We specialise in product realisation of bioelectric medical devices

LUDOVIC LABAT

CEO

As a business leader, Ludovic has over 20 years’ experience in the medical device and technology industry in Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific with a range of global companies including Fortive, Danaher, Siemens, Tektronix and Invetech. He has a record of proven success in bringing innovations to market to generate profitable growth in global hi-tech and medical devices markets – in roles ranging from product ideation to go-to-market strategy.

Ludovic and his family share a passion for the ocean and sailing. He enjoys dinghy racing, on his own or with his wife – they competed together in the 2015 Tasar World Championships.

LYNDAL BORRELL

QUALITY MANAGER

As a key person responsible for the Bionics Institute achieving ISO 9001 certification in 2019, Lyndal knows everything there is to know about quality management principles. She’s an expert in interpreting documentation and ensuring that the company adheres to the highest standards. Her focus on customer satisfaction ensures that each client’s needs are met at every stage of the project.

Lyndal enjoys reading for pleasure as well as for work. She’s also a swimmer and an occasional runner.

GARETH CLAY

SENIOR ELECTRONICS ENGINEER

Gareth is a skilled electronics and software developer with a keen interest in documentation and pathways for regulatory compliance.

As a Product Development Engineer for Fisher and Paykel Heathcare in New Zealand, Gareth designed electronics and software for next generation AIRVO medical devices, specifically in the product development and manufacturing space.

Outside of work, you’ll find Gareth watching or playing sport (you name it, he’s played it), or at a gig enjoying some live music.

RICHARD NASH

VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Richard is an experienced medical technology executive with more than 10 years in management with Medtronic across Europe and APAC.

He is an experienced leader, possessing a well rounded insight into the complexities and expertise required to successfully scale and commercialise medical technology.
He maintains a number of advisory board positions in the medical device industry.

On a personal level, Rich and his family have a keen interest in the arts. Many years ago, Rich was also a former semi-professional badminton player and still enjoys racket sports/occasional running.

MARK HARRISON

SENIOR ELECTRONICS ENGINEER

Mark is involved in all aspects of electronics design and engineering – from designing circuitry to writing embedded software. On the MIRA project, he built the prototype device to deliver ongoing neurostimulation to the retina, which protects against progressive vision loss in degenerative eye diseases. Mark has also been instrumental in the development of the cochlear implant, the bionic eye, and many other devices.

Outside the lab, Mark applies his characteristic precision and accuracy to target archery, which he practices and teaches. He’s also involved in amateur radio.

EROL HARVEY

PROJECT ADVISER

The interim CEO of ACMD, Erol is an award-winning entrepreneur who has been involved in research commercialisation, product development and enabling technologies for more than 20 years. With technical expertise in micro and nanotech, biointerfaces and precision engineering, Erol is uniquely qualified to understand customers’ product development needs and help them develop manufacturable products.

To escape technology, Erol restores old Citroën 2CVs. He’s currently planning a 2CV raid with a convoy along the Anne Beadell Highway, an unsealed track across the Nullarbor.

EDWARD SETTLE

QUALITY ASSURANCE LEAD

Previously holding various Regulatory and Quality roles at MAXONIQ and Lincoln Consulting, Edward is in charge of Neo-Bionica’s Quality Management System. He has a Master of Engineering (Biomedical with Business) from the University of Melbourne.

In his spare time, Ed enjoys cooking for his friends and exploring Melbourne’s restaurant scene.

KYLIE O’NEILL

FACILITIES MANAGER

Kylie oversees the management and operation of Neo-Bionica’s cleanrooms, workshops and office spaces. She’s responsible for everything from equipment maintenance and procurement to staff training, occupational health and safety, and risk management. She’s also across ISO 9001 standards. Kylie’s input was crucial in designing and future-proofing Neo-Bionica’s purpose-built facility.

At home, Kylie loves upcycling furniture – refurbishing items that she finds online or rescues from hard rubbish.

ROSS THOMAS

R&D DESIGNER, MANAGER OF ELECTRODE FABRICATION

Ross is a skilled designer who has contributed to electrode design and fabrication of prototypes to treat Crohn’s disease and to prevent urinary incontinence. He has developed new fabrication methods and implemented quality control in fabrication processes. Ross has been closely involved with Neo-Bionica since the beginning, helping to conceptualise the company, plan the purpose-built facility, and set up and fit out the new workshops.

Outside work, Ross is a runner – covering around 100 km a week and competing in races from 1500 m races to half-marathons.

ALEX THOMPSON

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER

Alex is involved in the development and pre-clinical testing of novel neuromodulation devices, as well as designing electronics for new implantable prototypes. Previously, he developed a custom sound processor for bilateral cochlear implants to increase recipients’ sensitivity to interaural time differences. In that study, Alex was responsible for design of the sound processor and stimulator, electrophysiological recordings, and data analysis.

Alex’s interests are just as varied outside work. In addition to cycling, bikepacking and bushwalking, he is into beer brewing, coffee roasting and gardening.

JENNY ZHOU

TECHNICAL OFFICER

As a technician responsible for prototype design and fabrication, Jenny has worked on the trickiest of projects, from the 4-channel electrode in the mouse cochlear implant to the 44-channel electrode in the bionic eye. She also built Epi-Minder’s prototype for monitoring epileptic seizures, which is now in first-in-human trials.

Away from the lab, Jenny enjoys baking and cooking – and even running classes for her friends on making dumplings, bread and cakes. She also nurtures a garden, where she grows plants and vegetables.

LUSIA GUTHRIE

CHAIR

Lusia is a medtech entrepreneur with over 35 years in the pharmaceutical and bioscience industries. She has extensive experience in forming companies, raising capital, developing products and bringing them to market. Lusia founded LBT Innovations to bring advanced technologies to the medical industry – and listed the company on the Australian stock exchange. She also led the company’s development of an automated plate assessment system for microbiologists, which was the first artificial intelligence diagnostic medical device to achieve US FDA class II approval.

When she’s not skimming journals, Lusia has a stack of books to read. She also has a keen interest in collecting and tasting whiskies, and is writing the history of her Polish family’s escape from Europe after World War 2.

ROBERT KLUPACS

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

With more than 30 years of international corporate experience in technology development, Robert has an extensive network in the global medtech sector. Currently the CEO of the Bionics Institute, Robert was a founder of Epi-Minder and a driving force behind the launch of Neo-Bionica. He also helped Bionic Vision Technologies raise US$18 million to fund clinical studies of the bionic eye. A registered patent attorney, Robert has deep knowledge of intellectual property and research commercialisation. He has also worked with international companies to set up special-purpose entities in Australia to take advantage of the local regulatory landscape.

In his spare time, Robert is chair of BioAutism, a charity supporting autism research. He started running to take part in fundraising events, and has now completed five half-marathons. He’s also a cyclist and a triathlete.

HAMISH GEORGE

COMPANY SECRETARY

Hamish is a Chartered Accountant and has extensive experience in providing financial advice, company secretarial and CFO services to life science businesses ranging from ASX listed entities to Not-for-Profit organisations.