AusBiotech was amongst 22 country industry associations when the International Council of Biotechnology Associations (ICBA) met last week to discuss global issues impacting biotechnology development, and welcomed a new Chair, Steve Bates, CEO, UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) to succeed Andrew Casey, President & CEO, BIOTECanada.
AusBiotech’s CEO, Lorraine Chiroiu, says, “AusBiotech thanks Andrew for his valuable leadership in the international growth of biotechnology and the development if this global forum. We look forward to advancing our work with ICBA members on global policy challenges, to continuing to promote Australian life sciences, and to strengthening our relationship with Steve and the BIA.”
ICBA is a coalition of not-for-profit, national biotechnology trade associations formed to promote public understanding of, and to advocate for, public policies that support the growth of the innovative biotechnology industries. ICBA represents the global voice of the industry in international fora, with the goal of promoting continued innovation in the human health, agriculture, and industrial and environmental sectors.
Alongside standing teleconferences, AusBiotech participates in an annual meeting at the BIO convention, which was held this year in Philadelphia. This meeting gives industry organisation CEOs from ICBA member countries the opportunity to highlight the innovation agendas in their respective countries, share challenges and best practices in fostering the biotechnology sector and learn about new life-saving technologies under development by the industry.
See the ICBA website for more information: http://internationalbiotech.org/
About Steve Bates, OBE, CEO BIA
Since his appointment as Chief Executive of the BIA in 2012, Steve has led major campaigns, including improved access to finance, the refilling of the Biomedical Catalyst, anti-microbial resistance and the opportunity the sector presents to generalist long term investors. Beyond the UK, Steve is a member of EuropaBio’s Board and its National Association Council and is a founding member of the International Confederation of Biotech Associations. Steve has worked both in biotech (as Senior Director at Genzyme UK and Ireland) and at the highest levels of UK government (as Special Advisor to John Reid, MP, during his time in Tony Blair’s government) for over 15 years. Steve was awarded the OBE in January 2017.