Meet Our Board
Dr Jerel A Banks, M.D., Ph.D.
Executive Chairman and CEOJerel has been a director since October 25, 2016. Dr. Banks is the Chief Investment Officer of Nant Capital, LLC. Prior to joining Nant Capital, LLC, Dr. Banks served as vice president, portfolio manager and research analyst for the Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund at Franklin Templeton Investments from 2012 to 2015. During his time as portfolio manager and research analyst the assets under management for the Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund reached $5 Billion (USD). Prior to his tenure at Franklin Templeton Investments, he worked as a biotechnology equity research analyst at Sectoral Asset Management from 2011-2012. Sectoral Asset Management, a healthcare-focused global investment management company, managed a family of investment portfolios with total assets under management of $3 Billion (USD). From 2008-2011, Jerel worked as a biotechnology equity research analyst at Apothecary Capital, the healthcare investment management team for the family investment office of the Bass Family of Fort Worth, Texas. Jerel began his career in investment management as a healthcare equity research associate at Capital Research Company, and he was a member of the equity research team from 2006-2008. Capital Research Company is the investment management company for the American Funds family of Mutual funds, and the assets under management exceed $1 Trillion (USD). Dr. Banks earned an M.D. from the Brown University School of Medicine and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Brown University, and he holds an A.B. in Chemistry from Princeton University.
Other Current Directorships
None
Former Directorships (last 3 years)
GlobeImmune, Inc
Mr Peter Francis, LLB, Grad Dip (Intellectual Property)
Non-Executive DirectorMr Peter Francis is a partner at Francis Abourizk Lightowlers (FAL), a firm of commercial and technology lawyers with offices in Melbourne, Australia. He is a legal specialist in the areas of intellectual property and licensing and provides legal advice to a large number of corporations and research bodies.
Other Current Directorships of Listed Companies
None
Former Directorships of Listed Companies in last three years
Optiscan Imaging Limited, Rision Ltd and Neuroscope Ltd (public non listed)
Mr J. Kevin Buchi, BA (Chem), MBA, CPA
Non-Executive DirectorMr. Buchi currently serves as the CEO of TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals a public U.S. Biotechnology company. Prior to that, Kevin served as Chief Executive Officer (‘CEO’) of Cephalon, Inc. through its $6.8 billion acquisition by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (‘Teva’) in October 2011. After the acquisition he served as Corporate Vice President, Global Branded Products of Teva. Kevin joined Cephalon, Inc. in 1991 and held various positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Business Development prior to being appointed CEO.
Other Current Directorships of Listed Companies
Impax Labs, Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
Former Directorships of Listed Companies in last three years
Stemline Therapeutics, Inc., Forward Pharma A/S, Alexza Pharmaceuticals and Epirus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Ms Megan Boston, B.Comm, CA, GAICD, Grad Diploma Share Trading
Executive DirectorMegan Boston is formerly the Managing Director of Omni Market Tide, a listed technology company specialising in shareholder communications, investor relations and voting. Megan holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years’ experience as a non-executive Director across a range of industries. She has chaired company boards as well as board sub-committees particularly in the area of finance and risk management. Megan has completed the Company Directors Course Diploma run by the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Previously, Megan held senior executive roles at various banking institutions in the area of risk and compliance, as well as working for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Other Current Directorships of Listed Companies
None
Former Directorships of Listed Companies in last three years
Omni Market Tide Limited (ASX) and Neuroscope Ltd (public non listed)
Edward Smith
Non-Executive DirectorEdward brings more than 20 years of experience in executive finance and operations leadership in the biotechnology industry to Benitec’s Board of Directors. Mr. Smith currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNS), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics to treat patients suffering from rare seizure disorders. Prior to the start of his tenure at Marinus Pharmaceuticals in 2013, Mr. Smith served as the CFO of PolyMedix, Inc., and before his time at PolyMedix, Inc. he served as the executive director of finance at InKine Pharmaceutical Company, Inc.
Meet Our Board
Dr Jerel A Banks, M.D., Ph.D.
Executive Chairman and CEOJerel has been a director since October 25, 2016. Dr. Banks is the Chief Investment Officer of Nant Capital, LLC. Prior to joining Nant Capital, LLC, Dr. Banks served as vice president, portfolio manager and research analyst for the Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund at Franklin Templeton Investments from 2012 to 2015. During his time as portfolio manager and research analyst the assets under management for the Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund reached $5 Billion (USD). Prior to his tenure at Franklin Templeton Investments, he worked as a biotechnology equity research analyst at Sectoral Asset Management from 2011-2012. Sectoral Asset Management, a healthcare-focused global investment management company, managed a family of investment portfolios with total assets under management of $3 Billion (USD). From 2008-2011, Jerel worked as a biotechnology equity research analyst at Apothecary Capital, the healthcare investment management team for the family investment office of the Bass Family of Fort Worth, Texas. Jerel began his career in investment management as a healthcare equity research associate at Capital Research Company, and he was a member of the equity research team from 2006-2008. Capital Research Company is the investment management company for the American Funds family of Mutual funds, and the assets under management exceed $1 Trillion (USD). Dr. Banks earned an M.D. from the Brown University School of Medicine and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Brown University, and he holds an A.B. in Chemistry from Princeton University.
Other Current Directorships
None
Former Directorships (last 3 years)
GlobeImmune, Inc
Mr Peter Francis, LLB, Grad Dip (Intellectual Property)
Non-Executive DirectorMr Peter Francis is a partner at Francis Abourizk Lightowlers (FAL), a firm of commercial and technology lawyers with offices in Melbourne, Australia. He is a legal specialist in the areas of intellectual property and licensing and provides legal advice to a large number of corporations and research bodies.
Other Current Directorships of Listed Companies
None
Former Directorships of Listed Companies in last three years
Optiscan Imaging Limited, Rision Ltd and Neuroscope Ltd (public non listed)
Mr J. Kevin Buchi, BA (Chem), MBA, CPA
Non-Executive DirectorMr. Buchi currently serves as the CEO of TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals a public U.S. Biotechnology company. Prior to that, Kevin served as Chief Executive Officer (‘CEO’) of Cephalon, Inc. through its $6.8 billion acquisition by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (‘Teva’) in October 2011. After the acquisition he served as Corporate Vice President, Global Branded Products of Teva. Kevin joined Cephalon, Inc. in 1991 and held various positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Business Development prior to being appointed CEO.
Other Current Directorships of Listed Companies
Impax Labs, Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
Former Directorships of Listed Companies in last three years
Stemline Therapeutics, Inc., Forward Pharma A/S, Alexza Pharmaceuticals and Epirus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Ms Megan Boston, B.Comm, CA, GAICD, Grad Diploma Share Trading
Executive DirectorMegan Boston is formerly the Managing Director of Omni Market Tide, a listed technology company specialising in shareholder communications, investor relations and voting. Megan holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years’ experience as a non-executive Director across a range of industries. She has chaired company boards as well as board sub-committees particularly in the area of finance and risk management. Megan has completed the Company Directors Course Diploma run by the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Previously, Megan held senior executive roles at various banking institutions in the area of risk and compliance, as well as working for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Other Current Directorships of Listed Companies
None
Former Directorships of Listed Companies in last three years
Omni Market Tide Limited (ASX) and Neuroscope Ltd (public non listed)
Edward Smith
Non-Executive DirectorEdward brings more than 20 years of experience in executive finance and operations leadership in the biotechnology industry to Benitec’s Board of Directors. Mr. Smith currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNS), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics to treat patients suffering from rare seizure disorders. Prior to the start of his tenure at Marinus Pharmaceuticals in 2013, Mr. Smith served as the CFO of PolyMedix, Inc., and before his time at PolyMedix, Inc. he served as the executive director of finance at InKine Pharmaceutical Company, Inc.