Members of PIC
Dr Anna Lavelle
Dr Anna Lavelle was appointed inaugural Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of AusBiotech Ltd in June 2005. AusBiotech is the peak industry body for biotechnology and has over 2,400 members.
Since that time she has focused the organisation on industry development, policy formulation, business matching and international alliances. She is currently a member of the Pharmaceuticals Industry Council, a Ministerial appointment on the Medical Devices Industry Action Agenda and various government committees associated with biotechnology.
Previously Dr Lavelle was a Senior Executive with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS), commencing in 1998 as Director responsible for Strategic Planning and Business Development. In 2002, Dr Lavelle was appointed Director of Intellectual Capital and was responsible for management of the national research and development program, evaluation of emerging technologies and international and national business development activities including technology transfer and intellectual property management.
Prior to joining ARCBS, Dr Lavelle held positions of Chief Executive Officer of a public health organisation, Industry Lobbyist for a member organisation and commenced employment as an academic at Monash University, Melbourne.
Dr Lavelle holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics from the University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Will Delaat
With over 30 years experience in the pharmaceuticals industry, Will Delaat has held a variety of roles both in Europe and Australia, and across three different multinational companies. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) from London University (Chemistry/Physiology). Will Delaat has been the Managing Director of Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) Pty Limited since April, 1997 and had previously held the position of Sales & Marketing Director since 1990.
MSD has built a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in western Sydney, where it produces most of the $500 million of products sold into the Australian market, and also approximately $1 billion worth of product for export markets, having become Australia's largest exporter of pharmaceuticals. Domestically, MSD is one of the largest suppliers of medicines to the Australian PBS Scheme.
MSD also invests heavily in R & D in Australia. Not only does it run a large Phase II/III clinical research programme, but also has signed research agreements with organisations such as CSL Limited/Uniquest and Zenyth Therapeutics Limited to license and develop important medicines/vaccines.
Will has been on the Board of Medicines Australia (formerly the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association) since 1997, Vice-Chairman 1999 - 2002 and was Chairman from 2003-2005. During his tenure as Chairman, he co-chaired the taskforce which implemented the pharmaceuticals provisions of the AUSFTA. Will is also on the Board of The Pharmaceutical Alliance (a consortium of three research-based pharmaceutical companies - GSK, Lilly & MSD), and was recently appointed Chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Industry Council (PIC), the peak body of industry associations representing the key players across the pharmaceuticals value chain.
Sue MacLeman
Sue MacLeman has extensive international senior management and leadership experience in product development and commercialization in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector.
Sue graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Queensland in 1984. In addition to pharmacy qualifications, Sue MacLeman has completed a Fellowship with the Australian College of Pharmacy Practice, Masters of Marketing at Melbourne University (Melbourne Business School) and is currently enrolled in a Masters of Commercial Law at Deakin University. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Director of AusBiotech Ltd.
In 1991 she joined the pharmaceutical industry with Schering Plough in the biotechnology business unit. She then went on to work with Amgen Inc and Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals in the areas of medical, marketing, sales management and business development. In 2002 she took up the position of global Vice President for Agenix Ltd where she was responsible for the product development of the molecular clot imaging project. From 2004 to 2006 she was the CEO of a publicly listed biotechnology and investment company EQiTX Ltd. She joined Benitec Ltd as CEO in September 2006.
Mr Ian Chalmers
Ian Chalmers was appointed Chief Executive of Medicines Australia on 4 September 2006. In this role, he represents the national interests of the research and innovation based prescription pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry.
Previous appointments over the past 16 years include leadership of national associations representing local government, private hospitals and life insurance intermediaries.
Mr Chalmers has also worked as a policy and research adviser within the Parliamentary Library and as a government relations consultant.
Earlier in his career, he spent 10 years as an officer in the Australian Army. This involved service in tank and armoured cavalry regiments, in both Australia and Europe, instructional roles at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and at the Royal Military College, Duntroon and staff appointments within the Department of Defence in Canberra.
AUSBIOTECH
AusBiotech is Australia's Biotechnology Industry Organisation, which represents over 2,550 members, covering human health, agricultural, medical devices, bioinformatics, environmental and industrial sectors in biotechnology.
AusBiotech is dedicated to the development, growth and prosperity of the Australian biotechnology industry, by providing initiatives to drive sustainability and growth, outreach and access to markets, and representation and support for members nationally and around the world.
AusBiotech has representation in each Australian state providing a national network to support members and promote the commercialisation of Australian bioscience in the national and international marketplaces. The structure is a not-for-profit limited guarantee company managed by a Board elected by members, under a constitution that is available on request from National Office.
Our membership base includes biotechnology companies, ranging from start-ups to mature multinationals, research institutes and universities, specialist service professionals, corporate, institutional, individual and student members from Australia and globally.
In assessing the current needs and issues faced by Australia's core biotechnology companies, AusBiotech's Strategic Business Plan addresses the requirements to build an appropriate environment to enable companies to grow, help them globalise and position Australia as a significant biotechnology industry for increasing international investment and interest.
Generic Medicines Industry Association (GMIA)
The GMiA began in 2001 and currently has six members - Alphapharm, Arrow (Sigma), Genepharm, GenRx, Mayne and Sandoz - each of whom is strongly committed to the generic medicines industry.
The goal of the GMiA is to increase the use and acceptance of generic medicines in Australia by health professionals and consumers to the level in other developed countries, that is 50% of the total market units from the current level of 25%.
GMiA members:
- Supply over 25% of all the prescriptions dispensed under the PBS;
- Employ around 5,000 people, a significant number being tertiary qualified;
- Are significant investors in R&D in Australia;
- Export generic medicines to Asia, Europe, Canada, USA and New Zealand;
- Have delivered savings to the PBS through generic price reductions of approximately $3 billion to date, and
- Estimate that these savings will exceed $8 billion by 2010 due to the many anticipated patent expiries between 2005 and 2010
As a matter of basic principle the GMiA:
- Supports the PBS and its long term affordability and its underlying mechanism of reference pricing;
- Supports the principles of the Quality Use of Medicines;
- Supports the development of policies that ensure access to pharmaceutical care for all Australians;
- Encourages professional awareness and general knowledge of the safety, quality and efficacy of generic medicines; and
- Promotes balanced and generic friendly intellectual property rights in the pharmaceuticals sector that enable timely access to generic medicines.
MEDICINES AUSTRALIA
Medicines Australia represents the innovative medicines industry in Australia. Our member companies represent more than 90 percent of the prescription market, and are engaged in the research, development, manufacture, marketing and export of prescription medicines.
Medicines Australia is committed to enhancing the health of Australians by providing medicines of the highest quality, safety and efficacy.
A viable, diverse, research-based pharmaceutical industry operating in a competitive healthcare market is essential to achieving optimal patient health and well-being, while making a significant contribution to the Australian economy. Our industry is a high technology, knowledge-intensive industry, contributing significantly to the Australian economy as an employer and exporter.
Taskforces:
The PIC has responsibility for three sub-groups: the Industry Policy Development Taskforce, the R&D Taskforce and the Pharmaceuticals Education Council. These groups carry out work, under the PIC banner, relevant to their specific area and comprise members with expertise in the fields of health and industry policy, R&D and biopharmaceutical/science education.
