Our Team
Management of the fund is undertaken by Trans Tasman Fund Management Pty. Ltd. (TTFM), a company established by the collaboration specifically for this purpose. TTFM is managed by a team of successful entrepreneurs and/or commercialisation experts who have been instrumental in assisting the development of new companies and licensing opportunities in Australia and New Zealand.
Andrew O’Brien PhD MBA - Senior Investment Manager (Melbourne)
Andrew is the Managing Director and Responsible Officer of Grannus Securities (AFSL 307398), a boutique Australian healthcare and biotechnology advisory firm. At Grannus Securities, Andrew has advised public and private corporates on capital markets transactions and mergers and acquisitions, operational strategy including recently acting as the CEO of BioDiem Ltd, an ASX listed biotechnology company, as well as investment advisory roles for the venture industry and family office networks.
Previous roles include Morgan Stanley’s Corporate Finance Healthcare team in New York and London covering clients in the pharmaceutical and emerging European biotechnology market. During this period, Andrew was instrumental in completing a number of landmark transactions including the public offerings for deCODE genetics Inc, LION biosciences Inc, MediGene AG; and Actelion Inc; as well as advising Tibotec Virco on its sale to J&J and advising SmithKline Beecham on the merger of equals with GlaxoWellcome. Upon returning to Australia, Andrew joined Deutsche Bank AG, advising on healthcare transactions such as the DCA Group’s acquisition of Medical Imaging Australia, and the associated acquisition financing package.
Andrew has a PhD in biotechnology focusing on gene regulation in the context of seasonal asthma and hayfever, an MBA and acts as adjunct senior lecturer to the University of Melbourne teaching Technology Entrepreneurship.
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Michael Bettess PhD MBA - Investment Manager (Melbourne)
Michael has over 15 years experience in both life science research and technology commercialisation. His commercial roles have been predominantly in the identification, development and commercialisation of academic derived opportunities. Michael has invested seed capital successfully into early stage university research and project managed opportunities through to licensing deals with commercial partners. He has additional experience in academic/industry research collaborations and spin-out company formation. Prior to joining the TTCF, Michael was a ‘Roche Research Foundation’ Post-Doctoral fellow at the Swiss Experimental Cancer Research Institute (ISREC) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Upon his return to Australia he was appointed Manager of Commercial Development at Flinders Partners Pty. Ltd. (the commercialisation company of Flinders University in Adelaide). Michael holds a first class honours degree and PhD in developmental and stem cell biology from the University of Adelaide and an MBA from the Chifley Business School (La Trobe University).
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Craig Reilly BA(Economics) MBA - Investment Manager (Auckland)
Craig has extensive domestic and international experience in general management, corporate finance advisory and strategic consulting across a breadth of industries and both private and public sectors, the most recent experience being in energy and biotechnology. He has worked for such organisations as The Treasury, TXU Australia, Ernst & Young Corporate Finance (Aus and NZ) and the Housing Corp of NZ. He has undertaken assignments for such entities as NZTE, ICube Limited, GraceLinc, Ludowici (Aus), Pacific Edge Biotechnology, IBEX Limited, Meridian Energy and Evivar Medical Pty Limited. Craig has a proven track record in company strategy, objectives and planning, business development, strategic alliances, change management, project management, mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, privatisation and asset sales. Craig has a Bachelor of Arts with Economics Major, University of Canterbury and an MBA from Monash University (1997). He has also undertaken the 'Leadership Development Program' conducted by the Australian Management College at Mt. Eliza Business School, Melbourne and the Advanced Management Program, Monash Mt Eliza Business School.
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Roger Coats - Investment Manager (Adelaide)
Roger has 22 years experience in origination and syndication. Roger was pivotal in originating and syndicating more than 200 bond and equity issues raising billions of dollars in a multitude of currencies. Originally focused on Eurobond New Issues with Merrill Lynch in London, Roger expanded into Yen loans, domestic bonds and US 144a placements for sovereign, corporate and infrastructure clients with Hambros and ABN Amro in Sydney. As Head of Capital Markets for BNP Paribas in Sydney, Roger established the bank's debt markets origination and trading business. Since 2002 Roger assisted several technology based companies in Adelaide restructure to raise funding through Initial Public Offerings and venture capital. As Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Living Cell Technology, Roger led the team through two stock market listings raising over $20million. Roger restructured Opto Global and, as COO, arranged funding with angel investors and a venture capital group. Roger brings significant deal structuring and corporate strategic experience to the team.
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Ty Yengi MBA M.Sc&TComm - Investment Associate (Adelaide)
Ty has several years experience in technology commercialisation and business development with SME’s and start-ups across a range of industries including ICT, Biotech, Engineering, Mining and Manufacturing. Ty holds an MBA from The University of South Australia and a Master of Science and Technology Commercialisation from The University of Adelaide.
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Elaine Theodore - Administration Manager (Melbourne)
Lanie has significant experience as an Executive/Personal Assistant and Administration Manager in a range of organisations. Lanie spent 17 years with AVJennings Homes and has extensive experience in a wide range of industries. Most recently, Lanie was Office Manager at Stem Cell Sciences Ltd., an ASX listed Biotechnology Company that was recently acquired by Stem Cells Inc.
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