Dr James Campbell, CEO & Managing Director, Patrys Limited, has been appointed as Chair of AusBiotech following a unanimous vote of the Board.
Dr Campbell was initially appointed as a Non-Executive Director of AusBiotech in April 2021 and has been interim Chair since November 2023. During this time, he has brought significant focus to AusBiotech’s role as the leading voice to government, investors and the international community on behalf of Australia’s growing life sciences sector. His appointment as Chair comes following a unanimous request from, and vote of, the Board.
Comments from AusBiotech Chair, Dr James Campbell
“It’s an extraordinary privilege to be appointed Chair of AusBiotech and to lead our organisation in partnership with the Board and our CEO, Rebekah Cassidy, at such a pivotal time for our members.”
“As Australia’s biotech, medtech, and diagnostics companies scale up and out, it’s crucial that AusBiotech continues to strengthen its role as the informed, leading and trusted voice of our sector. Our strategic trajectory over the coming years must be one of growth and transformation for the benefit of our members.
“With Australia continuing to modernise its economy and bring national focus to its sovereign capabilities in key industries including life sciences, AusBiotech has the opportunity to deliver a collaborative, clear and aligned voice that supports investment attraction and commercialisation success.
“I’m grateful to my fellow Board members for their invitation to become Chair and their unanimous support. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them, our CEO, and the dedicated AusBiotech team to achieve our goals.”
Comments from AusBiotech CEO, Rebekah Cassidy
“James’ expansive leadership experience combined with his hands on expertise in commercialising and licensing innovative therapies for patient benefit is of immense value as we build a strong platform for AusBiotech’s renewed strategy.”
“As AusBiotech focuses on how we can collaboratively build the sector’s capabilities and capacity, Board understanding of the opportunities and challenges along the development pathway is critical.
“I’m personally grateful to James and the Board for their support over recent weeks. I’m looking forward to working closely as we lead a new way forward with our committed AusBiotech team.”
About Dr James Campbell
Dr Campbell brings nearly 30 years of international biotechnology management and leadership experience to the AusBiotech Board. He has been involved in the creation and/or transformation of several Australian and international biotechnology companies and is currently the CEO of Patrys Limited (ASX:PAB), an ASX-listed biotech company developing novel antibody therapeutics. Dr Campbell is focused on developing the company’s deoxymab platform where he plans to take Patrys’ lead candidate, PAT-DX1, through clinical trials shortly.
He was previously the CFO and COO of ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX:CXS), where, as a member of the executive team, he was responsible for intellectual property management, licensing, and business development, and helped transform the research-based company with a market capitalization of $10M to a company with completed clinical trials and regulatory dossiers submitted to the FDA and EMA. In 2011 ChemGenex was sold to Cephalon for $230M.
Dr Campbell was a foundation executive of Evolve Biosystems and executive director of Invion Limited, and has assisted private biotechnology companies in Australia, New Zealand and the USA with successful capital raising and partnering negotiations. Dr Campbell is currently a Non-Executive Director of Prescient Therapeutics Limited (ASX:PTX), and has previously sat on university and CRC advisory boards and commercialisation committees as well as government advisory panels and investment committees of several biotech VCs.
The AusBiotech Board
- Chair: Dr James Campbell, CEO, Patrys Ltd
- Deputy Chair: Ms Erica Kneipp, Research Director, Human Health, CSIRO
- Risk and Audit Sub-Committee, Chair: Dr Megan Baldwin, Chief Innovation Officer, Opthea Ltd (ASX:OPT)
- Remuneration and Nomination Sub-Committee, Chair Dr Dean Moss, CEO, UniQuest Pty Ltd
- Dr Marthe D’Ombrain, Head of Global Research Innovation, CSL Ltd
- Dr Iris Depaz, Country Medical Lead & Head of Medical, Vaccines, Sanofi Australia & New Zealand
- Professor John Skerritt, Enterprise Professor in Health Research Impact, University of Melbourne
- Dr Liz Dallimore, CEO & Managing Director, Argenica Therapeutics Ltd
- Dell Kingsford Smith, VP, Medical Affairs, Market Access & Government Affairs, Cochlear (Board Observer)
- Ms Rebekah Cassidy, CEO, AusBiotech
