MELBOURNE & ONLINE: 2024 ‘The Dynamic Board’ Series – The role of Boards in recognising and managing risk

Dr Anna Lavelle AM is an experienced Non – Executive Director serving for over 28 years onthe boards of not for profit, government and for profit entities.  As Executive Director or Non Executive Director she has a deep and lengthy track record in healthcare delivery, technology development, negotiating policy/legislative outcomes and governance.

Anna has a PhD in Genetics from the University of Melbourne and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).  Anna is a Fellow of the Academy of Technology Science and Engineering (FTSE) and is also a Fellow of the Leadership Victoria Program.  In 2015 Nature Scientific America, World View ranked Anna in the global top 100 “World Visionaries” in biotechnology.  Anna was the only Australian to be named.

In 2023 Anna was awarded an AM and admitted to the Order of Australia for services to innovation and science.

From 2005 to 2016, Anna was the CEO of AusBiotech; the national industry association for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors.  Anna is now serving on several boards outlined below:

Current Governance Roles

2024 – Present, Non Executive Director, Omico.

2021 – Present, Non Executive Director, Island Pharmacueticals Ltd.

2020 – Present, Non Executive Director, Cyban Pty Ltd

2019 – Present, Non Executive Director, Hemideina Pty Ltd

2018 – Present, Independent Chair, Medicines Australia Ltd (reappointed for three years 2023-2026)

2018 – Present, Independent Chair, Avatar Brokers Pty Ltd

2023- Present, Innovation and Enterprise Advisory Board University of Melbourne Department of Medicine – Chaired by The Hon Greg Hunt

Mark has held several leadership roles in the insurance and health sectors, serving as director, CEO and executive. For 13 years Mark served as CEO of GMHBA Limited, a top 10 health insurer and regional health care provider. Major features of his leadership focussed on revitalising the organisation’s purpose, strategy, scale and culture. In the last three years, Mark has established a portfolio of director, mentor and advisory positions, including with two professional indemnity insurers, and health insurer, a large national disability services organisation and with a provider of healthcare.

Alasdair has over 20 years’ experience providing strategic and timely advice to a range of public and private clients in the areas of corporate and commercial law.

His practice covers corporate advisory, acquisitions and disposals, capital raising (both in public and private markets), corporate structuring and re-structures, corporate governance, collective investment arrangements (including managed investment funds, joint ventures and other strategic alliances), financial services (including the licensing and regulation of financial products and financial service providers), commercialisation of intellectual property, private equity and venture capital investments, and general commercial contracts.

Alasdair has significant cross border and direct foreign investment experience, having worked in Australia, Europe and North America.  He has been awarded a First Class Honours degree in Law from the Australian National University, and a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney and is recognised for his expertise in a number of legal guides, including The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific.

An experienced corporate lawyer, Lis advises listed and private companies, multinationals, and not-for-profit organisations on their structure, governance, operations and strategy.  Her clients appreciate her commitment to building long term relationships and understanding their culture and strategy so as to deliver timely, thoughtful and practical advice.

At a strategic level, Lis collaborates with boards and senior executives on significant transactions — such as capital raisings, restructuring, strategic collaborations and mergers and acquisitions (public and private).  Lis’s deep experience and practical insights are particularly appreciated by growing clients who seek her guidance on how to plan and execute these important projects.

Lis also helps organisations review their governance framework so that it is “fit for purpose”, and provides emotionally intelligent advice on engaging with key stakeholders around complex member approvals, or dealing with conflicts of interest.  In this, Lis brings additional perspectives as a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  For listed companies, Lis gives practical direction on meeting continuous disclosure obligations.

At an operational level, Lis guides clients in how to integrate business ethics and legal compliance into “business as usual”, training boards and managers on fulfilling their key legal obligations, such as privacy and directors’ & officers’ duties.  Lis also designs contract review frameworks in line with the organisation’s risk appetite as well as drafting and negotiating complex contracts.

Lis’s strong focus on Life Sciences and Healthcare is reflected in her appointment as deputy chair of AusBiotech’s AusMedtech Advisory Group, and as a member of AusBiotech’s State Committee for NSW.   Lis has also actively participated in AusBiotech industry projects including AusBiotech’s Guide for Directors of Life Sciences Companies, AusBiotech’s Guide for Investors in Life Sciences Companies and pitching workshops for Life Sciences CEOs.  She enjoys being a “connector” between people in her network, to strengthen the Australian life sciences ecosystem.