Background

Jen joined Burnet to lead the Burnet Diagnostics Initiative (BDI), an ambitious initiative to focus and build the Institute's capacity for engagement in the point-of-care diagnostics industry.

Most recently Jen was CEO at Junofem, a women's health medical device company, and comes to Burnet with an impressive record, spanning leadership roles in science and commercialism, 12 years with the Asia-Pacific team at Roche including the novel human papilloma virus diagnostic test in New Zealand, and experience with start-ups through Junofem. She also has an extensive background across marketing, sales, medical devices, molecular biology, and working effectively with scientists to achieve research translation. Jen will take a leading role in developing from the ground-up, a best-in-class entrepreneurial ecosystem for the development and commercialisation of Burnet's emerging and existing diagnostic products.

The BDI is in its formative stage. The Institute has taken this significant step to build on its existing strength in assay development and facilitate enhanced translation of existing and new technologies to practical health solutions and products, maximising their accessibility to vulnerable populations. Importantly, the BDI will continue to work closely with Burnet's Public Health and International Development disciplines in clinical validation and implementation studies of Burnet's diagnostic pipeline.

Jen is the director of the Office for Research Translation (ORT). The ORT brings together research translation initiatives including Burnext, the Burnet Diagnostics Initiative (BDI) and the Burnet Vaccine Initiative (BVI).