International Team

Harnessing global expertise in the creation of a cell-based therapeutics business.

Dr Robert Caspari, Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Caspari is a physician with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. He has led clinical groups at international pharmaceutical companies and has worked in product manager and medical affairs roles. Dr. Caspari has also had significant clinical experience with diabetes. More recently, Dr. Caspari has held senior positions at US-based biotechnology companies. He was Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at Myogen Inc., and then President and CEO of Aurogen Inc., a drug development company focused on neurological disorders. Dr Caspari joined the Board of Directors in January 2008 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2008.

Dr Paul Tan, COO and CEO LCT NZ Operations

Dr. Tan has had wide experience on all aspects of assessment and selection of products for commercialisation, expansion of intellectual property, product development and managing critical paths, timelines and establishing and managing international partnership.

Dr Tan was previously Chief Executive Officer of CenTec Ltd and founding Deputy Director and Head of Health Division at Genesis Research & Development Corporation Limited. Dr Tan has been research fellow, associate professor in immunology and a physician rheumatologist and worked in Canada, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. He holds patents relating to the therapeutic uses of microbial products. He is also a member of the Management Committee of the Auckland branch of the biotechnology organisation NZBio, and sits on the Ministry of Health Interim Expert Committee for xenotransplantation.

Mr Richard Justice, CFO

Mr Justice is a qualified accountant, with post-graduate business management qualifications and extensive experience in the financial and operational management of high growth organisations.

Prior to joining LCT, Mr Justice was a Director and CEO (and before this was COO and CFO) of a major South Pacific IT company, which was headquartered in New Zealand, being listed initially on the ASE and later the TSE in Canada, before securing a main board NASDAQ listing (one of the few New Zealand based businesses to have accomplished this).

Professor Robert Bartlett Elliott, Medical Director

Professor Elliott trained as a Paediatrician at Adelaide University. He moved to New Zealand in 1970 to become the Foundation Professor, Department of Paediatrics at the University of Auckland.

Professor Elliott co-founded LCT. He is an Emeritus Professor of Child Health research, Professor of Paediatrics and a world leader in diabetes research. Professor Elliott is on the board of the New Zealand Child Health Foundation and the Wings Trust (a NZ trust for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse). He is also patron of the NZ Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 1999 he was awarded a CNZM (a Companion of the New Zealand order of merit) for services to the community.

Dr Julia Hill, Interim General Manager

Dr Hill has a PhD in Cell Biology and worked in the US as a post-doctoral scientist for several years before returning to Australia to complete an MBA.

Over the past 8 years Dr Hill has gained extensive experience in commercialisation of biotechnology. She has held positions within Research Institutes, start-up companies and Investment groups.

Dr Olga Garkavenko, Divisional Manager, Advanced Cell Materials and Head of Virology

Dr Garkavenko specialises in strategic design of cell biology research using advanced molecular biology tests for cell growth and differentiation. Dr Garkavenko holds a master of science MS (honours) in biochemistry from Kiev State University and has a PhD in from the Ukrainian Academy of Science at the institute of Oncology (Kiev, Ukraine).

Nominated as International Scientist and International Health Professional for the year for 2004 by the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, Dr Garkavenko is a member of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand, American Society of Microbiology, International Transplantation Society and International Xenotransplantation Association. In 1987, as Head of the Biomedical Research Department at the International Humanitarian Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of the Chernobyl Disaster, Dr Garkavenko initiated research programmes focused on diagnostic immune deficiencies in children.

Dr Livia Escobar, Divisional Manager Cell Production

Dr Escobar’s specialisation field is advanced techniques for cell production and encapsulation. Dr Escobar holds a medical degree MD, a bachelor in human biology and a diploma in paediatrics from the University of Chile and has worked in the field of cell transplant technology since 1987.

Dr Stephen Skinner, Divisional Manager, Neurosciences

Dr Skinner joined LCT from AgResearch, New Zealand and before that was in the Department of Paediatrics at Auckland University. He has spent several years in North America, at Harvard, Stanford and Toronto Universities and at Syntex Pharmaceuticals.

Dr A Ferguson, Veterinarian

Responsible for the management and health of special purpose pathogen-free pigs, and production of high quality porcine cells for LCT research and development programmes. Dr Ferguson is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the New Zealand and British Veterinary Associations.