AusBiotech and Medicines Australia have today announced the members of their newly established Advanced Therapies Advisory Group.
The Advisory Group will provide input into strategic initiatives that will support Australia's growing advanced therapies industry, focusing on the findings of the 2025 Australian Cell and Gene Therapies Innovation Investment Report – produced in partnership between AusBiotech, Medicines Australia and Deloitte. The Group will focus on topics related to policy development, advocacy and industry enablement specific to the cell and gene sector in Australia.
In forming the Advisory Group, AusBiotech and Medicines Australia are collaborating to elevate and unify the voice of Australia's advanced therapies sector.
We recognise the important role of the newly created Solutions for Manufacturing Advanced Regenerative Therapies Cooperative Research Centre (SMART CRC). For this reason, SMART CRC CEO Simon Cool has been invited to join the Group as its inaugural Chair.
Membership comprises senior representatives drawn from across the AusBiotech and Medicines Australia membership bases. They are:
- Simon Cool, CEO, SMART CRC (Chair)
- Brendon Boot, CEO, Skin2Neuron
- Helen Dodds, Clinical Trials Startup Lead, Sanofi
- Shanny Dyer, Director, Rheumagen Australia
- Dominic Fernandez, Scientific Lead Cell Therapy and Immunotherapy, Epworth Healthcare
- Cecile Francis, Director of Partnerships, UniQuest
- Kathy Gibson, Executive Director Strategic Medical Engagement, Eli Lilly
- Dylan Jones, Country Head of Value and Access, Novartis
- Umesh Nair, Major Account Manager, Merck Life Science
- Jasmine Oberwalleney, APAC CAR-T Launch Director, Miltenyi Biotec Australia
- Gretchen Poortinga, Program Operations Director, Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
- Oona Reardon, Director, Pulse Economics Consulting
- Warwick Shaw, Market Access Cell and Gene Therapies, Johnson & Johnson
- Rebecca Stratford, Head of Market Access, Oncology, AstraZeneca
- Stephen Thompson, Chief Executive Director, Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility
AusBiotech CEO, Rebekah Cassidy:
"The new Advanced Therapies Advisory Group will play a key role in developing and advocating for policy outcomes that help to grow Australia's position as a leader in advanced therapies. AusBiotech is delighted to be collaborating with Medicines Australia to bring the collective expertise of our members together with the SMART CRC. Together we can strengthen opportunities for unified national discussion regarding the development of this sector and, importantly, enable improved Australian patient access to cell and gene technologies."
Medicines Australia CEO, Elizabeth de Somer:
"Collaboration is essential to maintain momentum in the delivery of advanced therapies – cell and gene technologies – to the community. This Advisory Group represents a very important step forward in unifying industry and other stakeholders to consider and address critical policies and delivery mechanisms to ensure we fully harness and maximise these important therapeutics now and into the future."
SMART CRC CEO, Professor Simon Cool:
"The SMART CRC is delighted to join AusBiotech as the voice of 63 partners advancing Australia's regenerative therapy manufacturing capability. With a decade-long pipeline of collaborative projects, we are committed to translating therapies to patients. Partnering with AusBiotech and Medicines Australia is a critical step towards accelerating medical innovation, creating jobs, and building a highly skilled workforce. We look forward to working together to deliver a lasting national impact."
The Advisory Group will provide a unified voice to government, industry, and the community, ensuring Australia seizes the opportunity to become a leading hub for advanced therapies and delivers better health outcomes for patients.
This announcement follows an expression of interest process open to AusBiotech and Medicines Australia members in late 2025.
