COMMERCIAL LEAD

30 years’ experience in global professional engineering and technology businesses. Craig had a background in science & engineering where he rose to a senior leadership role, and ownership, in SKM.  This was a business of 9000 staff.  Craig led the client team in NZ and sat on the Australian/NZ strategy team of 6.  This included leading projects with fees of over 30M.

Since 2015 Craig has moved into management consulting with a focus on commercialising new businesses.  This has included a number of board roles, working as CEO, leading capital raising, and shaping operational structures.  In particular, in the medical space, Craig was involved in bringing the Taska Prosthetic Robotic hand to market 7 years ago.  Craig was responsible for leading the company through its formative stages, securing key cornerstone funds, streamlining suppliers and design teams, and negotiating the early contracts for distribution into the USA and Europe. This private company turned over more than 20M last year and was recently sold by the current CEO and Board to the satisfaction of the happy investor group.

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Steve brings over three decades of experience in engineering, technology transfer, product commercialisation, and operational leadership across a diverse range of industries, including medical devices, aerospace, and enterprise software. As Chief Operations Officer at Ginan Biomedics, Steve leads the company’s operational strategy and execution, helping to drive innovation in regenerative medicine and soft tissue reconstruction.

Steve’s career began in the UK Ministry of Defence and QinetiQ, where he developed advanced aircraft inspection techniques and played a key role in the commercialisation of technologies, contributing to product innovation for clients in the aviation, rail, and motorsport sectors.

In the early 2000s, Steve transitioned into senior technology leadership roles, including Director of Technology at American Express Technology in London. There, he built and led high-performing teams, implemented rigorous project processes, and spearheaded change management initiatives.

Relocating to New Zealand, Steve held several operational leadership roles in fast-growing tech and medtech startups, including Taska Prosthetics and Optimal Workshop. He also provided strategic consultancy through his own venture, supporting businesses in engineering, agriculture and professional services to adopt lean principles, enhance governance, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

At Qual IT, Steve served as Business Development Manager and executive team member during a pivotal growth phase, overseeing a fourfold increase in headcount and spearheading business development, service delivery, and marketing transformation.

Steve’s multidisciplinary background is underpinned by a strong foundation in applied research and product development. He has consistently demonstrated a talent for translating complex technologies into scalable, market-ready solutions with global impact.

FINANCE LEAD

Kim has worked in private equity and corporate finance for 25+ years in a range of different industries in the UK, Europe, US, and Australasia, including Soros (UK) and Fortress (New York) joint venture, Todd Corporation (Australasia and North America), PwC Corporate Finance and the Treasury. Early in her career, Kim was a Chartered Management Accountant. Since then, she has extensive experience in start-up data analytics, financial modelling, valuations, fundraising, and governance. Kim was the founding CFO for Taska Prosthetics and established this company's financial systems, and managed the company's finances through the start-up phase.

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Russell is an accomplished engineering and operations leader with over a decade of experience in the medical device industry. Currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Ginan Biomedics, Russell brings a proven track record in leading complex technical programs from concept to commercialization, with deep expertise in product and process development, regulatory compliance, and large-scale manufacturing.

Before joining Ginan Biomedics, Russell held multiple leadership roles at Aroa Biosurgery in Auckland, New Zealand, culminating in his position as Director of Technical Operations. There, he led multidisciplinary teams responsible for engineering, technical services, facility operations, and ERP systems. His strategic oversight extended to leading capacity expansion initiatives, overseeing design transfer activities, supporting routine manufacturing, and managing a programme of continuous improvement projects.

Russell’s career at Aroa spanned several progressive roles including Senior Manager-Project Engineering and Engineering Manager-Projects. In these positions, he was instrumental in managing global product development collaborations and optimizing manufacturing processes to meet quality and regulatory standards across international markets. He also played a pivotal role in growing and mentoring high-performing engineering teams.

Russell holds a Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Elizabethtown College. He combines an in-depth understanding of engineering and the medical device product lifecycle with leadership acumen and a hands-on approach to innovation. Passionate about creating technologies that improve patient outcomes, he continues to lead the development of scalable, life-enhancing medical solutions.

CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER

Leonardo is a seasoned protein scientist and biotechnologist with over two decades of experience spanning pharmaceutical research, medical device development, and biotechnology leadership.  Leonardo holds a B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, an M.Sc. in Natural Products—during which he synthesized opioid peptides aimed at regulating intraocular pressure—and a Ph.D. in Chemistry, where he unravelled the chemical pathway of a biosynthetic enzyme.

Early in his career, Leonardo contributed to scientific research at Roche Molecular Systems and Lundbeck Research USA, where he led synthesis and characterization efforts for oligonucleotides and antidepressant compounds under stringent FDA, GMP, and ISO guidelines. His transition into the soft tissue medical device sector began at Aroa Biosurgery, where he pioneered bioactive polymer and ECM technologies for infection control in chronic wound care. This interest evolved further during his postdoctoral work, where he designed protein-based nanoscale structures and enzyme control systems with direct application in wound healing.

In executive roles, Leonardo held the role of Distinguished Scientist at Callaghan Innovation where he directed a team focused on enzymology, protein engineering, and product development for the biotech industry, served as Chief Technical Officer at Hi-Aspect Ltd where he directed the product development of protein nanotechnologies and currently leads scientific strategy as Chief Science Officer at Ginan Biomedics. At Ginan, he drives R&D in biomaterials for orthopedic applications, integrating his expertise in protein science with translational medical product development.

Leonardo is known for bridging academic innovation with commercial application, mentoring scientists, leading cross-functional teams, and contributing to cutting-edge biotech advancements across the US and New Zealand.

HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Ellen is an accomplished biomedical engineer with over a decade of experience in the medical device industry, specializing in innovation, technology development, and translational research. Currently serving as Head of Technology and Innovation she leads the strategic development and commercialization of next-generation medical technologies.

Ellen’s expertise spans commercial manufacturing process development, preclinical evaluation, and regulatory submissions for medical devices. Her career at Allegra began in 2014 as an intern and progressed through roles in research and development, including Engineering Manager and Senior R&D Engineer, demonstrating a consistent trajectory of leadership and innovation.

She holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Sydney, where her research focused on the clinical translation of novel bioceramics for bone regeneration—specifically investigating scalable manufacturing processes and preclinical validation. She also earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical (Biomedical) Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Mathematics from the University of Sydney.

With a strong foundation in both engineering and science, Dr. Newsom is passionate about bringing advanced biomaterials and orthopedic solutions from the lab to the clinic, improving outcomes for patients worldwide.