Board of Directors

Ms Sandra (Sam) Andersen

Chair

Sam Andersen joined the AVS board in 2016 and was appointed Chair of the Company on 1 July 2020. Sam is also a member of the AVS Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Sam has held senior executive positions at the ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank. She has also been chief financial officer and chief operating officer at several ASX-listed IT companies leading transformation initiatives, as well as managing director of a listed allied health services company. She currently serves as a director for a number of government, public unlisted corporations and member-owned organisations.

Sam is chair of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation Limited, Beyond Bank Australia Limited and the Audit and Risk Management Committee of Victoria Police, a director of Breakthrough Victoria Pty Ltd, Secure Electronic Registry Services Pty Ltd, and a trustee of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust.

Dr Richard Aldous

Director

Richard’s background is in energy, resources, public policy and research management in both the public and private sectors. For 10 years he was a senior executive and then Deputy Secretary, Energy and Earth Resources at the Victorian Department of Primary Industries. Richard has also held senior executive roles in resource companies focused on exploration, research and development.

Richard has been a director of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Association, chief executive officer of the CO2CRC and chairman of the CRC for Clean Power from Lignite. At present he is chairing the Ministerial Advisory Council for Earth Resources in Victoria. Richard is also a director of AVS’ subsidiary company, Phytogene Pty Ltd.

Dr Amanda Caples

Director

Amanda is Victoria’s Lead Scientist with broad experience in technology commercialisation (including intellectual property management, licensing and joint ventures), public policy development and governance of public and private entities.

Most recently she has been Deputy Secretary, Sector Development and Programs, at DEDJTR, responsible for developing the Future Industries sector strategies and growth plan, and for supporting the Victorian science, innovation and entrepreneurial sectors.

Amanda has delivered research-led health initiatives, regulatory and legislative scientific reforms and has established international collaborative technology alliances.

Richard Jagger

Director

Richard Jagger joined the AVS Board in 2021 and is a member of the AVS Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Richard is the CEO and Managing Director of Bio-Gene Technology, an ASX listed ag-tech company focused on developing a product platform based on a new class of naturally derived insecticides. Richard has extensive experience in developing and commercialising new technologies in the Agriculture sector. Richard was previously the Managing Director of Sinochem Australia, a division of the largest Agrochemical company in China. Prior to Sinochem, he worked with Monsanto Company for over 20 years.

Richard has written two novels based on new technology adoption, holds degrees in Science and International Business and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Richard is currently a director of the Victorian Cleantech Cluster.

Jane Perrier

Director

Jane Perrier joined the AVS board in 2021 and is a member of the AVS Audit and Risk Management Committee.

She is the former General Counsel, Intellectual Property of Telstra Corporation Limited with responsibility for strategic legal advice and procedural support for Telstra’s intellectual property interests in Australia and overseas.  Jane’s team was also responsible for advising Telstra’s Chief Technology Office on innovation and technology legal issues. Jane is currently a managing principal of ipervescence, an intellectual property business advisory firm specialising in IP strategy and valuation services.

Jane is an Australian a legal practitioner and registered trade mark attorney. She is a member of the Intellectual Property Committee of the Law Council of Australia, a fellow of the Institute of Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia, and former appointee to the Australian Government’s former Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP).

Dr Jan Tennent

Director

Jan Tennent joined the AVS board in August 2021 at which time she was also appointed a Director of the AVS subsidiary, Phytogene Pty Ltd.

An internationally recognised researcher with specialist knowledge of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and vaccine discovery and commercialisation, Jan has held senior research and business development roles at CSIRO, CSL, and Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis).

Her most recent executive position was CEO of Biomedical Research Victoria (2012-2019). Jan regularly supports government, industry, academia, and investors with advice on biotechnology, life sciences and the translation and commercialisation of research outcomes through her ConnectBio business.

Jan is also a Non-Executive Director of Apiam Animal Health (ASX:AHX), the eviDent Foundation, and AusBiotech, where she serves as the Chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee.