Associate Professor Andrew Vizard (BVSc (Hons), MVPM)
Chairman & Independent Director

With a background in research and agricultural consultancy, Professor Vizard is the senior consultant with, and former Director of the Mackinnon Project at the University of Melbourne. This enterprise is recognised as a world leader in delivering practical advice to farmer and agribusiness on a wide range of agricultural and economic issues. He is the author of over 50 scientific papers.

Professor Vizard is currently a Non-Executive Director of Ridley Corporation Ltd, Animal Health Australia Ltd and the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board of Victoria. He is also a Trustee of The Australian Wool Education Trust. 

Professor Vizard is a member of the Company's Audit, Compliance and Corporate Governance Committee.

Harry Rosen (BA, LLB)
President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr Rosen is one of the founders of Betatene Ltd and Denehurst Ltd, two formerly ASX listed companies which commercialised significant research and development. Betatene is the world's largest producer of natural beta carotene. After the purchase of Betatene Ltd by Henkel Corporation, Mr Rosen served as Vice President, Corporate Development. As a Vice President of Henkel Corporation, he worked for a number of years in the US in the nutrition and health care industries.

Mr Rosen has consulted to many technology companies assisting them with the commercialisation of new technologies. He has had significant experience in the areas of seed capital raising, stock exchange listings, taxation and corporate law. Mr Rosen graduated from the Australian National University (BA-Psychology) and Melbourne University (LLB).

Dr Esra Ogru (BSc(Hons), PhD)
Executive Vice President

Dr Ogru is responsible for the coordination and management of the pre-clinical, clinical and development research in Australia and internationally. She achieves this through leadership of a team of experienced pharmaceutical scientists and chemists and strategic collaborations.

In this role, Dr Ogru has developed commercial opportunities for both the Company’s nutraceutical division and pharmaceutical technologies, such as transdermal drug delivery and drug enhancement platforms for cancer, heart disease and chronic pain management.

Dr Ogru has many years experience in both the academic and commercial aspects of the industry and has publications in peer-reviewed journals. Prior to joining Phosphagenics in 2001, Dr Ogru carried out significant research on obesity and diabetes. Additionally she has considerable experience in the management and coordination of pre-clinical and clinical development of pharmaceutical products.

Professor John Mills (BS (Hons), MD, FACP, FRACP)
Independent Director

Professor Mills has a long and distinguished career in medical research, clinical medicine and biomedical business. In addition to his position as a Non-Executive Director of Phosphagenics, he is the Executive Chairman of Cavidi AB, an Executive Director of TissuPath Pty Ltd, a Non-Executive Director of GBS Venture Partners Pty Ltd and, previously, a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of AMRAD Corporation Ltd and Managing Director of Narhex Life Sciences Ltd (ASX: NLS). He holds professorial appointments at Monash University and RMIT, and is a consulting physician at the Alfred and Austin hospitals in Melbourne.

He has published over 200 scientific articles and has served as a consultant to industry and governments, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations.

Professor Mills is a member of the Company’s Audit, Compliance and Corporate Governance Committee.

Jonathan Addison (BEc (Tas), ASIC, FTA (Snr)) Independent Director

Mr Addison has over 30 years in the investment management industry, including wide experience in superannuation. Currently he is the Investment Manager of the Meat Industry Employee Superannuation Fund ("MIESF") whom he joined in June 1999 and where he is responsible for the overall management of MIESF. MIESF is a self-administered industry superannuation fund established in 1981 which operates nationally.

Prior to his appointment to MIESF, Mr Addison was a Director and Asset Consultant within the Corporate Finance section of PricewaterhouseCoopers and in this role was responsible for establishing an investment consulting practice with clients ranging from superannuation funds to insurance funds and funds managers. Prior to that, he was Manager Investment Consultant at Sedgwick Noble Lowndes.

Mr Addison also holds Non-Executive Directorships with Austcorp Capital Funds Management Limited, African Enterprise Limited, African Enterprises New Zealand Limited, Hawksbridge Limited and Global Masters Fund Limited.

Mr Addisson is the Chairman of the Company’s Audit, Compliance and Corporate Governance Committee.

Michael Ashton (BPharm, MBA)
Independent Director

Mr Aston has more than 30 years’ experience in the international pharmaceutical industry having held senior management positions with Merck Inc. and Pfizer Inc., executive board positions with Faulding Inc. and SkyePharma Plc, where he was CEO. 

Mr Ashton was Chairman, President and CEO of Faulding Inc., the U.S. subsidiary he opened for FH Faulding, Australia’s largest pharmaceutical company, and CEO of Purepac Inc. 

In addition, Mr Ashton served with Pfizer International for 13 years in various roles, which included Director of Pharmaceutical Business Development for Europe/Canada, Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development for Africa/Middle East, Pharmaceutical Business Director of Nigeria and Group Product Manager for the International Division in New York.

Mr Ashton previously applied his pharmacist background to various management positions during six years at Merck Sharp and Dohme in Sydney and the U.S.

He is a member of the Boards of Hikma Plc., Proximagen Neuroscience Plc. and Transition Therapeutics Inc.