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Scientific Advisory Board

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  Dr Ajai Puri
  Chairman

  Ajai Puri holds a Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the Crummer Business School, Rollins College.  Ajai is a member of the Supervisory Board of Nutreco N.V., additionally he serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Britannia Industries Limited.  As Executive Board Member and President -Research, Development and Product Integrity at Royal Numico (2003 -07), Ajai was responsible for developing and implementing a highly successful science-driven, consumer-led R & D strategy in the areas of infant nutrition and medical nutrition. Ajai had a long career at The Minute Maid Company / The Coca-Cola Company in the US. During his 22 year career with the Company, he held  a variety of positions including that of Senior Vice President Technical (Science andTechnology). At Coca-Cola he was instrumental in developing the health and wellness beverage platform, central to juice beverages as carriers of nutrition.
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  Dr Andrew Kelly
  Sub-Committee

  Dr Andrew Kelly is one of Australia-New Zealand’s experienced biotech investment managers.  He is a co-founder of BioPacificVentures, the $100 million venture capital fund specialising in health and wellness, including food & nutrition, health maintenance and the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.  The fund has completed 11 investments (to 2008) across Australia and New Zealand.  Prior to BioPacificVentures, Andrew managed seed funds in early stage technology development.  However, the first 20 years of Andrew’s career were in science.  This included Science General Manager at AgResearch New Zealand, Director of Rutherglen Research Institute in Victoria, Director of the Pastoral & Veterinary Institute in Victoria, and both MSc and PhD degrees in veterinary science.

   

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  Dr Jason Smythe
  Sub-Committee

  Dr Jason Smythe has over 22 years research and management experience in the biotechnology sector in Australia and USA. He holds a BSc(Hons) degree in Immunology from Monash University, a PhD from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, and performed his postdoctoral studies as an NHMRC C.J. Martin Fellow at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda (USA).  Jason has held senior positions at Johnson & Johnson; the Children’s Medical Research Institute; CSIRO; the Australian Tissue Engineering Centre Limited; and most recently as CSO of Benitec Limited. He has published over 30 manuscripts, been granted 4 patents and awarded 3 International Fellowships. He is an Editor of the journal Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, a Member of the last two NHMRC Development Grants Review Panels, and a Member of the Federal Governments Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee.  Jason also holds a Graduate Certificate in Change Management from the AGSM and a Company Directors’ Diploma from The Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

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  Advisory Board Members
  (to be announced)