CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Kim brings over 25 years of experience in private equity and corporate finance across the medical and infrastructure sectors. Her international expertise spans the UK, Europe, North America, and Australasia, providing her with a global perspective on financial strategy and execution.   

Significant transactions throughout her career include a $6 billion private equity placement, achieving a 33% internal rate of return in 2003. She also played a key role in structuring a $2 billion off-take agreement for a US methanol plant involving a Saudi investor in 2017, and a comprehensive $4 billion asset valuation for the separation of Telecom New Zealand in 2007. Throughout her career, Kim has held senior positions within organizations including Soros (UK), Fortress (New York), PwC Corporate Finance, and NZ Treasury.

Kim was a founding investor and CFO for Taska where she was responsible for valuations, capital raising, establishing financial systems and reporting frameworks, and overseeing governance. Taska started with 3 people at a kitchen table and the idea of a robotic hand for amputees. In 2024, Taska employed over 60 staff with revenues of over $27 million and achieved a successful exit to an offshore private investor.

Kim currently serves as Company Secretary for Ginan Biomedics New Zealand as well as CFO for the group. Kim holds a Master's degree in Mathematics and Statistics (First Class Honours) and qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant (UK) in 2004. She has lectured at Auckland, Massey, and Waikato University in Mathematics and Statistics. Her strong analytical foundation and professional credentials underpin her strategic approach to financial leadership and decision-making.

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Russell is an accomplished engineering and operations leader with over a decade of experience in the medical device industry. Currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Ginan Biomedics, Russell brings a proven track record in leading complex technical programs from concept to commercialization, with deep expertise in product and process development, regulatory compliance, and large-scale manufacturing.

Before joining Ginan Biomedics, Russell held multiple leadership roles at Aroa Biosurgery in Auckland, New Zealand, culminating in his position as Director of Technical Operations. There, he led multidisciplinary teams responsible for engineering, technical services, facility operations, and ERP systems. His strategic oversight extended to leading capacity expansion initiatives, overseeing design transfer activities, supporting routine manufacturing, and managing a programme of continuous improvement projects.

Russell’s career at Aroa spanned several progressive roles including Senior Manager-Project Engineering and Engineering Manager-Projects. In these positions, he was instrumental in managing global product development collaborations and optimizing manufacturing processes to meet quality and regulatory standards across international markets. He also played a pivotal role in growing and mentoring high-performing engineering teams.

Russell holds a Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Elizabethtown College. He combines an in-depth understanding of engineering and the medical device product lifecycle with leadership acumen and a hands-on approach to innovation. Passionate about creating technologies that improve patient outcomes, he continues to lead the development of scalable, life-enhancing medical solutions.

CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER

Leonardo is a seasoned protein scientist and biotechnologist with over two decades of experience spanning pharmaceutical research, medical device development, and biotechnology leadership.  Leonardo holds a B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, an M.Sc. in Natural Products—during which he synthesized opioid peptides aimed at regulating intraocular pressure—and a Ph.D. in Chemistry, where he unravelled the chemical pathway of a biosynthetic enzyme.

Early in his career, Leonardo contributed to scientific research at Roche Molecular Systems and Lundbeck Research USA, where he led synthesis and characterization efforts for oligonucleotides and antidepressant compounds under stringent FDA, GMP, and ISO guidelines. His transition into the soft tissue medical device sector began at Aroa Biosurgery, where he pioneered bioactive polymer and ECM technologies for infection control in chronic wound care. This interest evolved further during his postdoctoral work, where he designed protein-based nanoscale structures and enzyme control systems with direct application in wound healing.

In executive roles, Leonardo held the role of Distinguished Scientist at Callaghan Innovation where he directed a team focused on enzymology, protein engineering, and product development for the biotech industry, served as Chief Technical Officer at Hi-Aspect Ltd where he directed the product development of protein nanotechnologies and currently leads scientific strategy as Chief Science Officer at Ginan Biomedics. At Ginan, he drives R&D in biomaterials for orthopedic applications, integrating his expertise in protein science with translational medical product development.

Leonardo is known for bridging academic innovation with commercial application, mentoring scientists, leading cross-functional teams, and contributing to cutting-edge biotech advancements across the US and New Zealand.

SENIOR MANAGER - OPERATIONS

Abdullah is an accomplished engineer and operations leader who brings over a decade of experience in the medical device industry, specialising in process development, capacity expansion, and operations. Abdullah has a proven track record in delivering new manufacturing processes into commercialisation, commercial scale-up, and operational transformation that supports business growth.

Abdullah leads BLT’s engineering and manufacturing teams across process development, manufacturing, operations, and supply chain. He is responsible for operational strategy and long-term capacity planning, supporting the company’s transition from development through to scalable commercial manufacture. He has driven significant cost reduction and operational efficiency across the organisation while maintaining a strong focus on product quality and regulatory compliance.

Earlier in his career, Abdullah held engineering, managerial and project leadership roles at Aroa Biosurgery, where he led the development and commercialisation of medical device products and delivered initiatives that expanded manufacturing capacity across the business.

Abdullah holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechatronics from Massey University, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering from Auckland University of Technology. He combines deep manufacturing expertise with a systematic approach to scaling operations in regulated environments, building the infrastructure required to bring ambitious medtech innovations to the patients they are designed to help.

HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Ellen is an accomplished biomedical engineer with over a decade of experience in the medical device industry, specializing in innovation, technology development, and translational research. Currently serving as Head of Technology and Innovation she leads the strategic development and commercialization of next-generation medical technologies.

Ellen’s expertise spans commercial manufacturing process development, preclinical evaluation, and regulatory submissions for medical devices. Her career at Allegra began in 2014 as an intern and progressed through roles in research and development, including Engineering Manager and Senior R&D Engineer, demonstrating a consistent trajectory of leadership and innovation.

She holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Sydney, where her research focused on the clinical translation of novel bioceramics for bone regeneration—specifically investigating scalable manufacturing processes and preclinical validation. She also earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical (Biomedical) Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Mathematics from the University of Sydney.

With a strong foundation in both engineering and science, Dr. Newsom is passionate about bringing advanced biomaterials and orthopedic solutions from the lab to the clinic, improving outcomes for patients worldwide.

FINANCE MANAGER

Matt is a seasoned financial executive with extensive expertise across the biomedical and agricultural industries. As Head of Global Finance for an international conglomerate, he led strategic initiatives and cross-continental finance teams in 6 countries, delivering operational efficiencies and strengthening financial performance across multiple markets. Through this experience, Matt has developed deep capability in capital raising, stakeholder engagement, and strategic fiscal management.

Demonstrating a strong entrepreneurial mindset, Matt has been a pioneer in the agritech, biomedical and functional food sectors, successfully advancing innovation into offshore markets. He also maintains an extensive network across multiple industries in the United States, supporting businesses in strengthening their financial governance, accounting frameworks and operational performance.

Committed to aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship, Matt is a strong advocate for circular economy principles and for minimising environmental impact within operations.

Matt graduated with honours with a degree in Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa.