Professor Tim Hirst BSc, D Phil (Executive Chairman)

Professor Tim Hirst is an entrepreneurial academic with wide-ranging experience in establishing new venture-backed companies. Prior to forming Gamma Vaccines in July 2009 he was the CEO of ANU Connect Ventures - a $30M pre-seed investment fund established by the Australian National University and MTAA Super. Tim was a Non-Executive Director of all of the companies established and funded by ANU Connect Ventures, including Cryptopharma Pty Ltd, Dosimetry & Imaging Pty Ltd, Savine Therapeutics Pty Ltd and Warm Contact Pty Ltd as well as both Director and Chairman of Mylexa Pty Ltd and Synergetic Services Pty Ltd. Prior to joining ANU Connect Ventures, Tim acted as an advisor in the establishment of respiratory- vaccine developer Hunter Immunology Ltd, and became a non-executive director of the company in 2004 and Executive Chairman from 2006 to 2007.

Before migrating to Australia Tim was also a Director of Hunter-Fleming Ltd from 2001 - 2004, a UK drug discovery company developing immunotherapeutic products based on Tim’s research at the University of Bristol. Hunter-Fleming was acquired in 2008 by the Italian-based company Newron (SIX:NWRN). Prior to the Newron transaction Tim’s proprietary immunotherapeutic technology was spun-out of Hunter-Fleming into a special purpose vehicle, Trident Pharmaceuticals Inc., based in Boston, MA. Trident has received US$20m of investment from Advent Venture Partners.

Tim has also held Senior Executive positions in universities in the United Kingdom and Australia. From 2003 to 2006 he was Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at the University of Sydney, with overall responsibility for research and innovation strategy. Prior to migrating to Australia in 2003 he was the Professor of Microbiology at the University of Bristol for 7 years and Lecturer/Snr Lecturer/Reader in Molecular Microbiology at University of Kent at Canterbury.

In addition to his current role in Gamma Vaccines, Tim is the Chairman & CEO of GPN Vaccines Pty Ltd, the Chairman of OzStar Therapeutics Pty Ltd and the Chairman of Brain Changer Pty Ltd. He is also an Honorary Professor in the School of Biological at the University of Adelaide, Australia and in the School of Life Sciences and Technology at the Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia.

Dr Mohammed Alsharifi BSc, BBiomedSci, PhD (Chief Scientific Officer)

Dr Mohammed Alsharifi is a Lecturer in Virology & Immunology in the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science at the University of Adelaide where he leads the Viral Immunology Laboratory with a research focus on virus recognition by host cells and the initiation of the immune response during acute viral infections. Previously, he held a Hanson Fellowship in the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (South Australia) and at the University of Adelaide before taking up his current academic role.

Mohammed has extensive medical research experience and training including degrees in Veterinary Medicine from Baghdad University (Iraq), Biomedical Science with first class Honours from Monash University, and a Ph.D in Viral Immunology from the Australian National University.

His PhD studies with Professor Arno Müllbacher at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (ANU) led to important findings including the underlying mechanisms of enhanced susceptibility to secondary viral and/or bacterial infection following primary viral infection. His post-doctoral research with Professor Müllbacher resulted in the discovery of the potential of intranasal gamma-irradiated influenza viruses as effective universal flu vaccines.

In addition to his current roles in Gamma Vaccines and at the University of Adelaide, Mohammed is a Director of GPN Vaccines Pty Ltd and a Visiting Professor in Microbiology at the Management & Sciences University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Mr Hugh Crawford, GAICD (Non-Executive Director)

Hugh Crawford was the Founder and Managing Partner of Capital Wealth Pty Ltd from 1990 to 2013 during which time he built the company into Canberra’s largest life insurance broking & advisory & general insurance brokerage firm. From 2002 – 2014 he was an officeholder for The Association of Financial Advisors serving as treasurer for 5 years and Chairman of their Investment Fund for 7 years from 2007 to 2014. He was also the founding owner of Pride Auto Accessories Pty Ltd, a successful motor vehicle accessories supply & service wholesale & retail business from 1976 to 1989.

Hugh is an active angel investor, investing in start up high tech companies that has also included being an early investor in Gamma Vaccines. Hugh is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Alan Irving, BVSc, MBA, MRCVS (Non-Executive Director)

Alan Irving has extensive interests in entrepreneurship in Small & Medium Enterprises. He was previously the Director of the Adelaide Northern Veterinary Group and has also been involved with bovine embryo transplant technology, an intensive quarantine piggery and export of hay to Japan. His additional business interests have included ownership of a cattle station in western Queensland and an aviation charter business. Alan holds degrees in Veterinary Science and a Masters Degree in Business Administration.