Management Team
Andrea Grant PhD, BA (Hons)
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Grant has over 15 years executive experience in pharmaceutical and biotech companies in Europe, USA and New Zealand. She has both a BA Hons in Biochemistry and a PhD in Neuroscience from Cambridge University in the UK. Following her PhD she joined the R&D division of GlaxoSmithKline (UK) where her she was responsible for research and development of novel drug targets for treatment of neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s, epilepsy and Parkinson’s. In 1999, Andrea joined Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) as Commercial Director, Northern Europe. Following this, Dr Grant served as Business Director and then Managing Director at biotechnology company Galapagos NV (Euronext:GLPG). In both her roles at Incyte and Galapagos Andrea was successful at securing numerous high value research and licensing partnerships with global pharmaceutical partners.
Andrea immigrated to New Zealand in 2005 and took up the post of General Manger, The Peoples Centre Trust a primary healthcare provider in central Auckland. She then joined Roche Products (NZ) as Public Policy Manager, where she was responsible for government relations and corporate communications. Andrea held Board positions at The Peoples Centre Trust and Youth Mentoring Trust. Hence, together with her overseas commercial and operational management exposure, Andrea brings significant leadership and governance experience in the Australian and New Zealand government, health and biotech sectors.
Andrea started as CEO on 16 January 2012.Emeritus Professor Robert Elliott MBBS, MD, FRACP
Medical Director
Professor Elliott trained as a Paediatrician at Adelaide University. He moved to New Zealand in 1970 to become the Foundation Professor, Director of Paediatrics at The University of Auckland. Professor Elliott co founded LCT. He is an Emeritus Professor of Child Health Research and a world leader in diabetes and autoimmune related research.
In 1999 he was awarded a CNZM (a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to the community. In 2011 he was awarded the prestigious World Class New Zealander (Life Sciences) award.
He is on the board of Cure Kids, Wings Trust (a NZ trust for the treatment of alcohol and substance abuse) and patron of the NZ Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He is a director of Breath Easy Limited, a New Zealand company that is developing a new treatment for cystic fibrosis.
He was appointed to the board on 15 January 2004.Mr John Cowan
Head of Finance & Administration
Mr Cowan has over 30 years experience in senior finance positions in publicly listed companies with international operations and public benefit entities. He was Head Finance & Facilities at Auckland War Memorial Museum, CFO at the University of Auckland, Company Secretary at Mair Astley Limited and held senior finance positions in the Goodman Fielder Wattie Group.
He holds a BCA from Victoria University of Wellington and is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Dr Olga Garkavenko
Head of Research & Development
Dr Garkavenko is responsible for establishing the world’s first internationally accredited xenodiagnostic laboratory at LCT. She is also a Regional Director and coordinates LCT’s Russian clinical trials and relationships. Dr Garkavenko has been involved with LCT’s research on diagnostics of viral diseases in pigs and humans since 1997. Her highly acclaimed work has been published in numerous scientific journals and international meetings. She was nominated as International Scientist of the Year in 2004 by the International Biographical Center in Cambridge. Dr Garkavenko holds a PhD in Biochemistry, Oncology from the Kiev State University and Cancer Research Institute in Kiev, Ukraine. She is a member of Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand, American Society of Microbiology, International Transplantation Society, and International Xenotransplantation Association.Mr Peter Hosking
Quality Assurance Manager
Mr Hosking has a wealth of relevant skills and experience in the biotech sector. He has held senior Quality Assurance and Operations Management positions at ICPbio (NZ), Nufarm Health & Sciences (NZ), Pfizer (USA & UK) and Glaxo UK. Peter holds a B.Tech degree from Massey University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina. He is a past president of the New Zealand Biotechnology Association.Isobel Cooper
Head of Animal Welfare & Facilities
Isobel Cooper is a Fellow of the Institute of Animal Technology UK (NZQA BSc) with over 30 years’ experience in managing teams of animal technicians dedicated to caring for animals in breeding and research facilities.
In the UK Isobel worked for Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) for nearly 20 years. During her years at GSK Isobel managed breeding and research animal facilities with a large team of dedicated staff. Isobel was also part of the project team for the design and build of several new and refurbished animal facilities ranging from 3M GBP to over 50M GBP.
In 1998 Isobel immigrated to New Zealand and worked for Genesis Research and Development Corporation Ltd as the company Facilities Manager.
Isobel joined Living Cell Technologies in March 2004 to manage all the animal facilities. Since joining LCT Isobel has designed and built a pig breeding facility near Auckland and a large $2.5M sterile barrier pig breeding facility near Invercargill.