12.00pm-12.55pm
Plenary
In an increasingly dynamic and globally competitive Clinical Investigations environment, Australia is investing heavily in a range of initiatives designed to attract more medtech studies. These include the National One Stop Shop to streamline study start up and completion times, expanding patient recruitment pathway through tele-trial networks and leverage Austrade’s capability to support local Clinical Investigators with their efforts to attract more and more studies to Australia. Come hear a range of industry and advocacy perspectives on how MTAA and colleagues can support your internal clinical study attraction and advocacy efforts.
Deborah is currently the Australasian Executive Director of Business Development for Avania, a leading global MedTech CRO. Prior to this Deborah was the Managing Director and Founder of Five Corners, a boutique CRO which merged with Avania in 2018. Deborah trained as a registered nurse in the UK and has incorporated her skills to provide effective clinical trial execution and field clinical support for international and Australasian clients. She provides regulatory guidance and has been responsible for the successful reimbursement approval of a number of novel and innovative technologies through both MSAC and Prostheses Listing. She now combines her many years of experience in proving strategic guidance for clients on their journey of medical device development from inception to commercialisation and remains passionate about streamlining the regulatory and clinical processes to bring new technologies to patients. Deborah is the current chair of the MTAA Clinical Investigation Forum and attends the MTAA IPC on behalf of this group. Deborah also serves on the CTIQ Exec Committee.
In the 22 years that Milena Bliss has worked at Austrade, she has held a variety of roles, including Business Development Manager in Auckland, Trade and Investment Adviser and now Associate Director – Medtech Lead at Austrade based in Sydney. Milena’s work focuses on assisting Australian medtech, devices and diagnostics exporters with overseas market expansion. She has assisted scale-ups and experienced exporters with market growth strategies across North America, Europe and Asia. Her previous career experience has been an asset to understanding the challenges faced by exporters, as she encountered many of these in her capacity as: procurement specialist for the Auckland District Health Board, IT portfolio contract manager with AMP Life Insurance, and IT contract negotiator for a global outsourcing systems integrator – EDS/Hewlett Packard. Milena holds an European university degree in International Economic Relations with excellence. She has also written a research paper on Austrade (as part of her last year at university) and Diploma Paper on the subject of: ‘Australia’s leading role in international opal trade’.
Adam Bicego serves as the Medical and Surgical Country Business Leader for Solventum Australia, the healthcare spinoff of 3M. With over two decades of senior leadership experience, Adam brings a strong track record of driving innovation and strategic growth. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University, is a qualified Chartered Accountant, and earned his MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management. Adam is a passionate advocate for clinical evidence generation and routinely engages Solventum’s world-class medical affairs team with clinicians nationally to develop case studies, case series, and RCTs using Solventum’s cutting-edge product portfolio. Progressive Solventum investment in clinical research has translated into real-world, life-saving practice changes and measurable health system improvements. Adam believes Australia holds a unique competitive edge in producing globally recognised clinical evidence and continues to champion its role on the international stage.
Manoj is a Partner in L.E.K’s healthcare practice based in Melbourne. He brings deep experience in the pharma/medtech development lifecycle, having led a national research centre developing early-stage immunotherapies, building academia-pharma partnerships to commercialise attractive technologies, and working with MedTech and pharma clients on strategic growth initiatives. Recent projects include: Multiple commercial due diligences of an Australian clinical research organisation for a financial sponsor Multiple growth strategy projects for Australian clinical research organisations Development of multiple editions of a public report for MTPConnect on the value of clinical trials in Australia, and on skills gaps across the medtech and pharma ecosystem in Australia Manoj holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Vanderbilt University (USA) and a MBA from Melbourne Business School.
12.10pm-12.55pm
Concurrent
In an increasingly competitive MedTech landscape, the ability to attract, retain, and support top talent has never been more critical. This session explores strategies to build high-performing teams by aligning talent acquisition with organisational purpose and culture, and by fostering environments that prioritise workforce resilience and mental wellbeing. Industry leaders and workforce experts will discuss how to future-proof your organisation through employee engagement, psychological safety, and proactive mental fitness programs that drive retention and performance.
Colleen Brooks is a Principal Consultant at HealthConsult, specialising in digital health strategy, evaluation, and implementation. She has extensive international and Australian experience, including leadership roles in Singapore and Saudi Arabia, and has contributed to national initiatives such as digital health assessment frameworks and interoperability policy reviews. With a background in pharmacy and health economics, Colleen brings both clinical and technical expertise to her work with governments, health services, and industry. Her consulting experience spans reimbursement models, digital therapeutics, interoperability, and large-scale transformation projects, enabling clients to navigate regulatory, funding, and implementation challenges across the health system.
Jada Hobson is an experienced leader in the Medical Device sector, with a proven track record of driving growth, building resilient teams, and shaping market access strategies. As Country Director for Nevro, she has overseen the launch of groundbreaking neuromodulation therapies and has led initiatives to strengthen physician engagement and expand access to innovative treatments for chronic pain. Jada also serves on the Board of the Medical Technology Association of Australia, where she contributes to advancing policy, reimbursement, and advocacy efforts that shape the future of MedTech. With a strong background in building resilient and high-performing commercial teams, she is committed to fostering leadership, talent development, and sales excellence across the industry. Jada’s insights bridge strategy, workforce resilience, and patient-centric innovation, and is a strong advocate for sustainable growth in the MedTech landscape.
