Meet our board and management
The Board and Management of VivaZome Therapeutics – Ian Nisbet, Craig Newton, Anthony Filippis, Xenia Sango and David Haylock – have over 150 years of combined biotech, cell biology and pharmaceutical experience with activity in Australia, Asia, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Central America.
Ian Nisbet
Chairperson
Ian Nisbet has over 40 years experience in biologicals and biotech. Ian was previously CEO/MD of Xenome Ltd and Meditech Research Ltd and has held senior management positions at Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc in US, ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Ltd and CSL Ltd. Ian is currently a director at 5 biotechs and Chief Operating Officer at Cartherics, a Melbourne-based cell therapy company.
Craig Newton
Non-Executive Director
Craig Newton has more than 40 years experience in the Healthcare industry, notably in the Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and Biotech sectors, with activity in Australasia, Asia and Europe. His experience encompasses diverse therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular disease, oncology, haematology, cell therapies, fertility and immunology. Craig has held senior roles at CSL, Serono UK, Bio Nova International, AVAX Australia and Cryptome Pharmaceuticals, with his most recent executive role as CEO and MD at ASX-listed cancer company Invion Limited.
Anthony Filippis
Non-Executive Director
Dr. Anthony Filippis has over 25 years’ experience as an executive and board member at numerous ASX-listed and private companies in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, healthcare and investment industries, in various fields including neuroscience, oncology, endocrinology and rare diseases. Anthony is currently Chief Operating Officer at Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP), is a Director of Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia and, prior to Antisense, was CEO of Neurosciences Victoria. Anthony received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Melbourne and holds an MBA, specialising in entrepreneurship and innovation and new venture creation from La Trobe University.
Xenia Sango
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Xenia Sango is a highly experienced healthcare executive with over 30 years in operational leadership, international business, and senior clinical and regulatory roles. Prior to VivaZome, Xenia’s positions at CSL Limited included Senior Director of Influenza Commercial Operations; Director of International Registrations, and Head of Regulatory Affairs. Xenia’s experience included setting up CSL’s global regulatory function, and launching CSL’s Fluvax in US and Europe, including establishing subsidiaries in USA and Germany. In Japan, Xenia set up commercial and manufacturing operations for CSL. As Business Development Manager Research at Epworth HealthCare, Xenia expanded the research business, managed the Clinical Research Unit and set up Phase 1b capability. Xenia has been part of VivaZome since its inception, most recently in the COO role prior to her appointment as CEO and MD
David Haylock
Chief Scientific Officer
Professor David Haylock has over 40 years experience in cell biology, cell therapies and operational management with senior scientific leadership roles at CSIRO, the Australian Stem Centre, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Adelaide’s Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science. He has extensive expertise in the biology of human stem and progenitor cells, and was part of the team that pioneered autologous transplantation with mobilised blood progenitor cells, which revolutionised ‘bone marrow’ transplantation. At CSIRO, as Cell Biology Group Leader, he worked on the development of bioreactor technology for cell growth and on new polymer materials for growing stem cells. David holds an Adjunct Professorial position at the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute at Monash University and was a previous ARC Future Fellow. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science (SAIT) and a PhD (University of Adelaide).