Ian Dixon
Managing Director & FounderPhD, MBA, MAICD
Dr Ian Dixon has a PhD in biomedical engineering from Monash University, an MBA from Swinburne University and professional engineering qualifications.
Ian has been successful in translating technology challenges into valuable businesses and respected intellectual property.
Ian is a co-inventor of Exopharm’s LEAP manufacturing technology and a co-inventor of Fortrexo, part of Exopharm’s EEV pipeline.
Ian brings to Exopharm an extensive technical, commercial and entrepreneurial background.
Before founding Exopharm in 2013, Ian co-founded Cynata Inc, the owner of the Cymerus stem cell technology now being commercialised by ASX-listed clinical-stage Cynata Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:CYP).
He is also non-executive director of NYRADA Inc. (ASX:NYR), co-inventor of Nyrada PCSK9 inhibitor drug NYX-330, and founder and investor of Cardio Therapeutics Pty Ltd.
Ian was previously a founding director of Sydney-based Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX) and non-executive director of Melbourne unlisted company Cell Therapies Pty Ltd.
Jason Watson
Non-Executive Director, ChairLL.B, B. Comm
Mr Jason Watson has board and advisory experience acting with small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutes and listed companies in the life sciences and other sectors. In particular, he has assisted companies in developing, commercialising and transacting technologies through significant biotechnology licensing deals.
Jason is principal of Elementary Law, a legal practice based in Melbourne, Australia. His practice focuses on assisting clients to achieve the best outcomes for their patents and innovations, including through corporate fundraising, protection strategies, licensing and commercialisation. In this capacity, Jason has been recognised in the Intellectual Asset Magazine Patent 1000 independent list of The World’s 1000 Leading Patent Professionals.
Jason has expertise in relation to complex transactions, including establishing multi-party engagements, research and consultancy contracts and negotiating and implementing clinical trial, licensing, assignment, manufacturing, shareholding and other commercial arrangements.
Jason has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Commerce.
Jennifer King
Non-executive DirectorPhD, MBA
Jennifer King, a Principal at King BioConsulting, has over 20 years of operating experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. King BioConsulting provides business development and strategic support for biotechnology companies and other key stakeholders, with a focus on cutting edge technologies and orphan indications. From 2015 to 2019 Jenn served at Intellia Therapeutics, a CRISPR Cas9 genome editing start-up, completing her tenure as Senior Vice President for Business Development. Jenn founded and grew the Business Development and New Product Commercialization groups at Intellia and was responsible for accessing external sources of innovation, establishing the company’s key industry partnerships, overseeing the alliance management activities for these partnerships and developing commercial strategies and frameworks for Intellia’s genome editing platform.
Prior to her joining Intellia in 2015, Jenn held the position of Senior Director of Business Development at Shire Plc, (now Takeda) where she was responsible for the sourcing, initial evaluation and negotiation of licensing and acquisition opportunities within the company’s corporate development group. She previously worked in Shire’s rare disease commercial organization as a Global Brand Director for two clinical-stage programs and served as its Director of New Products, where she was responsible for providing commercial guidance to development and research stage projects, as well as evaluating the commercial attractiveness of business development opportunities. Before joining Shire in 2006, Jennifer held a variety of commercial roles in at Millennium Pharmaceuticals; most notably as the Product Manager for the US launch of VELCADE®.
Jennifer received her B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and was awarded her MBA by Northeastern University. In addition to a passion for biology and the biopharmaceutical industry, Jenn is an avid sailor and world traveller, and just completed her 100th scuba dive.
David Franks
Company SecretaryB.Ec, CA, F Fin, FGIA, JP.
David Franks is a Principal of the Automic Group. He is a Chartered Accountant, Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia, Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, Justice of the Peace, Registered Tax Agent and holds a Bachelor of Economics (Finance and Accounting) from Macquarie University.
With over 20 years’ experience in finance, governance and accounting, David has been CFO, Company Secretary and/or Director for numerous ASX listed and unlisted public and private companies, in a range of industries covering biotech, energy retailing, transport, financial services, mineral exploration, technology, automotive, software development and healthcare.