Biotech

PharmAust appoints new general manager for Epichem subsidiary

Go to Imelda Cotton author's page
By Imelda Cotton - 
PharmAust ASX PAA general manager Epichem subsidiary Fiona Milner

PharmAust has appointed a new general manager and business development manager to its medicinal chemistry company Epichem.

Copied

Clinical-stage biotechnology company PharmAust (ASX: PAA) has appointed industry executive Fiona Milner as general manager of its Perth-based subsidiary Epichem, effective end of June.

Ms Milner has 25 years of experience working for multinational companies in the pharmaceutical industry.

Most recently, she held the role of regional sales manager for Novartis Pharmaceuticals and has been with the company for 14 years.

Ms Milner received one of 35 first line manager awards in 2011 and 2019 from Novartis’ global chief executive officer in Switzerland, and was nominated for Telstra Business Woman of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

She held the role of state manager at pharmaceutical company Sanofi Aventis for 11 years, received the company’s State of the Nation award six times and was awarded Manager of the Year.

She is based in Perth and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology and physiology as well as a Diploma of Education majoring in science and mathematics.

Dynamic commitment

PharmAust executive chairman Dr Roger Aston said Ms Milner’s appointment will bring a “dynamic and clear commitment” to building growth and performance for Epichem, promoting diversity, harnessing change and embracing commercial opportunities.

“Fiona has an outstanding record in driving performance and adding value,” he said.

“We are confident she will be able to grow and diversify the Epichem business and take it to the next level of increased revenues and profitability.”

Second appointment

PharmAust has also appointed Ingrid Klopper to the role of Epichem business development manager.

Ms Klopper has a Bachelor of Science majoring in chemistry and applied chemistry.

She has studied computer science and information systems at university level and recently completed a Google-certified course in digital marketing.

Ms Klopper has over 10 years of experience in technical sales and account management in business-to-business (B2B) sales and business development.

She has worked across industries including life sciences, biotechnology, mining, industrial, agriculture, marine and construction.

“Ingrid will support Epichem’s strategy in business development, marketing, sales and social media to create and build long-term relationships and identify new clients and projects across the business,” Dr Aston said.

Epichem

For more than 18 years, Epichem has been delivering products and services in synthetic and medicinal chemistry to drug discovery and pharmaceutical industries in over 40 countries.

The business has state-of-the-art laboratories at Western Australia’s Technology Park and world-class equipment and expertise in synthetic and medicinal chemistry to support drug discovery projects.

Epichem has won a number of industry accolades during its establishment, including the WA Industry Export award for international health (in 2021, 2019, 2018 and 2017), the GHP Biotechnology award for most innovative chemistry service provider (2020 and 2021), and was nominated for an Australian Export and Investment award (2020).

Epichem has also been inducted into the WA Export Hall of Fame.