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); Transition Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: TTHI) 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Queensland. Dr. Pace is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
Mr Warren Bingham was appointed a Director of the Company in 2015. 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.
Warren serves as Chair for the AusMedtech National Advisory Group and Health Economics Expert Panel as well as the MedTech/Lifesciences Subcommittee of the Australia/Israel Chamber of Commerce and Israel Trade Commission.
In addition to these roles, Warren is also a strategic advisor to the Board of the Gastroenterological Nurse College of Australia (GENCA), a Mentor at the NSW Enterprise Workshop, an Ambassador and strategic advisor to a NFP Organisation Noble Endeavours, and a past Ambassador for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. During his time at Given Imaging, Mr. Bingham 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$200 million. In February 2014, Covidien plc acquired Given Imaging Ltd. for approximately USD$1 billion.
Warren is also a Director of Endogene Pty Ltd and HygleaCare Inc.
Warren currently provides consulting and advisory services to the life science, medtech and biotech sectors and has qualifications in Business Administration and post graduate qualifications in Management. He is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ms Peta Jurd was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in 2015 and Company Secretary of the Company in 2016. Previously Peta was the Head of Hills Health Solutions at Hills Limited, responsible for leading the health division selling health technology into hospitals and aged care facilities in Australia and New Zealand. Peta has a broad background and is experienced in managing governance areas such as compliance, risk management, human resources, safety and legal services. Peta has qualifications in Commerce and Law and previously held senior management positions at Telstra, Veolia Environmental Services (Aust) and Mayne Nickless Limited, giving her extensive experience running commercial and operational business units. She is currently a Director of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and has previous Board experience with a not-for-profit organisation and an industry superannuation fund. Peta is a certified Practicing Accountant and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
