Life science and women in STEMM champion Dr Lusia Guthrie lauded by peers

Each year, the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Industry Excellence Awards are presented at the AusBiotech national conference, recognising the highest achievers in Australian life sciences. From researchers who successfully translate their discoveries to clinical practice, to companies who pioneer the developments of new treatments and reliable diagnostics, these prestigious Awards recognise the leading lights of Australia’s world-class biotechnology, medical technology and healthcare sectors. 

Dr Lusia Guthrie, of ARMI’s Industry Advisory Committee,  awarded the AusBiotech and Johnson & Johnson 2017 Industry Leadership Award. This award seeks candidates who have already made a significant difference to the industry and have an outstanding commitment to life sciences/biotechnology that often goes beyond the ‘job description’.

Lusia embodies the great wealth of experience, standard of excellence, generosity of spirit and camaraderie that the Australian biotech and medtech sector is renowned for. Lusia is one of only a few women in Australia who is the founder of a biotech or medtech company. She is an active mentor and generous contributor to the success of Australia’s innovation industries and her legacy can be measured in the people, technologies, companies and institutions that she invests in.

Lusia has 30+ years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sector. Most recently as CEO and co-founder of LBT Innovations where she was involved in raising more than $55millions leading the company’s ASX listing and delivering a list of impressive clinical and commercial results.

Lusia’s impact on the innovation industries stretches far beyond South Australia. Previously serving on the Manufacturing Consultative Council for the Government of South Australia, the Commonwealth Government’s Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council, and the Assessment Panel for the Medical Device Commercialisation Program at the SA Department of Trade and Economic Development, Lusia’s contribution is on a national and international scale.

Lusia has also served on the ACVT Industry Advisory Panel at the University of Adelaide, the AusBiotech’s Medical Devices Advisory Committee, and last year stepped into the role of interim CEO of BioMelbourne Network.

The ARMI Industry Advisory Committee established this year, was honoured to welcome Lusia as a member, bringing her considerable commercialisation experience and industry network forward in support of our translation goals for regenerative medicine in Australia. 

This impressive list illustrates how much Lusia is invested in the success of Australia’s innovation sector all the while maintaining momentum at LBT to deliver value for shareholders and to successfully commercialise an impressive technology that saves lives and is shaping the global revolution in automated pathology services and digital healthcare.

Women in STEMM and women in leadership is an issue Lusia is deeply committed to.  She has for many years championed women in the sector and acted as both an advisor and sponsor, supporting many women to reach higher and to access opportunities that may have otherwise eluded them.

The ARMI Board and Institute Management could not think of an individual more worthy of this national recognition which is what drove us to nominate her for this award.

Note: This article contains extracts from the official nomination of Lusia Guthrie by ARMI.