2023-24 Board of Directors

Dr AMANDA JONES

President

Amanda has a PhD in Medicine from the University of Queensland and has 20 years' experience in biomedical research, occupational health and safety, biosafety, risk, governance and compliance management.  She currently uses her knowledge and expertise to support leaders at all levels of organisations to enhance regulatory compliance and governance practices, build biorisk management capability, implement biosafety & biosecurity systems, and engage effectively with regulators.  Amanda is passionate about improving awareness and understandign of biological risks across complex organisations, and utilising management systems approaches to achieve best practice outcomes. 

Dr Richard Spence

 

Richard is the manager of the Assurance, Biosafety and Containment team at the Ministry for Primary Industries

National Biocontainment Laboratory in New Zealand and has responsibility for managing the systems that ensure

safe and secure laboratory operations.

Richard has a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Nottingham and has over 20 years experience in senior

scientific and managerial roles in diagnostic clinical and veterinary microbiology laboratories.

He has broad experience in working with and managing the risks associated with both animal and human

pathogens, including high risk zoonotic agents.

Richard is passionate about improving risk management and understanding around biosafety and biocontainment

in laboratories working with high consequence pathogens and the development of appropriately qualified and

experienced biosafety professionals to support this.

 

 

 

Dr NENAD FIREZ

Nenad holds a PhD in Microbiology and has over 25 years experience in the Life Sciences sector, he was a past president of ISPE Australasia. 

 

 

 

 

GREGOR RIESE

Gregor holds a Bachelor of Science from Macquarie University, he has also completed a Master of Science (UQ) and a Masters of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology (ECU).  Gregor has experience working for across several State and Federal Government Agencies including; SafeWork Australia, NSW Workcover and NSW EPA. Gregor also has several years governance experience as a Company Secretary.

BRETT COLE 

CHAIR GOVERNANCE, FINANCE AND RISK COMMITTEE

Brett Cole has been working in OHS/contamination control in the high containment, life sciences, healthcare and pharmaceutical market for over 25 years.  His formal qualifications are in Environmental Microbiology and Chemistry, Business, Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology, Public Health. His experience has been in academic microbiological research, medical devices for high-level disinfection, engineering controls for contamination abatement, materials handling, infectious and contaminated waste and facility microbial testing, decontamination, and remediation.  He has worked in Australia, Europe, New Zealand, North America, and Asia on many contamination projects from beta=lactam site remediation, animal facility infection, high containment, mould infestation, biological contaminated site decontamination. 

Dr Francesca Casu

CHAIR, REGULATORY LIAISON COMMITTEE

Francesca has over a decade of experience in microbiology laboratories across Italy and New Zealand.  For the past seven years, Francesca has overseen biosafety, biosecurity and compliance in the diverse and complex environment of the University of Auckland, managing a team to ensure adherence to national and international regulations. 

LISA VAN DUIN

Lisa van Duin is the Biorisk Manager at The University of Melbourne. She leads a small central Biorisk Management team of advisors and acts as the senior SME for the University. The Biorisk Management team supports the continual improvement of the UoM Biorisk Management Program - covering risk biological activities conducted across the University as well as providing specialised advice and assistance to University personnel. Lisa holds a Master of Science - First Class Honours in Medical Laboratory Science (Massey University) and is certified both as a Specialist Microbiologist in Biosafety Microbiology and as a Biosafety Professional (ABSA).