Expressions of interest open for AusBiotech's First 100 Days Policy Taskforce, with industry leaders being called on to help shape key policy positions ahead of the 2025 Federal Election.
With a new CEO at the helm, AusBiotech is developing the First 100 Days Policy Taskforce to support a refresh of AusBiotech's policy positions across a number of key areas.
The Taskforce will take into account member feedback the CEO has received over recent weeks since her appointment, insights gleaned by the AusBiotech team through a series of CEO Policy Roundtables, and through ongoing work with industry to explore capital attraction options.
AusBiotech is looking to bring clarity to the challenges and opportunities ahead of industry, the role that industry can play in addressing challenges, and the role industry sees government playing, as the Federal Government moves to fulfil its current signature policies and reviews, including a Future Made in Australia, the Strategic Examination of Australian Research & Development (R&D), and a new National Health and Medical Research Strategy.
"In my first 30 days as AusBiotech's new CEO, I have had the pleasure of meeting many people from across the life sciences and began discussions about the stubborn issues affecting our sector.
"In my first week as CEO, at AusMedtech 2024 we discussed opportunities for greater collaboration across our sector to start to break down some of the common issues. This week, while attending stakeholder meetings and events in Canberra, I had the opportunity to again discuss some of the same topics with peers from across the industry as well as the Department of Health and Aged Care.
"While my meetings with members and our stakeholders are continuing, the consistency of topics that have been raised presents an immediate window for more collaborative and focused discussion," says Rebekah Cassidy, CEO, AusBiotech.
At BIO 2024 in San Diego, AusBiotech co-hosted a roundtable with BIO which brought together the Hon. Ed Husic MP, Minister for Science and Innovation, and leaders from Australian and international companies, to discuss the big impediments to attracting greater investment and advancing the next stage of growth in Australia's life sciences sector. AusBiotech was also able to join international peers from the International Council of Biotechnology Associations in discussions about evolving global challenges and opportunities for the sector.
The Taskforce will meet three to four times over coming months with the goal of bringing a precision lens to a refresh of AusBiotech's policies across a number of key areas including but not necessarily limited to:
- Investment and funding;
- Taxation;
- Clinical trial capacity and growth;
- Regulatory and market access;
- Workforce, skills and talent; and
- Sovereign manufacturing capability
AusBiotech is already a trusted source of expert, evidence-based advice about Australia's life science ecosystem. The breadth of AusBiotech's membership and its unique role in representing the entire lifecycle, from spin outs to SMEs, through to research institutes, universities and large companies, creates an irreplaceable voice in good policy development.
