Australasian Biotechnology (backfiles) AusBiotech ISSN: 1036-7128 Vol. 11, Num. 4, 2001, pp. 23-24

Australasian Biotechnology, Vol. 11, No. 5, 2001, pp. 23-24

AusBiotech BRANCH NEWS

Code Number: au01053

• Western Australia
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Canberra Region
• NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS OF AUSBIOTECH LTD

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

A number of very successful activities have been coordinated by members of the WA branch of AusBiotech. On August 1, a breakfast meeting Positioning WA Biotech Globally was hosted by the Technology and Industry Advisory Council (TIAC), at which Peter Ferguson from Ernst and Young (EY) presented the Biotechnology Report 2001, and Simon Carroll outlined the events and benefits of BIO2001, together with recommendations for WA to rapidly develop a biotech strategic plan focussing on developing the industry. This would build on the TIAC report Biotechnology West - Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities that was launched late last year. Over 160 attendees, including ministers and six members of parliament participated in the breakfast and an informative discussion.

Two other recent events: a taxation small group discussion hosted by EY (July 24) and a Round Table Discussion on the Centre(s) of Excellence hosted by Allens Arthur Robinson (AAR) were held on August 10. Representatives from Chemeq, TriMed, Grain Biotech and pSiVida joined members of the committee and EY to discuss taxation and other issues. The outcomes will feed into the national information gathering for the preparation of a White Paper of Taxation issues and recommendations effecting biotechnology companies. The Centres of Excellence in Biotechnology meeting, attended by more than 25 people, was complemented by the attendance of and presentation by Sandy Radke of Biotechnology Australia along with two panel members, John Stonier and Peter Langridge. A somewhat spirited discussion with the panel provided some food for thought in bringing this opportunity to fruition.

An upcoming event, a BIF Round Table Discussion on August 28, 2001 is being planned by the local branch committee of Michael Borowitzka, Guan Tay, Pat Carnegie, Gary Cox, Sue Meek, Simon Carroll and Frank Koengtgen in association with EY. An analysis of successful applications will be presented by Kamal Singhe of Biotechnology Australia, and Peter Ferguson of EY.

Simon Carroll, Chair, WA Branch

VICTORIA

There has been a flurry of activity in Victoria since the last Victorian Branch committee report. The State and Federal Government's interest in biotechnology as well as general interest from our Membership resulted in the Victorian Branch ramping up its activities. The Victorian Branch had planned to hold four activities (one on GE-Free zones, two on careers and a cocktail party) We ended up holding or assisting in the five activities listed below in order to meet the requirements of our Members and industry stakeholders:

• A Round Table Forum (RTF) examining the Victorian State Government's discussion paper on GE-Free zones (approximately 30 attendees - ie maximum number for RTF functions). Freehills Carter Smith Beadle assisted the Branch with this activity.
  
  
• The AusBiotech Victorian Committee held a combined "Networking & BIO De-Brief" function in partnership with the Committee for Melbourne and BioMelbourne. Once again this activity was very well attended with at least 100 people present.
  
  
• A breakfast meeting was hosted by AusBiotech to launch the Australian Freehills/Ernst and Young Biotechnology Report 2001 that was commissioned by Biotechnology Australia. The Victorian Branch was assisted by Freehills Carter Smith Beadle and Ernst and Young with this activity.
  
  
• An RTF discussing the upcoming Centres of Excellence program (approximately 30 attendees) was held to ensure appropriate consultation for the usage of the $46.5 million allocated for this initiative. Thanks again to Freehills Carter Smith Beadle for providing the facilities. Although this was only a preliminary discussion, AusBiotech has an important role in facilitating the consultation process for the development of these Centres. Similar RTF activities were held in several other States;
  
  
• A Careers Night was held at CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition, with over 120 students and people interested in the biotechnology industry attending. We acknowledge the excellent support from Marilyn Wright and her team at Kelly Scientific Resources who assisted with the arrangements, the catering and the organisation on the night. Our thanks also go to CSIRO for the use of their facilities and audiovisual equipment.
  
  

We are now looking at the suggestions made by attendees at all of the above to find ways of improving these functions as well as general input about future activities which Members would find beneficial.

In addition to the five activities mentioned above, Victorian Branch Members attended several meetings with organisations and biotechnology clusters to explore ways of working together for the development of the biotechnology industry in Victoria. This activity is in line with AusBiotech's relationship with the Victorian Government, in keeping with the Victorian Government's Strategic Plan.

In the last few months of the year, the Victorian Branch of AusBiotech plans to hold further Round Table Fora, networking activities and a Christmas Party. Dates will be announced. If you have suggestions for activities, topics or speakers, the Victorian Committee would love to hear from you.

Don"t forget about the AusBiotech Annual Conference (18-21 August 2002 at the Melbourne Convention Centre). The Victorian Branch will be actively working with AusBiotech to make this activity in Melbourne the most successful and significant biotechnology event in 2002 so please "watch this space" for further developments and announcements.

If any AusBiotech Victorian Member wishes to contact the Committee about any matter relating to biotechnology or to provide some input, ideas or assistance, please either contact myself (tel: (03) 9248 6833) or Noelene Tregear, our Committee Secretary (tel: 0411 096 388).

Scott Carpenter, Chair , Victorian Branch

QUEENSLAND

The Queensland Branch held meetings on 6th August and 22nd August. The first was a workshop on the coming Biotech Centre of Excellence proposal, and the second was a Bioindustry breakfast, focussing on experiences and learnings from the BIO2001 meeting in San Diego.

The branch is busy planning a major meeting in November, named ClubBio, to emphasize the organic growth and dynamism in biotechnology. Contact for this event is Peter Devine (tel: (07) 3273 9176).

The ClubBio meeting will be held on Friday 9th November, at Seaworld Nara Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland.

This exciting meeting will include:

• Australian Biotechnology making an Impact on the World Stage
  
  
• Firing up Funding
  
  
• Genomics, Ag Biotech, Biodiversity, Bioinformatics and the future of diagnostics
  
  
• Excellence in Drug Discovery
  
  
• The Movers and Shakers of Biotech Commercialisation
  
  
• Biotech Communication, PR and Marketing
  
  

To register your interest, please fill out the form at the ClubBio web page (http://www.artyprint.im.com.au/webpage/clubbio.htm ). For more information, contact Dr Peter Devine, Chairman, Organising Committee (tel: 07 3273 9176; fax: 07 3375 9318; email: peter.devine@progen.com.au

Greg Harper, Chairman, Queensland Branch

CANBERRA REGION

The events we have planned are a presentation by local firm Gene Technics on their forestry biotech on 20 August and a round-table forum on licensing planned for mid-September. The members of the current committee of the Branch are:

• David Fayle, BioAccent (treasurer)
  
  
• Ted Maddess, RSBS, ANU
  
  
• Clive Morris, NHMRC
  
  
• Allan Cripps, Uni of Canberra
  
  
• Tracey Spencer, AVCARE
  
  
• Fiona Topfer, Anutech
  
  
• Lyndal Thorburn, Advance Consulting & Evaluation, Chair
  
  

Lyndal Thorburn, Chair, Canberra Region Branch

Copyright 2001 - AusBiotech