That mantra leads me at all times to focus on how we (as a team or an organisation), can provide the customer with a product that will meet their needs – and in some cases, save their lives.

For example, in terms of my customer focus, when Quality Director, Baxter Bioscience Sarl, in Neuchatel, Switzerland, I changed the research focus of a team of 70 mostly R&D people to a manufacturing focus, (a tall ask) by bringing in actual customers who were using our Factor Eight lifesaving drug to speak with our team about how the drug had changed their lives.

So, my success and effectiveness are directly related to my consultative approach of taking people along with me, and an ability to communicate complex details in a consistent, clear and concise manner. Because of my international and multi-faceted experience (I speak four languages and have lived in a number of countries), I’m able to establish rapport quickly and effectively bring people along on the ‘journey’.

In short, I am customer and team focussed, constantly seeking ways to reach our strategic goals.

In my younger years, I was an international rower, and later a Coach of young people in a Talent Identification Program which took young people with no previous rowing experience to national and international status. The key lesson here for me, was to help these people take ownership for their own development and success – something that’s flowed on to my success as a manager across a number of organisations.

On the technical side, I have:

• A proven track record in strategic advisory roles and set-up, for new manufacturing operations.
• Effectively managed change and established change-management processes by involving stakeholders within and outside the organization in countries such as Australia, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, USA and New Zealand.
• Solved major technical problems in both Europe and the USA.
• Undertaken a number of business due diligence investigations illustrating operational and quality opportunities and risks, to help decide whether the ventures should proceed.

My expertise spans design and implementation of quality systems and quality control processes with design and implementation of various quality systems and Operational Improvement Processes applying effective Change Management processes.

I’ve also worked as a Business Broker, which has given me another perspective on how and why some businesses are successful (and very saleable) and others are not. This experience has been invaluable to ensure that any recommendations or changes I assist organisations with, are commercially viable.

Since starting Biotech Advisory Services, my consultancy advice has ranged from advising a medical practice on how to safely continue services during the Covid pandemic, to setting up a full quality system and assisting the reliability of a production plant in a start-up revolutionary medicinal product facility.

In my spare time, I recently copleted a Graduate Diploma in Health Management at Otago University (part time). In addition to its health focus, one further reason this course was of interest to me, is that it has three MBA subjects – Economics, Marketing and Strategic Leadership, areas that are essential for running all businesses.

So now, this passion for helping others be the best they can be, remains with me, and I look forward to learning new and innovative ways to help people succeed.

Give me a call and together we can succeed!