Board and Management
The Directors bring to the Board relevant experience and skills, including industry and business knowledge, financial management and corporate governance experience.
Mr Michael Spooner was appointed as Chairman of Simavita in April 2016. Mr Spooner also serves on the Board of Directors of Mesoblast since 2004. During this period he has filled various roles including as Executive Chairman from the date of the ASX public listing in 2004 until 2007. He is currently the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee as well as a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Over the past several years Mr Spooner has served on the Board of Directors in various capacities at several Australian and international biotechnology companies, including BiVacor Pty Ltd (2009-2013), Advanced Surgical Design & Manufacture Limited (2010-2011), Peplin, Inc. (2004-2009), Hawaii Biotech, Inc. (2010-2012), Hunter Immunology Limited (2007-2008), and as managing director of Ventracor Limited (2001-2003).
Prior to returning to Australia in 2001, he spent much of his career internationally where he served in various roles including as a partner to PA Consulting Group, a United Kingdom-based management consultancy and a Principal Partner and Director of Consulting Services with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Coopers & Lybrand) in Hong Kong.
In addition, Mr Spooner has owned and operated several international companies providing services and has consulted to a number of American and Asian public companies.
Dr Pace has more than 40 years of experience in the development and commercialization of advanced life sciences and related technologies, spanning biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and food industries. He is a serial entrepreneur and has held senior positions in small to and large-scale life sciences ventures and companies in Australia, the USA and Europe. Dr Pace has contributed to the development of the biotechnology industry through honorary university appointments and industry and government committees.
Dr. Pace is currently a Director of three public companies; ResMed (NYSE: RMD) Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: PCRX); and Antisense Therapeutics (ASX: ANP) as well as several private companies.
Dr. Pace holds a B.Sc. (Hons I) from the University of New South Wales and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Also he has held visiting academic positions at the Universities of New South Wales and the University of Queensland. Dr. Pace is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
Warren was appointed as a Non- Executive Director of the Company on May 21, 2015.
For more than 25 years, Warren has worked extensively in the field of medical devices and technologies, with expertise in domestic and international markets, health economics, regulatory and clinical affairs and business development. In 2001, he established the Australian subsidiary of Given Imaging Ltd, a company who pioneered the PillCam® technology. In 2004, he successfully established PillCam capsule endoscopy on the Medicare Benefits Scheme. During his time at Given Imaging, Warren served on the global management team which drove the company’s progression from a small, privately held, research-stage company with no revenue to a multinational, publicly traded company with revenues exceeding USD$250 million. In February 2014, Covidien plc acquired Given Imaging Ltd. for approximately USD$1 billion.
Warren provides specialist consulting and advisory services to the Life Sciences and Medtech sectors and serves as the Executive Chairman of MedTech International, a Member of the Board of Directors for Simavita (ASX/SVA), Endogene Ltd, and Hygieacare Inc and General Manager for Cicada Innovations MedTech Accelerator – MedLab. Warren also holds several roles in the Philanthropic, NFP and Industry sectors, serving as Chairman of the Board for SchoolAid Trust, member and former Chair of the AusMedtech National Advisory Group, strategic advisor to the Board of the Gastroenterological Nurse College of Australia, and Alumni Ambassador for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
A finalist in the 2016 Aust Institute of Mgmt 'Excellence in Leadership Awards', Warren has post graduate qualifications in Management and Business Administration and is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Peta was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in September 2015. She has extensive experience in health and technology companies. Prior to joining Simavita, Peta was the Head of Hills Health Solutions at Hills Limited where she was responsible for leading the Health division, providing health technology to hospitals and aged care facilities in Australia and New Zealand. She has also held senior management positions at Telstra, Veolia Environmental Services and Mayne Nickless Health Care. Peta has a strong commercial background and extensive experience running commercial and operational business units and governance areas such as compliance, risk management, human resources, safety and legal services. Peta is also a Non-Executive Director of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Healthdirect Australia Limited.
