Key Speakers

Adjunct Professor John Skerritt heads the Health Products Regulation Group, which works to safeguard and enhance the health of all Australians through effective, timely and risk proportionate regulation of therapeutic goods and control of drug import, export and production. He was formerly a Deputy Secretary in the Victorian Government and has extensive experience in medical, agricultural and environmental policy, regulation, research management, technology application and commercialisation. John was previously the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of a Commonwealth Statutory Authority, a Ministerial appointee on the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and Chair of the Board of a major international technical organisation. 

John has significant experience on Boards of international and national organisations and more than 25 years’ experience in negotiating and leading international technical and commercial collaborations. He is currently Vice-Chair of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Centre for Innovation in Regulatory Science.

Adam is currently VP and Head of Asia Pacific with BieGene, a global commercial stage biotechnology company focused on innovative and affordable cancer medicines for patients worldwide. In his current role, Adam has full P&L accountability as well as responsibility for people leadership, commercial strategy, market access, pricing, sales, and marketing. In addition to his role with BeiGene, Adam was recently elected to the Medicines Australia Board of Directors. Prior to his current role, Adam was VP and Head of Oncology Business Unit at Janssen Japan with accountability for commercial strategy, P&L management, sales execution, people leadership and developing talent. Adam was a member of the Japan operating company Management Board and pharmaceutical sector sponsor for Diversity and Inclusion. Before this, Adam was Senior Director, Global Emerging Market Access, responsible for building central market access capabilities, developing strategies and implementing go-to-market commercial models to address the opportunities and challenges faced by Emerging Markets. Before this, Adam was a Business Unit Director for Immunology and CVM at Janssen UK and member of the UK operating company Management Committee with Executive Sponsorship for Diversity and Inclusion. Adam began his pharmaceutical career with Johnson & Johnson in corporate affairs with responsibilities across communications, advocacy, government affairs and policy. Since then, Adam has held various market access and commercial leadership roles in Asia Pacific, EMEA and the USA. Before joining Johnson & Johnson, Adam gained diverse career experience in management consulting, start-ups and served as a ministerial adviser within the Australian federal government. Adam holds a Bachelor of Manufacturing Management (University of Technology, Sydney), a Master of Arts (University of New South Wales) and a Master of Business Administration (Macquarie Graduate School of Management). Adam is currently living in Sydney with his wife Kate and two children Oliver (14 years) and Isabella (12 years).