Why governance matters here
Proto Axiom operates the platform and also manages its own investment portfolio, and governance must separate these roles clearly.
SME selection for the incubator must be open, competitive, and free from conflicts of interest.
Universities, clinicians, and investors need assurance that the platform operates with institutional-grade probity.
Government co-investment requires governance that meets public accountability standards.
Governance principles
Four commitments that structure how decisions are made.
Independent selection
Open and competitive processes
SME selection through open competitive processes with external reviewers. Proto Axiom team members with conflicts of interest are excluded from selection decisions for affected ventures
Conflict-of-interest protocol
Disclosed and managed conflicts
Written protocol governing how conflicts are identified, disclosed, and managed. Applies to selection, funding allocation, and partner introductions
Three-committee structure
Separation of operational, investment, and fiduciary roles
Steering Committee for strategic and scientific direction, an independent Investment Review Committee for SME selection and funding decisions, and a Board with overall fiduciary responsibility for the Foundry
Transparency and reporting
Accountability to stakeholders
Regular reporting to funders, partners, and stakeholders on selection outcomes, milestone achievement, and use of funds
Committee structure
Governance is organised across three committees with distinct remits: a Board with overall fiduciary responsibility, an independent Investment Review Committee for SME selection and funding decisions, and a Steering Committee for operational and scientific direction. The structure separates fiduciary, investment, and operational roles to meet the standards expected by institutional partners and government co-funders.
Chair and Non-Executive Directors appointed; further directors being recruited
Board of Women’s Health Foundry
Top-level fiduciary body with overall responsibility for the Foundry's governance, financial stewardship, and accountability to funders and partners.
Composition. Independent Chair plus directors with clinical, academic, financial, and public-interest expertise.
- Chair — Sue MacLeman
- Non-Executive Director — Professor Victoria Cogger
- Non-Executive Director — Liza Noonan
- Finance and audit director
- Public-interest / consumer director
Recruitment underway
Investment Review Committee
Independent committee responsible for SME selection, stage-gate decisions, and funding allocations. Separated from the operator function to maintain selection integrity.
Composition. Senior translational scientists, clinical leaders, investors, and regulatory experts. Conflicted members are excluded from affected decisions under written protocol.
- Independent Chair
- Translational science member
- Clinical / regulatory member
- Industry / commercial member
- Investor member
Constituted
Steering Committee
Sets operational direction, scientific priorities, and ecosystem strategy for the platform. Convenes the operator team with specialist members from across academia, clinical practice, industry, and consumer advocacy.
Composition. Operator team alongside specialist members appointed for category and infrastructure expertise.
- Operator leadership
- Specialist members across category and infrastructure
Recruitment for the remaining Board seats and the Investment Review Committee is underway. Expressions of interest from qualified individuals are welcome via the register interest form.
Board and operator team
Inaugural Board Chair Sue MacLeman, Non-Executive Directors Professor Victoria Cogger and Liza Noonan, and the day-to-day operator team are profiled on the About page under Leadership.