About BioCatalyst
BioCatalyst Ltd is a biotechnology advisory business established in 2005 and is based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Drawing on the experience and interests
of its two directors, Maxine Simmons and
John Kernohan, BioCatalyst is particularly well positioned to assist bioscience companies in optimising the business opportunity for their technology.
BioCatalyst can assist life science and biotechnology companies in the start-up
and later stages of company development, providing advice and interim management expertise as required.
Profiles
Maxine Simmons, MSc
Managing Director
In 1993 Maxine Simmons co-founded ICPbio, a privately held New Zealand Animal Health company which is considered the pioneering biotechnology company in New Zealand. As CEO, Maxine developed ICPbio into a world leader in the field of biological pharmaceuticals for animal reproduction. ICPbio undertook research, development, GMP manufacturing and marketing of its products in Auckland. From this base ICPbio developed markets and sold most of its products in North America, Europe and Australia. In June 2000 Maxine was recognised by the NZ Biotechnology Association for her contribution to the Industry in establishing and growing ICPbio into a significant biotechnology product exporter.
Since selling her interests in ICPbio in 2003. Maxine established BioCatalyst Ltd to use her experience to provide project management, business development advice and interim management services to early and later stage businesses, particularly biotechnology companies.
Maxine gained her BSc and MSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and Pathology at the University of Auckland and began her career in medical research at the University of Auckland, School of Medicine, exploring the immune response in the disease rheumatoid arthritis and later at the Auckland Blood Transfusion Service developing new diagnostic tests for blood disorders.
Maxine served on the government’s Technology New Zealand Advisory Committee before becoming a director on the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Board and Chair of Technology NZ. Maxine was also a founding member of the Industry New Zealand Board (now New Zealand Trade and Enterprise) and is currently a member of the NZBio/Auckland Committee, NZBio and New Zealand Institute of Directors.
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Contact Maxine:
Telephone: +64 9 810 9190
Mobile: +64 21 625 635
Email: maxine.simmons@biocatalyst.co.nz
John A Kernohan, PhD
Director
In 1988 John Kernohan joined the new Auckland UniServices Limited as founding CEO. UniServices is the commercial research and technology transfer organisation of the University of Auckland. By the time he retired in 2005, UNiServices had started more than 23 businesses in New Zealand, UK and USA and licensed more than 150 technologies.
In addition, UniServices had developed a contract research activity putting the University of Auckland into the top 20 of the world’s successful university originators of new technologies. UniServices has revenues of over $70 million annually and employs over 600 staff in its own right in addition to University employees who work on its projects.
Since retiring from UniServices. John continues to be involved in various aspects of business and research, particularly biotechnology projects through his involvement in BioCatalyst Limited. John was educated in Auckland and gained MSc from the University of Auckland in Chemistry, going on to complete a PhD is Chemistry at Boston University. He studied towards an MBA at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio.
For five years John worked various roles for General Electric Company in research, product development and manufacture of then state of the art luminescent materials for the lighting, aerospace, entertainment and medical fields. His projects involved R&D, manufacture and marketing. On returning to New Zealand he completed the change into business management, working for 14 years in various CEO roles for ICI involving the manufacture and marketing of mainly chemically-related products and introducing them to the market in New Zealand and the Pacific.
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Contact John:
Telephone: +64 9 528 4776
Mobile: +64 21 366 451
Email: john.kernohan@biocatalyst.co.nz