Sue MacLeman, CEO, Benitec

Sue MacLeman talks to Fintan Walton about the story of the Australian company Benitec, its technologies and the role she has played within the company since she joined it in September 2006. They discuss the resolution of patent issues and how the company’s business model has moved from one focused on litigation to one on collaboration. Sue talks about Benitec's ongoing strategic plan and the importance of its long-term licensing relationships. She also reflects on recent company acquisitions in the RNAi sectors and what this might mean for the future of Benitec.

About Sue MacLeman

Sue MacLeman has extensive international senior management and leadership experience in product development and commercialisation in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Queensland in 1984, and went on to hold a number of specialist and senior pharmacist positions, both in Australia and overseas, in the areas of oncology, infectious diseases, drug information, emergency medicine and pharmacy administration. In 1991 she joined the pharmaceutical industry with Schering-Plough in its biotechnology business unit. She then went on to work with Amgen and Bristol-Myers Squibb in the areas of medicine, marketing, sales management and business development. In 2002 she took up the position of Global Vice President for Agenix where she was responsible for the production and development of the molecular clot imaging project. From 2004 to 2006 she was the CEO of the publicly listed Australian biotechnology and investment company EQiTX.

In addition to pharmacy qualifications, Sue MacLeman has completed a Fellowship with the Australian College of Pharmacy Practice and a Masters of Marketing at Melbourne University (Melbourne Business School). She is currently enrolled in a Masters of Commercial Law at Deakin University. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Director of AusBiotech, the industry body representing the Australian biotechnology sector.