Kathy Connell

Ms Kathy Connell is an internationally recognised healthcare and life sciences leader with deep and broad investment and licensing expertise, delivering a solid track record of value creating deals across pharmaceuticals, medtech, vaccines, consumer and digital healthcare for some of the world’s largest companies.

For the past 20 years, Kathy has held senior executive leadership positions in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer health sectors specialising in business development, licensing, acquisitions and venture investment. While at Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi, Kathy led external innovation investment, licensing and acquisition across ANZ, with more than $US1B of capital being deployed in Australia with industry, academia, VCs and government organisations. Recently Kathy led Korn Ferry Australia’s Life Sciences executive search and management-consulting division, developing bespoke talent management and remuneration solutions for biotech and pharmaceutical organisations. A dedicated advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion, Kathy has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the BioMelbourne Network’s Woman of the Year in 2018 for her leadership in supporting Australia’s high-priority strategic growth sectors of biotech, medtech and pharmaceuticals.

Kathy serves as a non-executive director on private and public Australian company boards, is an industry advisor and executive coach to several Australian biotechnology companies and universities. Kathy holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the La Trobe University, Post Graduate Diplomas in Law (The University of Melbourne) and Psychology (Monash University), is a Registered Psychologist and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).