CMAX Clinical Research has been recognised on the national stage, winning the 2025 Australian Export Award for Professional Services and cementing its position as one of Australia’s most influential contributors to global early-phase clinical research.
>The honour, announced at the 63rd Australian Export Awards, celebrates the company’s expanding international footprint and longstanding commitment to advancing healthcare innovation.
Chief Executive Officer Jane Kelly said the national accolade affirms both the company’s strategic direction and the dedication of its growing workforce. “Being recognised as the 2025 winner of the Professional Services Award is a proud recognition of our team’s dedication and a powerful endorsement of our global growth strategy,” she said.
This year’s recognition follows CMAX’s success at the South Australian Premier’s Business and Export Awards in August, where it also secured the Professional Services Award. It marks the organisation’s third significant honour at the Australian Export Awards, adding to its 2021 win and its finalist position in 2018.
For more than three decades, CMAX has been at the forefront of early-phase clinical trials, partnering with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to evaluate emerging therapies with rigorous safety and quality standards. The organisation has conducted over 800 clinical trials and helped accelerate the development of treatments that offer hope to patients worldwide. “Making a real difference in patient lives and advancing tomorrow’s healthcare is what drives everything we do,” Kelly said.
Operating from its purpose-built facility in Adelaide’s CBD, CMAX has become a major contributor to South Australia’s economy and clinical research ecosystem. The company employs more than 400 staff and continues to expand as demand for high-quality early-phase trials rises globally.
International growth has grown over the past year, with export sales increasing dramatically across key markets. European exports rose by 570 per cent compared to the previous financial year, while significant gains were also recorded in the United States and Asia, with South Korea emerging as a strong market. Kelly said these results reflect “the success of our targeted market strategies, improved brand positioning, and greater direct-to-client engagement with global biotech and pharma sponsors.”
CMAX has also invested heavily in modernising its technological capabilities, undertaking major digital upgrades to boost efficiency and strengthen the resilience of its operations. These upgrades, Kelly said, have “strengthened our resilience, improved efficiency and modernised our clinical trial capabilities.”