Peter Beattie appointed Chair of Brandon BioCatalyst

Brandon BioCatalyst, a collaboration of more than 50 of Australia and New Zealand’s leading medical research institutes, hospitals and universities, has announced new board appointments to continue the scaling of Australian medical research into globally competitive biotech companies.

The board transition sees the appointment of longstanding Director and former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie as Chair, replacing one of the founding fathers of Australian Venture Capital, Bill Ferris, who is retiring from the role.

“Bill Ferris has been an extraordinary leader, a valued colleague and friend, and a fierce proponent of Australian innovation. He understood deeply that successful biotech companies not only deliver investor returns but also generate high-value jobs and improved health outcomes,” said Dr Chris Nave, Brandon BioCatalyst CEO and Brandon Capital Managing Partner.

“With Peter Beattie now at the helm, Brandon BioCatalyst remains focused on building a globally competitive life sciences ecosystem — one that attracts patient capital, delivers returns for investors, creates opportunities for skilled talent, and drives meaningful improvements in people’s health.”

The changes come at a strategically important time for Brandon BioCatalyst, as its manager, Brandon Capital, recently announced the raising of a $439 million sixth fund to support emerging biomedical technologies with strong commercial potential. Brandon BioCatalyst’s national biotech incubator, CUREator, has meanwhile announced $1.23 million in top-up funding for six high-performing participants from its Preclinical and Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Streams, in addition to the funds awarded to these companies in previous funding rounds.

“Under Bill Ferris’s leadership, Brandon BioCatalyst experienced transformative growth, expanding its membership, [and] launching major initiatives including the CUREator biotech incubator and WILD (Women in Leadership Development) Program while supporting member institute spinouts through global regulatory approvals that resulted in partnerships with international pharma,” Beattie said.

Beattie is a long-time champion of innovation, biotech and medical research, having developed and championed the Queensland Smart State strategy that set up the Medical Research Institutes which delivered Gardasil and, more recently, Vicebio. He received the inaugural International Award for Leadership Excellence from the Biotechnology Industry Organisation and served as joint Adjunct Professor at both the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland, demonstrating a deep and distinguished background in biotechnology.

Beattie said he will continue to advance Ferris’s strategic vision, ensuring Brandon BioCatalyst remains focused on translating biotech research into commercial outcomes and building globally competitive biotech companies, while delivering programs and capital that unlock research potential.

“As Chair of Brandon BioCatalyst, I’m focused on ensuring Australia’s biotech innovations are equipped with the capital, capabilities and connections needed to retain lasting value in Australia,” Beattie said. “Queensland’s Smart State strategy showed what’s possible and I’m delighted to see Brandon BioCatalyst translating that spirit into nation-building through action, not just in name.”

In additional board changes, Ross King, Managing Director and founder of Treadstone Resources and former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Australia, will step into the Deputy Chair role. The board also welcomes Dr Andrew Nash, former Chief Scientific Officer and Global Head of Research at CSL and currently Director of the Burnet Institute. Former Citigroup and AV Super Executive Denise Allen will meanwhile step down, as will former Victorian Minister for Health and Aged Care Rob Knowles, with their replacements to be announced later in the year.

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