As WEHI's first Venture Scientist, my role builds upon my previous responsibilities as Entrepreneur Scientist and extends to WEHI's strategic commercialisation fund (66ten Fund). Under WEHI Ventures, my expanded role includes opportunity evaluation, due diligence of investment proposals, design and development of R&D plans as well as management of 66ten portfolio programs and formation and development of new ventures (e.g. spin-outs).

In this hybrid scientific/business role, I was responsible for managing a portfolio of translational cancer immunotherapy programs within WEHI. Key tasks included interfacing with academic scientists, service providers, investors and pharma, as well as facilitating the development of R&D and commercialisation plans.

I advise on strategic, scientific, team and operations-related matters to enable successful execution of Exogene's R&D programs. I work closely with the CEO, CTO and Director of R&D.

As Head of R&D at Exogene, I oversaw all scientific projects, led a team of 4 lab scientists and was responsible for day-to-day operations. I was a key member of the founding team, working closely with the CEO and CTO to design and drive the R&D strategy and vision for the company as well as establish company culture and operations.

As the first employee at an AI-TCR therapy start-up, I was responsible for setting up the laboratory from scratch, planning the R&D strategy, establishing the platform technology and performing proof-of-concept experiments. As part of my role, I engaged with a multitude of stakeholders including scientific advisors, facilities and suppliers. I also recruited the scientific team, oversaw health & safety and managed the lab operations.

Within the Antibody Research Group, my role was diverse and multidisciplinary. It ranged from investigating the half-life of molecules and TCR-mimicking antibodies through protein engineering to developing high-throughput methods of protein purification and cell screening, as well as generating of cell line tools using CRISPR.

During this part-time secondment, I optimised and performed cellular assays as part of a pre-clinical package testing therapeutic molecules targeting HIV.

During this part-time secondment, I was responsible for supporting the operations and logistics associated with decommissioning an off-site Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratory and the commissioning of a new on-site CL3 lab. This included co-ordinating asset management and relocation, supporting the CL3 scientists in their laboratory needs and liaising with key groups such as Health & Safety. The new CL3 facility was built on-time despite unprecedented circumstances. In addition, as a trained… Show more During this part-time secondment, I was responsible for supporting the operations and logistics associated with decommissioning an off-site Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratory and the commissioning of a new on-site CL3 lab. This included co-ordinating asset management and relocation, supporting the CL3 scientists in their laboratory needs and liaising with key groups such as Health & Safety. The new CL3 facility was built on-time despite unprecedented circumstances. In addition, as a trained CL3 user, I assisted with experiments within the CL3 facility to accelerate programme progress. Show less

As a protein scientist, I developed novel recombinant TCR-based therapeutics against infectious diseases, HIV, HBV and TB. My work ranged from TCR characterisation through to protein engineering where I have significant expertise in protein expression, purification and ligand interaction analysis. Utilising my cell biology skills, I was also involved in viral and cellular assays performed in a CL3 laboratory as part of a pre-clinical package.My secondary role at Immunocore as a mass… Show more As a protein scientist, I developed novel recombinant TCR-based therapeutics against infectious diseases, HIV, HBV and TB. My work ranged from TCR characterisation through to protein engineering where I have significant expertise in protein expression, purification and ligand interaction analysis. Utilising my cell biology skills, I was also involved in viral and cellular assays performed in a CL3 laboratory as part of a pre-clinical package.My secondary role at Immunocore as a mass spectrometry technical coordinator involved liaising with the proteomics team and providing technical advice and interpretation of data on mass spectrometry projects, drawing on my extensive experience in the field of immunopeptidomics. Show less

Continuing work in field of immunopeptidomics and in collaboration with Evaxion Biotech, I identified bacterial MHC peptides presented by DCs in the context of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

I undertook my PhD in the Purcell Lab (Immunoproteomics) where I investigated various facets of bat immunity using a proteomic approach. I was successful in describing several aspects of the bat adaptive immune system including characterising the first bat MHC class I molecules and identifying the first viral epitopes presented by bat MHC molecules.

During my PhD, I coordinated, taught and demonstrated laboratory tasks and tutorials for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate Science and Biomedicine students at Monash University. I also marked practical reports, essays, oral presentations and end-of-semester exams.