"Can New Zealand Build an International Pharmaceutical Company: The Pharmaxis Story"

Dr Robertson has more than 20 years experience in drug discovery and product development with leading pharmaceutical companies, including eight years with Wellcome plc in London and with Australian companies Faulding Ltd and Amrad Ltd.  He has assisted many early-stage pharmaceutical companies in their start-up and development and was the inaugural Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Pharmaxis.  Alan has been leading Pharmaxis since December 1999 and has been instrumental in building the company to its present position.  Pharmaxis listed on the ASX in 2003 and on the NASDAQ in 2005.  Alan has a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Glasgow and has extensive practical understanding of the pharmaceutical industry.  Alan is the inventor of the migraine therapeutic Zomig, which is marketed worldwide by AstraZeneca.

Alan is a non-executive Director of Patrys Lyd, and Advent Pty Ltd and a Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Xenome Ltd and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer.

"State of the Industry: The Global Perspective"

Dr. Chen is part of a distinguished group at Burrill consisting of professionals who are called upon to use their extensive academic training and international background to harness the vast potential in the biotech industry.

In his professional career, Dr. Chen has made numerous contributions in assessing technology, transferring discoveries into the clinic, raising venture investment and establishing strategic partnerships among pharmeceutical and biotech companies.

Dr. Chen's current merchant banking activities are spread out worldwide and include relationships in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Previously Dr. Chen built talented scientific teams in immunology, genomics, virology, gene therapy and cell biology at Roche Diagnostics, Sentinel Biosciences, Progenesys, and SyStemix (a Novartis company). He played a key role in the IPO of the first biotech start-up that he joined, as well as the acquisition of SyStemix and Sentinel Biosciences by Novartis and Roche Diagnostics.

Dr. Chen studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University.

"How to Successfully Access & Leverage NIH Resources"

A 20-year veteran of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Claire Driscoll has served as the Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)'s Technology Transfer Office since 2002. At the NIH, NHGRI (www.genome.gov) is the focal point for research into the genetics of human disease. In 2008 NHGRI's intramural research program received approximately $100 million dollars in research funding. Ms. Driscoll is responsible for the overall oversight of the Institute's intramural patent and licensing portfolio and she advises staff on technology transfer policy and related matters.

Ms. Driscoll has given presentations, primarily on biomedical technology transfer and related intellectual property and licensing topics, at many conferences including Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)-, Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)- and Licensing Executives Society (LES)-sponsored events. Currently, Ms. Driscoll serves as a member of: the board of directors of PXE International (a lay patient research advocacy organization); the international advisory council for the Initiative for Open Innovation; and the AUTM annual meeting program and scholar interaction committees. Education: B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology from the University of Notre Dame; M.S. degree in Biotechnology Studies from the University of Maryland University College.

His Worship, the Mayor of Auckland City, Hon. John Banks QSO will be opening the NZBIO 2010 Conference on Monday 22nd March at 10.00am.

Hon. Dr Wayne Mapp, Minister for Research, Science & Technology will speaking at the Annual NZBIO Excellence Awards Dinner, Tuesday 23 March 2010

"Bioscientists: Issues & Opinions from the 2008 Survey of Scientists"

Dr. Jack Sommer is Knight Distinguished Professor of Public Policy Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has directed a major survey of scientists in the U.S. in 1988, and has been the Survey Director for the New Zealand Survey of Scientists and Technologists in 1996 and 2008. He was a Senior Fulbright Scholar in New Zealand in 1995/1996. He served as Deputy Director of Science Resource Studies at the U.S. National Science Foundation. He is the Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the Royal Society of New Zealand and of the New Zealand Association of Scientists. He has authored articles in the New Zealand Science Review on issues of science management in New Zealand.

Joshua Hofheimer became CEO of Hexima in July 2008. Mr. Hofheimer has extensive experience in the agricultural science and biotechnology sectors, in structuring and negotiating complex commercial transactions and joint ventures with both start-ups and global industry leaders.

Mr. Hofheimer’s previous role was Partner at Sidley Austin LLP, a Los Angeles based international law firm. For the past 7 years, he specialised in the plant biotechnology sector, including developing and implementing business strategies for commercialisation of multiple intellectual property platforms. He also served as a leader in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Transactions Practice.

Mr Hofheimer has been a member of several boards, including the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation at UCLA and the Zimmer Children’s Museum, and is active in charitable foundations such as the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women’s Cancers.

"From Waste to Fuels and Chemical"

Through K1W1 Ltd and a number of other vehicles has invested more than $NZ150M Seed and Venture capital into a large number of start up and early stage businesses from Biotech, environmental technology, high tech, software and other high export potential businesses. The aim is, either directly or as a “fund of funds” to assist young entrepreneurs to grow New Zealand as a leader in the “knowledge economy” and to help create a culture of making New Zealand “cash flow positive” in international goods and services trade.