Life Sciences Queensland to officially launch this week

A little over six months after it was announced, the new life sciences industry association, Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ), will commence official operations on 1 July this year.

Premier Anna Bligh announced in December 2010 that the Queensland Government would support the establishment of a broad based Queensland life sciences industry organisation

Since then organisers have developed a detailed business plan and secured nearly $2 million in industry support to match the Queensland Government’s financial support.

“Biotechnology and the industries it will enable in the future are a key part of Queensland's economic prosperity,” said LSQ’s new Chairman, Dr Peter Riddles.

“Agriculture, energy and mining, biomedical, environmental and industrial sectors all to some extent will draw on the innovative potential of biotechnology. Life Sciences Queensland will bring together the relevant players to make a contribution to the diversification and strengthening of Queensland's future," he said.

To coincide with the BIO 2011 convention today, Dr Riddles announced that the inaugural LSQ Board will be comprised of Dr Cherryll Hirst, Mr Pete Smith and Professor Anthony Webber, and the inaugural (CEO) will be Mr Mario Pennisi, who heads up the Queensland Clinical Trials Network (QCTN).

LSQ has already provided a contingent for the JP Morgan Meeting in San Francisco as well as supported the Queensland presence at the World Congress of Industrial Biotechnology.

“Each of these events has already led to key interactions and to the identification of opportunities for the Queensland life sciences industry which will be pursued with the assistance of Premier Anna Bligh at BIO,” Mr Pennisi said.

LSQ, with the assistance of Premier Anna Bligh, has also announced the names of its inaugural LSQ Ambassadors at the BIO 2011 convention.

“LSQ will continuously engage with global thought-leaders across all life sciences areas,” said Riddles. “And each year, will identify a number of these active, high calibre, well regarded and highly visible individuals and appoint them as LSQ Ambassadors.”

The Ambassadors are President Emeritus at Biotechnology Industry Organization, Carl B. Feldbaum, and former Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie.

According to LSQ, the Ambassadors "will become defacto international representatives of the Queensland life sciences industry and may be called upon to represent LSQ at particular international forums."