Management team
![Mr Daniel Abrahams](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Daniel-206x300.jpg)
![Ms Belinda Wade](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Belinda-Wade.jpg)
Belinda is also a graduate of the SA Enterprise Workshop, having been admitted to the highly competitive Entrepreneur Program in 2014.
![Ms Jane Keane](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Jane-Keane.jpg)
As an organised and skilled administrative professional with many years experience supporting senior management in finance, accounting, local government and education sectors, Jane is motivated to help the organisation’s administration processes run smoothly.
Please direct any administrative enquiries you have her way and she’ll be happy to help.
![Dr Gretta Koch](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gretta-Koch-pic-300x300.jpg)
Gretta has an Honours degree in Professional Writing & Communication and a PhD in Cultural Studies. She has a creative approach and enjoys connecting with a wide range of people to produce high quality communications that make a difference.
Research team
![Dr Mike Patane](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OIP-300x300.jpg)
A dynamic, results-driven, and commercially focused executive, Mike is responsible for guiding and advancing the organisation’s research strategy and initiatives and driving innovation in the marine bioproducts industry. He will work with our partners to develop and commercialise an exciting array of technologies that will help our environment, various industries and the community.
![Professor Wei Zhang](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Wei-Zhang.jpg)
In 1994 he completed his PhD in biochemical engineering at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He did his postdocs at University of Tokyo, Adelaide University and Cambridge University. In 2000, he joined Flinders University and became the Head of Plant Cell Culture Laboratory in the CRC for Bioproducts and obtained his Professorship in 2010.
![Professor Catriona Macleod](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Catriona-MacLeod.jpg)
With more than 20 years’ experience in leadership and management of collaborative applied research, Catriona has been a key investigator on 30 industry/government collaboration projects, a research leader in three CRCs (Aquaculture, Aquafin and Seafood) and is involved in numerous industry and government advisory groups. She currently leads nine multidisciplinary industry and government partnership projects worth more than $4 million.
![Professor Colin Barrow](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Colin-Barrow.jpg)
In his time at Deakin University, Colin has graduated more than 30 PhD students and been the primary supervisor of 12 post-doctoral fellows, mostly working in research aspects of marine biotechnology and bionanomaterials for food and agriculture applications.
![Professor Rob Capon](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Rob-Capon.jpg)
Rob has discovered natural products spanning all biosynthetic classes, many of them rare or new to science with valuable properties.
![Dr Kirsten Heimann](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Heimann-profile-shot-281x300.jpg)
As a recognised leader in Environmental, Industrial and Medical Biotechnology, Kirsten’s research focuses on closed system approaches using high-yield microbes in environmental, aqua- and agricultural and commercial applications for developing renewable products and sustainable industries.
In addition to her current role as Course Coordinator in Biotechnology, Kirsten has held several roles in education and training including the Associate Dean Teaching and Learning, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University in 2014.
Connect, Educate and Train (CET) program. Click to see the members of the CET Advisory Panel.
![Dr Simon Odell](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Simon-Odell.jpg)
Being a creative, people and outcome-oriented person, Simon enjoys drawing upon his diverse technical, industrial process, safety, training, auditing and structured problem solving skills to manage a wide variety of projects.
Board of Directors
![John Gunn](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/John-Gunn.jpg)
He has been a trusted advisor to Australian and State ministers and governments for more than 20 years and has worked at the interface between R&D and industry throughout his career.
![Heather Kent](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MBCRC-Board-photo-Launch-219x300.jpeg)
Heather’s numerous professional awards include: Telstra Business woman of the Year Awards Tasmania Winner/National Finalist – Community and Government, and Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Awarded Business Leader of the Year – SME Sector.
![Dr Kathy Ophel Keller](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/KathyOphelKeller.jpg)
Kathy’s research background is in plant biosecurity and molecular detection of plant pathogens, with a strong track record in developing and leading national research programs, with industry co-investment. She has held and continues to hold numerous Board and Committee positions.
Kathy chairs the MBCRC Research Committee.
![Dr Meera Verma](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Meera-Verma.jpg)
Meera is a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Adelaide and is a Non-Executive Director of Ausbiotech Ltd. and Biosensis Pty Ltd.
![Hon Niall Blair](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MBCRC-Niall-Blair-profile-photo--279x300.jpeg)
A strategic, innovative thinker and adopter of new technology and production systems, the Hon. Niall Blair is an accomplished Chairperson and negotiator, public spokesperson and diplomat with strong domestic and international trade connections, commercially focused.
He also has financial accountability and corporate governance experience with a strong background in risk management and safety, quality and environmental management system development and auditing.
![Dr Tony Peacock](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Tony-Peacock.jpg)
He is a Fellow of the Academy of Technology and Engineering and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2014, he was Monash University Churchill Fellow on the relationship between business and research in the USA, the UK, Germany and Singapore. He has consulted to the Governments of Taiwan and Vietnam on innovation models and has represented Australian innovation in Europe and the Asia Pacific.
![Dr Leah Talbot](https://mbcrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LeahTalbot-profile-pic-200x300.jpg)
Leah’s PhD research explored how Indigenous governance systems recognise and support the application of Indigenous knowledge in protected areas. She has a deep understanding of the role of Aboriginal people in contemporary environmental management.