Meet The Team
Orthocell has attracted world-leading experts in medical research, clinical practice, and commercialization. Orthocell’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer both have unique experience in the regenerative medicine industry, having been responsible for securing one of the first cell therapy products approved for the repair of cartilage in Australia and having led the sale of one of Australia’s first regenerative medical companies. The Board also features several experienced directors, including a world expert in orthopedics, as well as directors with track records in developing and gaining FDA approval and CE marking for products in the lifescience and healthcare industries. The directors have also successfully sold Australian companies within the healthcare industry to US-based acquirers.
Board of Directors
Mr John Van Der Wielen
Chairman
John is an accomplished executive leader with more than 30 years’ experience in wealth management, private banking, investments, and insurance.
He has held executive positions within several global financial services groups and managed numerous acquisitions, integration, and restructuring programs. He currently holds senior executive board membership of listed ASX, FTSE, European and Asian entities.
John has extensive experience in capital markets, and in liaising with institutional Investors and analysts on company strategy and performance. A distinctive competence has been overseeing and chairing large funds management and investment committees on a global basis.
John was appointed the CEO of HBF Health Ltd in May 2017 and held this position for over five years before resigning to work with Blackstone as the Chairman of Crown Perth and to join the group Board of Crown. John also holds non-executive director roles with the Royal Flying Doctor Service WA and is the Chair of Western Australia’s Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (FHRI).
Mr Paul Anderson
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Paul has over 20 years’ experience in the medical device and cellular therapeutic fields with expertise in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice in the development of emerging medical technologies. This encompasses applying the regulatory framework to the product, rebating pathways, marketing, sales, developing key option leader relationships, strategic and financial planning. Paul has a strong track record with his previous board position with Verigen Australia Pty Ltd, a human cell therapies company.
Dr Ravi I. Thadhani
Lead Independent Director
Dr Thadhani is a globally recognised healthcare executive, physician and researcher with a passion for translating medical research into market leading products, and delivering the highest quality patient care. He is a dynamic and collaborative leader with more than 30 years as a general and specialised internal medicine physician, researcher, medical administrator and commercialisation adviser. Dr Thadhani has extensive experience in US regulatory pathways and commercialisation of devices and therapeutics.
Professor Fiona Wood AM
Non-Executive Director
Professor Fiona Wood AM, a distinguished West Australian and Australian National Living Treasure, has over 30 years of expertise as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Celebrated as the Western Australian Citizen of the Year in 2003 and 2004, and Australian of the Year in 2005, she’s acclaimed for her ground-breaking “spray-on skin” treatment for burns, co-invented with Marie Stoner, which notably aided Bali bombing victims in 2002. She was pivotal in globalising this invention via Avita Medical Inc, now operational in over 30 countries with a market cap exceeding AU$450M.
Professor Wood is currently a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Perth Children’s Hospital, and the Winthrop Professor of Surgery at the University of Western Australia. Professor Wood is co-founder of the Wood Foundation, which continues her research into the treatment of burns and is a Board member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, amongst others.
Mr Michael McNulty
Non-Executive Director
Michael is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Michael’s professional experience spans over 35 years, 22 years of which he was a Partner with Deloitte.
Michael currently serves on the Board of Southern Cross Electrical Engineering (ASX:SXE) where is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and Cancer Council WA (CCWA) where he Chairs the Governance and Risk Committee. He also served on the Deloitte Australia Board for 9 years, the Deloitte Foundation Board for 10 years and numerous not for profit organisations.
Michael served as the Managing Partner of the Perth office of Deloitte consisting of over 1,100 professionals for over a decade. His consulting experience is across a broad range of industries and he has specialised in large-scale organisational transformation and business process improvement including those with large technology/digital programs. He has significant global experience having worked for clients in the UK, Zambia and Mongolia.
Michael has held numerous leadership roles in Deloitte including being Office Managing Partner WA, a member of the National Consulting Executive, leading the Perth Consulting Practice and the Australian Products Industry team (including mining, oil and gas, utilities, infrastructure, consumer products and retail clients). Michael was also the Asia Pacific Energy & Resources Leader.
Executive Management
Mr Paul Anderson
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Paul has over 20 years’ experience in the medical device and cellular therapeutic fields with expertise in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice in the development of emerging medical technologies. This encompasses applying the regulatory framework to the product, rebating pathways, marketing, sales, developing key option leader relationships, strategic and financial planning. Paul has a strong track record with his previous board position with Verigen Australia Pty Ltd, a human cell therapies company.
Professor Ming Hao Zheng
Chief Scientific Officer
Professor Zheng has 15 years’ experience within China as a senior business manager and executive. This includes experience within the public markets in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.
Professor Zheng is inventor of Orthocell’s technology and brings a strong track record of innovation to the company. He completed his PhD in 1993 and Doctor of Medicine (DM) in 1998 at the University of Western Australia and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists.
Currently, Professor Zheng is the Director of Research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at The University of Western Australia. His research focus involves using cutting-edge cellular and molecular biology technique to discover new ways to treat osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and tendon injuries.
Mr Jim Piper
Chief Financial Officer
Jim brings extensive experience in strategic finance and operational execution across ASX-listed and high-growth companies. His prior experience includes senior financial roles at Pilbara Minerals, where he led financial planning and analysis for corporate, operations, capital and modelling functions across major planning cycles. He also held a leadership role at global consulting firm Accenture within the CFO Strategy and Consulting practice, advising major organisations on financial transformation, performance optimisation, and digital initiatives.
Prior to his career in finance, Mr Piper was an accomplished professional athlete. He represented Australia as a member of the swimming team at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and won two gold medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Mr Alex McHenry
Chief Operating Officer
Alex has over 17 years of experience in corporate advisory and management consulting, with a particular focus on the execution of corporate strategy, capital raising and business transformation initiatives in the biotechnology and resources industry. Alex started his career with Arthur Anderson, assisting clients with business transformation strategy and implementation of operational improvement programs. Prior to joining Orthocell, Alex worked as a corporate consultant, working with his clients in the execution and financing of asset acquisitions and in the management of development programs in the biotechnology and mining sectors in Australia and SE Asia.
Mr Tony Macintyre
Chief Technical Operations Officer
Tony has over 25 years’ experience in the medical science sector with formal qualifications in science and business. His professional experience ranges from laboratory work to commercial and, for the past 15 years, manufacture and R&D of medical devices, pharmaceutical products and in vitro diagnostic devices. Tony has been the site lead for a number of Australian and international organisations and has extensive experience in building and leading high performing teams, facility design and construction, technology transfer, regulatory compliance and manufacturing improvements for greater efficiency and cost savings. He was also a director on the board of CareDx Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of CareDx Inc, a US based transplant diagnostics company.
Mr Adam Wood
Chief Commercial Officer
Adam brings over 17 years of experience in sales, marketing, and corporate strategy within the MedTech industry. His career spans multinational corporations, distributors, and manufacturers across Australia, New Zealand, and South-East Asia. Most recently he joined LifeHealthcare in 2019 as General Manager of Marketing, working closely with the CEO and executive team to strengthen the company’s marketing and strategy functions. This work played a key role in supporting several transformational acquisitions in partnership with private equity firm owners, PEP. Following the acquisition of the LifeHealthcare group by EBOS Group, Adam took on a leadership role within the newly formed EBOS MedTech division. In this capacity, he led a specialist team delivering services across the portfolio of companies — including new supplier sourcing, digital and brand strategy, professional education, regulatory affairs for Australia and New Zealand, reimbursement, and clinical research. He worked in close collaboration with the EBOS Group and MedTech CEO to shape business strategy and support mergers and acquisition activities.