Board and Management
Board
Exopharm is managed by the Board of Directors. The Board presently comprises three Directors (two Non-Executive Directors and one Executive Director).
Biographies of the Directors are detailed below.
Mr Jason Watson – Non-Executive Director
LL.B, B. Comm
Mr 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, Mr Watson has assisted companies in developing, commercialising and transacting technologies through significant biotechnology licensing deals.
Mr Watson 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, Mr Watson has been recognised in the Intellectual Asset Magazine Patent 1000 independent list of The World’s 1000 Leading Patent Professionals.
Mr Watson 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.
Mr Watson has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Commerce.
Dr Ian Dixon – Company Founder, Technology Co-Founder and Managing Director
PhD, MBA, MAICD
Dr Ian Dixon has a PhD in biomedical engineering from Monash University, an MBA from Swinburne University and professional engineering qualifications.
In 2011, Dr Dixon Co-Founded Cynata Inc, a company that is progressing the commercialisation of what has become the Cymerus technology of ASX-listed Cynata Therapeutics Ltd (ASX-CYP).
Dr Dixon is also a non-executive director of Noxopharm Ltd (ASX-NOX), a founder of Nyrada Inc. and a co-inventor of Nyrada drug NYX-330.
Dr Dixon is a co-inventor of the LEAP Technology now owned by Exopharm.
Dr Dixon is also founder of Genscreen Pty Ltd (2003-2018) and was a director of Cell Therapies Pty Ltd.
Dr Dixon brings to the Board an extensive technical and entrepreneurial background in founding, building and running technology-based companies, in recognising the potential commercial value of early-stage drug development, and in understanding the challenges involved in drug development.
Dr Dixon currently also serves as a part-time executive director of Medigard Ltd (ASX:MGZ).
Mr David Parker – Non-Executive Director and Company Secretary
B.Comm, SAFin
Mr David Parker has over sixteen years’ experience as a corporate advisor and investment manager. He has served as a director or company secretary of a number of ASX-listed companies, having taken several companies from private companies to listed entities.
Mr Parker is an employee of Alto Capital, a stockbroking and corporate advisory firm which is licensed to provide financial advice to retail and wholesale investors. Mr Parker is the director of Cobblestones Corporate, which provides boutique corporate advisory and company secretarial consulting services to pre-IPO and ASX listed entities.
Mr Parker is a Senior Associate (and member since 2001) of the Financial Services Industry of Australian (FINSIA).
Mr Parker has a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University and has completed a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute.
In the last five years, Mr Parker was previously a non-executive director and company secretary of Aurora Labs Ltd (ASX:A3D) and non-executive director of Pacific Ord Ltd (ASX:SYT).
Management
Biographies of Exopharm’s management personnel are set out below.
Dr Gregor Lichtfuss – Technology Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
MSc, DTMPH
Dr Gregor Lichtfuss holds a PhD in Medicine / clinical immunology from Monash University, a Master of Science in International Health from Humboldt University Berlin and a Diploma in Biologie (Virology and Genetics) from Humboldt University Berlin.
Dr Lichtfuss is a co-inventor of the LEAP Technology now owned by Exopharm.
In 2016 Dr Lichtfuss founded Ribosomic Pty Ltd, a consulting company specialising in early-stage research commercialisation.
From 2014-2015 Dr Lichtfuss worked in early-stage research commercialisation at the Spinnovator, the start-up creation hub managed by Ascenion GmbH, Germany’s largest private technology transfer company in the Life Sciences. As part of his work at the Spinnovator, he was instrumental in laying the business foundation for Cardior Pharmaceuticals GmbH, a biotechnology company developing novel treatments for heart failure.
Previously Dr Lichtfuss has worked as a consultant to Brandon Capital Partners in Melbourne, following his participation in the Stanford Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship. In addition, he has worked at the highest national and international levels for the German Federal Government and preformed research at a number of internationally renowned research institutions, including the Burnet Institute in Melbourne.
Dr Lichtfuss brings significant entrepreneurial experience in creating biotechnology startups and health solutions, in-depth experience and knowledge in molecular science and technology as well as an understanding of international health systems as well as early-stage drug development.