SMART CRC Quarterly Showcase Strengthens National Collaboration in Victoria
Collaboration really does make us stronger. It’s a belief shared not just by the SMART CRC team, but right across the regenerative therapies sector.
Last week, more than 60 partners and associates came together at our Quarterly Showcase, hosted by RMIT at The Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery in Melbourne. The event brought industry, research, and delivery partners into one room to share challenges and opportunities and to spark new connections.
The Power of Partnership
Presenting at the Showcase, RMIT Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research Partnerships and Translation), Dr Heather St John, reinforced the value of diverse perspectives working together:
“No one organisation has everything needed to create real impact. It’s through partnerships that we move innovations beyond the lab.”
She also highlighted how forums like the Showcase help surface real challenges around scaleup and translation, giving partners the opportunity to tackle them together.
From an industry perspective, the message was clear: partners working with partners create impact.
Magellan Stem Cells CEO, Associate Professor Julien Freitag, shared why collaboration is essential:
“Industry knows where its skill and knowledge gaps are, which is why being part of the SMART CRC and its collaborative opportunities is so important.”
Similarly, EB Research Partnerships Australia Chair, Nathan Burmeister, reflected on the strength of the room:
“It feels like we’re talking to people who can help solve our challenges quickly. We have the brains in the room right now.”
Building the Workforce of the Future
A dedicated Workforce Development Panel explored how we build education, training, and workforce capability across the regenerative therapies sector. Which as we know is a critical enabler for long term success and sovereign capability.
Thank You to Our Presenters
We extend a sincere thank you to all partners who presented and contributed their expertise:
RMIT University
- Dr Heather St John
- Professor Brant Gibson
- Associate Professor Saffron Bryant
- Clare Russell, Director, Research Partnership and Initiatives
Magellan Stem Cells
- Associate Professor Julien Freitag, CEO
Invetech
- Andreas Knaack, President and CEO
Charles River Laboratories
- Business Development, Commercial Manufacturing
EB Research Partnerships Australia
- Nathan Burmeister, Chair
- Jerome Wielens, Chair – Research Advisory Group
- Simone Flanagan, Director
Celleo
- David Kneen, CEO and Head of Commercial
NCRIS Capabilities
- Dr Heather Donaghy, Therapeutic Innovation Australia
- Dr John Parisot, BioPlatforms Australia, Phenomics Australia & Therapeutic Innovation Australia
MTP Connect
- Jarrod Belcher, Director of Partnerships
TAFE NSW
- Juliette Anich, Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships
Manufacturing Skills Queensland
- Cameron Bell, Industry Engagement Manager – Emerging Industries
Epworth Health (proxy for AusBiotech)
- Dominic Fernandez, Scientific Lead – Cell Therapy and Immunotherapy
KE Select
- Kerry McMahon, Managing Director
What’s Next
The SMART CRC Quarterly Showcase series is an exclusive opportunity for partners to connect, collaborate, and shape what comes next. We’re already looking forward to our next Showcase, to be held midyear in South Australia.
The SMART CRC Quarterly Showcase series is an exciting opportunity for partners and associates to connect, collaborate, and shape what comes next. We’re already looking forward to our next Showcase, to be held in June in South Australia.