Our breeding program will ensure Australia continues to be a global leader in the production of Manuka honey and Manuka oil. ManukaLife owns the intellectual property and plant breeding rights of these programs that will underpin the future genetics of the Manuka industry in Australia.
ManukaLife’s foundation was based on science, which began with the Leptospermum Plant Breeding Program (PBP), developed to improve the outcomes of premium agricultural Manuka honey and oil crop. We knew that in order to establish a world’s best practice agricultural industry, one of the first requirements was to safeguard the quality of the Manuka plant stock and biosecurity protocols to ensure supply chain efficiencies. Our commitment to developing intellectual property through long term scientific research and plant breeding will ensure industry leadership, ongoing market access and global competitiveness.
ManukaLife, in conjunction with Kings Park and USC and funded by the Federal Government (AgriFutures), established a Plant Breeding Program for Leptospermum. In 2015 and 2016, Manukalife selected high-grade varietals of Leptospermum from Australia and New Zealand. In late 2016, we commenced work with the Botanic Gardens Parks Authority (BGPA) to develop hybrid Manuka honey and oil plants to maximise yields. The commercialisation of these genetics is underway with partnerships to grow, harvest and produce high-grade Manuka honey and oil. In parallel, sales of natural science-based value add products into medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical and essential oil global distribution channels are being developed.
The objective of our plant breeding programs is to expedite plant selection, plant breeding, propagation and plantation management capability within the Manuka honey and oil industries in Australia. Our goal is to produce elite genetics and superior agricultural outcomes to the current standards.
Joe has recently joined ManukaLife and brings 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, with a focus on commercialisation, marketing and sales. He has been appointed to aggressively drive MaukaLife’s presence into international markets, with an intentional focus on Manuka products that focus on the therapeutic and medicinal attributes of Manuka.
Previously, Joe was a CEO of another major Australian Manuka company and also worked as interim CEO for two Australian biotechnology companies, having completed licensing deals across several global territories and raising more than $20m in capital. Joe also helped form the AMHA, the key industry body for the Australian Manuka Honey industry.
Joe’s extensive experience also includes five and half years as General Manager of Gilead Sciences, the world’s largest biotechnology company, for Australia, New Zealand and Asia. As head of the subsidiary at Gilead, Joe led the growth of the business by almost 900% over his 5-year tenure and gained extensive experience in business development, product licensing and corporate development.
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As CEO of Fund Singapore, an equity-based and debt-based company that specialises in investing in startups, SMEs, publicly listed companies and real estate projects, Lester oversees the management and execution of strategies for the Company.
Prior to this, Lester headed the investment strategies and operations of a private equity and venture capital firm.
Dr Loh is a practising plant scientist and is one of the pioneering bio-entrepreneurs in Singapore who has successfully established the commercial application of biological and molecular techniques to plant and crop improvements in the agro-based industries in the ASEAN region.
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In recognition of his leadership to the Singaporean community, Dr Loh was conferred the Pingkat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM – the Public Service Medal) in 2001 and the Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (BBM – The Public Service Star) in 2006 by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Singapore.
In Jan 2015 Paul Callander Co-founded and became Managing Director at ManukaLife. Paul is responsible for the company’s strategy and growth and has twenty-five years’ experience in building companies from start-up to large profitable listed entities.
Paul started as a Commercial Pilot and graduated from the Western Australian Aviation Academy with a Senior Commercial Airline Pilots license. He served with several Aircraft operations as a Commercial pilot.
He spent ten years in Silicon Valley with a startup in semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing with Lam Research (NASDAQ – LRCX) where he was Vice President for Asia Pacific operations. Asia became a significant region for LRCX and Paul established offices, joint ventures, manufacturing, and was responsible for all operations in the region. On his departure, LRCX had a market cap of approx. US$1.5Bn
Paul subsequently moved to Singapore and founded a software company Integrated Process and Retrieval Solutions (IPRS) Asia Pacific Pty Ltd. He then merged this with a U.S. Software firm Optika Inc. a provider of electronic business solutions. Paul continued on as part of the executive management team as Vice President of Asia Pacific and listed the company on NASDAQ.
He joined Canadian start-up company Taleo Inc to establish Asia Pacific operations initially in Sydney. Recruited as Managing Director Paul had full responsibilities for all operations throughout the region. Taleo became the global leader in Software as a Service (SaaS) for Talent Management Solutions. He was a part of the executive team when Taleo listed on NASDAQ. Taleo was acquired by Oracle for US$1Bn.
Paul became aware of the current and growing demand for Manuka honey and, together with Tony Woods, embarked on establishing a Manuka honey industry. Their vision extends beyond the production of honey to the establishment of apiary businesses, product manufacturing, plant breeding and intellectual property, research and development etc.
Paul’s extensive corporate experience with establishing and growing viable companies, developing strategic partnerships, capital raising, investor relations, manufacturing, joint ventures, and distribution and marketing agreements has been invaluable to the successful foundation and growth of ManukaLife Pty Ltd
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Raised in a mixed farming background in Western Australia Tony has a background in broad acre agriculture as well as experience in the establishment of horticultural enterprises having initiated large scale native flower production with Horticultural Industries Australia as well as commercial “Food Tree” (Chestnut) enterprises. Following university Tony worked on and ran the family farm, established export markets for high quality commercially grown Western Australian wildflowers and became a founding director of HIA before working extensively overseas.
With extensive experience working in and managing teams to obtain positive outcomes Tony has been involved in successful management of businesses domestically and abroad.
Tony was involved in the establishment and management of several technology companies in Asia pacific, the USA, and Europe before returning to Australia and establishing Manukalife Pty Ltd.
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Richard provides ManukaLife with operational and technical advice as well as introductions to landowners, potential partners and contractors. He has more than 35 years’ experience in forest management and research and development in both native forests and plantations (pine and hardwood) in the south-west of Western Australia, SA and Victoria.
Richard has experience in both the private and public sectors and has represented the industry on a range of national boards.
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Paul has practised for over 35 years as a commercial lawyer.
He was a Partner and Principal of Talbot & Olivier Lawyers between 1985 and 2014 and Managing Partner for 11 years. Paul was a Partner at Jarman McKenna from 2014 to 2016 and in 2016 joined Cullen Macleod as a Principal. He assists many clients in the agri-business and commercial sectors.
Paul is an accredited adviser with Family Business Australia (FBA), a board member of the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce in Western Australia and Vice President of the Australasian Chapter of the International Wine Law Association. Paul is a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia and a member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners.
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Alastair provides financial and corporate advice to ManukaLife, overseeing day-to-day accounting functions and assisting management with strategic planning and budgeting.
Alastair has 30 years’ experience in accounting as a chief financial officer and company secretary of both private and ASX listed companies.
He has a broad range of experience in Industries including mining, medical, construction, aviation and telecommunications and has been integrally involved in start-up businesses, ASX listings and takeovers.
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John is the Managing Partner of JBC Corporate, Chartered Accountants, and practises principally in the area of complex tax matters and corporate services, including due diligence, compliance, financial accounting and reporting. He consults and advises industry groups and organisations throughout Australia, including government and industry groups, taking the role of facilitator and specialist adviser. His other areas of interest include crop insurance, risk management and marketing. John has a keen personal and professional interest in agri-business based industries which, together with his diverse commercial and taxation experience, are invaluable to the enhancement of management and corporate structures.
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Eduard is a senior professional with 40 years’ experience in food and agriculture – at both a peak industry body level and at producer level. He has extensive and specific experience in the honey industry. Eduard has sound financial management skills, experience of international exporting trade, corporate governance, policy development and risk management with strong professional, government and private sector links. Eduard also has vast international experience dealing with business and government representatives in countries including Japan, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Dubai.
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Dr Golledge is a Physician in Infection Management and a Clinical Microbiologist with 28 years of consultant experience.
He completed his microbiology training at Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Fremantle Hospitals and in 1990 embarked on advanced training in Infectious Diseases at the City Hospital and Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. He returned to Perth in 1991 and was a consultant in microbiology and infectious diseases at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital until the end of 2017. During this time he was instrumental in setting up the inaugural SCGH Infectious Diseases Service and the Hospital In The Home Service.
Dr Golledge has also been in private practice in Infectious Diseases since 1995 and is now the Executive Director of Infections West Pty Ltd, Perth’s largest private Infectious Diseases practice and consults from his rooms in West Leederville and also provides consultation and admission service to Hollywood Private Hospital and St John of God Hospital Subiaco.
