Michelle Gallaher is a Melbourne-based award winning entrepreneur, author and advocate for the Australian health technology sector and for women in science, technology, engineering maths and medicine (STEMM).
Australia is ill prepared to take advantage of the emerging global knowledge economy according to Michelle, because of two key factors – a significant proportion of outstanding STEMM women are being held back or pushed out and because Australian’s are ignorant and complacent about the true value of data.
Michelle is a sought-after speaker, mentor, collaborator and influencer particularly on the pace of advancement of emerging health technologies, the impact of global mega trends, technology ethics and consent in data, social media, science and health as well as the pivotal role of women in STEMM industries.
Throughout her career, she has guided change and advanced the implementation of legislation, policy and funding programs to further biotechnology and medical research in Australia including extending the legislation to allow for wider research scope in IVF and stem cell technology, research and development tax, patent and data ownership reform and gene technology regulation, for example.
Her career spans working as clinician in public hospital working with vision impaired and head injury patients through to biopharmaceutical executive in one of the early listed Australian biotech companies. Michelle has served the Victorian biotech industry as Chief Executive Officer of the peak body for biotechnology and medtech in Victoria, the BioMelbourne Network and is the co-founder of two technology startup companies and a not-for-profit organisation, Women in STEMM Australia.
Michelle has served and continues to serve as a non-executive director and advisor within universities, private and in public companies, not-for-profits and on various government committees and boards throughout her career.
Michelle was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll for Women in 2018 in recognition of her leadership in the Victorian technology sector. She is the current Victorian Telstra Business Woman of the Year and Victorian Entrepreneur of the Year, TedX alumni and a regular media commentator. Michelle was also named as a finalist in the Australian Small Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 and the Social Science was the winner of a Westpac 200 Business of Tomorrow award in June 2018. Michelle is a Fellow of the Australian Institute for Management and a Graduate of the Institute for Company Directors.
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