN). Emma is responsible for supporting founders and building the ecosystem of entrepreneurs and investors to create, launch and grow genomics and omics start-ups in Australia.
As part of the role, Emma is Entrepreneur in Residence for The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (TAGC), a partnership between Illumina and the University of Melbourne. The TAGC aims to improve patient outcomes by increasing genomics innovation and its translation and adoption into the health system.
Prior to joining Illumina, Emma was at biotherapeutics and vaccines company, CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) for 15 years, most recently as Global Head of Search & Evaluation and Director Strategy & Business Development. Previous roles at CSL include corporate strategy, commercial development, R&D program management and alliance management. Before CSL, Emma worked in project management in small biotech businesses, both ASX-listed (Prima Biomed, now Immutep) and private (Prostate Diagnostics).
Beyond her role at Illumina, Emma is Non-Executive Director at Startup Shakeup Ltd. She is a mentor for Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS) and a member of Springboard Enterprises (SBE) Australia’s Life Sciences Council, the AusBiotech Victorian state committee, and several angel investor groups.
Emma trained as a molecular biologist and gained her PhD in medicine (research) from the University of Melbourne, followed by postdoctoral studies in oncology and endocrinology at Monash University. She holds an MBA from RMIT University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Wade Institute’s Venture Capital Catalyst program.
As part of the role, Emma is Entrepreneur in Residence for The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (TAGC), a partnership between Illumina and the University of Melbourne. The TAGC aims to improve patient outcomes by increasing genomics innovation and its translation and adoption into the health system.
Prior to joining Illumina, Emma was at biotherapeutics and vaccines company, CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) for 15 years, most recently as Global Head of Search & Evaluation and Director Strategy & Business Development. Previous roles at CSL include corporate strategy, commercial development, R&D program management and alliance management. Before CSL, Emma worked in project management in small biotech businesses, both ASX-listed (Prima Biomed, now Immutep) and private (Prostate Diagnostics).
Beyond her role at Illumina, Emma is Non-Executive Director at Startup Shakeup Ltd. She is a mentor for Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS) and a member of Springboard Enterprises (SBE) Australia’s Life Sciences Council, the AusBiotech Victorian state committee, and several angel investor groups.
Emma trained as a molecular biologist and gained her PhD in medicine (research) from the University of Melbourne, followed by postdoctoral studies in oncology and endocrinology at Monash University. She holds an MBA from RMIT University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Wade Institute’s Venture Capital Catalyst program.
Professor Mimi Tang, Director, Allergy Translation and Group Leader, Allergy Immunology, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Scientific Founder and CEO, Prota Therapeutics; and Founder/Director, AllergyPal.
Mimi is globally recognised for her leadership in allergy and immunology. She has made exceptional contributions to the understanding and treatment of food allergies that are impacting clinical practice and research.
Mimi is a pioneer who has transformed allergy management by making remission of allergies a tangible reality. Her extensive publications have earned her recognition as one of the top 1% of highly cited researchers in immunology, globally.
Mimi’s tenacity and her passion for innovation have enabled her to fearlessly transition from academia into senior biotech commercialisation roles, culminating in the founding of Prota Therapeutics, a biotech company that is developing novel oral immunotherapy treatments for food allergy.
Through her unwavering pursuit of excellence and commitment to mentoring, Mimi continues to shape the future of allergy management and inspire the next generation of clinician-researchers and entrepreneurs.
Mimi is a pioneer who has transformed allergy management by making remission of allergies a tangible reality. Her extensive publications have earned her recognition as one of the top 1% of highly cited researchers in immunology, globally.
Mimi’s tenacity and her passion for innovation have enabled her to fearlessly transition from academia into senior biotech commercialisation roles, culminating in the founding of Prota Therapeutics, a biotech company that is developing novel oral immunotherapy treatments for food allergy.
Through her unwavering pursuit of excellence and commitment to mentoring, Mimi continues to shape the future of allergy management and inspire the next generation of clinician-researchers and entrepreneurs.
Professor Michelle McIntosh, Director, Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Monash University; Co-Founder, Monash Quality of Medicines Initiative; and Leader, Inhaled Oxytocin Project.
Michelle is a highly driven, supportive and compassionate leader who builds inclusive and safe work environments centred around teamwork and shared ownership of outcomes.
Michelle is recognised internationally for her unwavering commitment to improving access to safe and affordable medications in low-and middle-income countries, mainly in maternal health. This is highlighted by the Inhaled Oxytocin Project, a program dedicated to developing a heat-stable, powder formulation of oxytocin, that, when inhaled, protects mothers from postpartum haemorrhage. This is a condition which causes around 70,000 deaths globally each year.
In 2017, Michelle was the driving force behind the formation of Monash University’s Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, which was established in partnership with the Victorian Government to provide bespoke research and training services for the local biotech ecosystem and stimulate collaboration.
The expansion of the Centre to Monash’s Clayton campus – funded through an $8.58 million investment from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund – will allow the scale-up of medicine manufacturing capability, support clinical trials, and grow exports and jobs.
Michelle is recognised internationally for her unwavering commitment to improving access to safe and affordable medications in low-and middle-income countries, mainly in maternal health. This is highlighted by the Inhaled Oxytocin Project, a program dedicated to developing a heat-stable, powder formulation of oxytocin, that, when inhaled, protects mothers from postpartum haemorrhage. This is a condition which causes around 70,000 deaths globally each year.
In 2017, Michelle was the driving force behind the formation of Monash University’s Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, which was established in partnership with the Victorian Government to provide bespoke research and training services for the local biotech ecosystem and stimulate collaboration.
The expansion of the Centre to Monash’s Clayton campus – funded through an $8.58 million investment from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund – will allow the scale-up of medicine manufacturing capability, support clinical trials, and grow exports and jobs.
Dr Amanda Vrselja, Program Head, CUREator, Brandon BioCatalyst.
Amanda has led the program’s novel design, which combines funding delivered like an investor with access to expert networks, training and hands-on support. This enables projects to reach key development milestones and enhances their capability and capacity to succeed.
In a short time, Amanda has led CUREator through a period of rapid growth, hiring and leading a highly talented team, establishing and supporting national and international investment committees, managing stakeholders from government to industry organisations, and engaging with applicants and commercialisation teams from medical research institutes, universities and start-ups across the country.
Amanda is recognised for her leadership, strong technical skills and deep knowledge of the start-up sector.
Amanda’s dedication to research translation and commercialisation, coupled with her passion for mentoring, are testament to her commitment to advancing others and the sector.
Amanda’s collaborative approach, underscored by her values-driven leadership and unwavering commitment to innovation, position her as a dynamic emerging leader in Australia’s growing life sciences industry.
In a short time, Amanda has led CUREator through a period of rapid growth, hiring and leading a highly talented team, establishing and supporting national and international investment committees, managing stakeholders from government to industry organisations, and engaging with applicants and commercialisation teams from medical research institutes, universities and start-ups across the country.
Amanda is recognised for her leadership, strong technical skills and deep knowledge of the start-up sector.
Amanda’s dedication to research translation and commercialisation, coupled with her passion for mentoring, are testament to her commitment to advancing others and the sector.
Amanda’s collaborative approach, underscored by her values-driven leadership and unwavering commitment to innovation, position her as a dynamic emerging leader in Australia’s growing life sciences industry.
Caroline Ryan, Partner, Allens
Caroline is a partner of Allens.
With the Allens Intellectual Property and Patents and Trade Mark Attorneys’ team, Caroline works with clients from research, technology and brand-based industries, ranging from associations to multinationals, and sectors that include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
Caroline has over 15 years’ experience advising on all aspects of intellectual property law and has acted in court proceedings involving patents, trade marks and copyright infringement, misuse of confidential information, misleading and deceptive conduct and passing off.
Working closely with clients to develop strategies for the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of IP rights, Caroline has conducted and defended urgent applications for preliminary injunctions, ex parte search orders and expedited substantive proceedings.
Most recently, Caroline acted in Australia’s first preliminary injunction application and expedited patent infringement and revocation proceedings in relation to monoclonal antibody biosimilars.
Caroline has consistently been recognised as a next generation partner for Intellectual Property in Australia by Legal 500 (2017 to 2021 inclusive), Best Lawyers and as a Rising Star in Intellectual Property by Doyle’s Guide.
Caroline is a recent past Chair of the Stella Prize which champions gender equality and awards an annual prize celebrating Australian women’s writing.
With the Allens Intellectual Property and Patents and Trade Mark Attorneys’ team, Caroline works with clients from research, technology and brand-based industries, ranging from associations to multinationals, and sectors that include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
Caroline has over 15 years’ experience advising on all aspects of intellectual property law and has acted in court proceedings involving patents, trade marks and copyright infringement, misuse of confidential information, misleading and deceptive conduct and passing off.
Working closely with clients to develop strategies for the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of IP rights, Caroline has conducted and defended urgent applications for preliminary injunctions, ex parte search orders and expedited substantive proceedings.
Most recently, Caroline acted in Australia’s first preliminary injunction application and expedited patent infringement and revocation proceedings in relation to monoclonal antibody biosimilars.
Caroline has consistently been recognised as a next generation partner for Intellectual Property in Australia by Legal 500 (2017 to 2021 inclusive), Best Lawyers and as a Rising Star in Intellectual Property by Doyle’s Guide.
Caroline is a recent past Chair of the Stella Prize which champions gender equality and awards an annual prize celebrating Australian women’s writing.
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