Why governance matters here
Proto Axiom operates the platform and also manages its own investment portfolio — 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
Advisory board
Independent governance structure
Independent advisory board with clinical, academic, consumer, industry, and investor representation. Defined terms, meeting cadence, and decision scope
Transparency and reporting
Accountability to stakeholders
Regular reporting to funders, partners, and stakeholders on selection outcomes, milestone achievement, and use of funds
Advisory board
The independent advisory board is being constituted with six members representing clinical, academic, consumer, industry, investor, and regulatory perspectives. Board members will have defined terms, meeting cadence, and decision scope.
Independent Chair
To be announced
Clinical or academic leader in women’s health with national standing. Appointment being finalised.
Consumer Representative
Stephanie Allen
Lived experience advocate with governance capability. Ensuring patient and community voice in selection and design decisions.
Academic Representative
To be announced
Senior researcher from a university partner institution. Bridging research excellence and translation readiness assessment.
Industry / Pharma Representative
Annalisa Jenkins
Non-Executive Director of Proto Axiom. Former EVP and Head of Global R&D at Merck Serono. Deep pharmaceutical industry experience spanning clinical development, regulatory affairs, and commercial launch.
Investor Representative
Kathy Connell, GAICD
Non-Executive Director of Proto Axiom. Experienced institutional governance leader with cross-sector investment oversight and fiduciary expertise.
Regulatory / Health Economics Advisor
To be announced
TGA, PBAC, and health technology assessment expertise. Advising on evidence requirements and reimbursement pathway design.
Board appointments are being finalised. Expressions of interest from qualified individuals are welcome via the register interest form.
Operator team
Proto Axiom designs and runs the platform. The operator role is distinct from the selection and advisory functions to maintain independence and meet the governance expectations of government co-funders, institutional partners, and the research community.
Anthony Liveris
Chief Executive Officer
Proto Axiom
Builder-operator leading platform design, partner alignment, and capital strategy. Led creation of 8 portfolio companies from Australian university science with A$45M raised across 33 investors. Author of ‘Women’s health is Australia’s biggest underpriced asset’ (Capital Brief).
Hugh McGonagle
Chief Operating Officer
Proto Axiom
Responsible for operating model execution, milestone frameworks, and day-to-day platform operations. Oversees the 30-person operations team spanning investment, science, and company building.
Gavin MacLaren
Chair
Proto Axiom
Board governance and strategic oversight. Ensuring alignment between platform operations and institutional-grade standards. Legal and commercial background with deep experience in venture governance.
Platform delivery team
The operator team is supported by a broader group spanning scientific diligence, investment analysis, financial operations, and program delivery — drawn from Proto Axiom's 30-person operations team.
Lindsay Wu, PhD
Chief Science Officer
Leads scientific diligence, evidence strategy, and research translation assessment across the portfolio. Academic background with deep expertise in translational science.
Tony Haddad
Operating Partner
Senior operating capability across venture building, commercial strategy, and portfolio company support. Bridges strategy and execution for platform ventures.
Laura Wimberger, PhD
Investment Associate
Investment analysis, deal diligence, and pipeline management. Scientific training combined with venture assessment capability.
Charlie Selth
Chief of Staff
Coordinates cross-functional execution, stakeholder engagement, and program delivery. Ensures operational alignment across platform workstreams.
John Roach
Head of Finance
Financial operations, fund administration, and reporting. Responsible for milestone-linked capital deployment and financial accountability to co-funders.
Richard Wang, PhD
Science Analyst
Scientific analysis and research assessment supporting diligence and evidence planning across therapeutic focus areas.
Marina Naidion
Business Manager
Business operations and administration supporting platform delivery and stakeholder coordination.
This is a representative selection. The full Proto Axiom team includes additional capability across legal, communications, and portfolio operations.