Ausbiotech Vic BioForum '07

8/05/2008 1:26:53 PM BioGeelong

Ausbiotech held their inaugural Victorian Branch Conference at the Sheration Four Points in Geelong during August. The conference attracted 100 delegates from Victoria's biotechnology sector including Policy makers, CEO's and academics. On the first day Deakin University hosted an off site session which was a Geelong Showcase. Delegates received a tour of the Geelong Technology Precinct and heard presentations from James Campbell, Vice-President of Operations, Chemgenex Pharmaceuticals and Martyn Jeggo, Director of CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratories. The conference delegates were addressed by Minister Gavin Jennings and Councillor Bruce Harwood, Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong at the conference dinner. The conference was a huge success for Ausbiotech and the Geelong scientific community.

The Victorian Government's Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development is partnered with the Smart Geelong Network on Geelong's third Research and Learning Expo. There were over 20 events held across Geelong showcasing research and learning excellence.

The week culminated in the Researcher of the year awards with Assoc Prof Mark Kirkland, Barwon Biomedical Research, taking out the top honours for his research into reprogramming stem cells.