Perth Biodesign 2023
[TAGLINE]
The digital age provides a unique opportunity to alleviate many present-day healthcare challenges. Professionals who can inject highly effective digital approaches can dramatically improve healthcare. This course explores how technological advances are revolutionising patient care, while learning the Biodesign needs-driven innovation process to improve patient outcomes.
Build Innovation Capacity
Leverage Digital Tools
Understand Digital Health
Upskill Current Practice
What Participants Gained?
Knowledge of the digital health sector
Knowledge of innovation methodologies such as human centred design thinking to create concept solutions in digital health
Agile and rapid prototype development skills, including low-fidelity & high-fidelity design
Creation of a clickable digital health solution prototype
An introductory understanding of the different aspects of digital health commericalisation
Deep connections into the digital innovation ecosystem
Soft skills such as teamwork, leadership and conflict management by working in a multidisciplinary team environment
Who Benefited?
This course was specifically designed for:
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Software developers and IT professionals
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Healthcare professionals
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Business professionals
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Postdoctoral researchers and academic staff
However, we welcomed all aspiring entrepreneurs and innovation staff with a passion for digital health
How it Worked?
The program duration was 4 months and required an overall time commitment of 8 hours/week.
This commitment was inclusive of weekly in-person sessions delivered by Perth Biodesign course faculty, our partner, Skills of the Modern Age, and a variety of subject specialists for 2 hours on a Wednesday evening. Please refer to Our Team to read about course faculty.
Prior to weekly sessions, participants were placed in multidisciplinary teams and were assigned mentors to provide expert guidance.
Administered by
Partners
Supported by
Affiliates
Meet the 2023 Teams and Mentors
Team 1: Unicorn
Team 2: Rocket
Team 3: Supanova
2023 Course Directors
Chloe Goodred
Course Director
Chloe is an innovative and effective healthcare leader who is passionate about improving the way we design and deliver care to improve outcomes for patients, staff and the broader community. Chloe began her career as a physiotherapist and worked across a range of clinical settings before pivoting into clinical service design and project management. Her curiosity and passions for problem solving, diverse collaborations and systems thinking led her into the innovation and entrepreneurship space, co-founding a digital health startup and acting as a boundary spanner to bring public and private sector innovators together. Most recently Chloe led the Kaartdijin Innovation Centre at South Metropolitan Health Service, including establishment in 2019 – the first innovation hub for WA public health services. She has engaged, connected and empowered clinicians, technicians, corporate staff and external partners to dream big and innovate to solve problems. Chloe also has a keen interest in Aboriginal health, wellbeing and justice including volunteer work for Enterprise Partnerships WA, a not-for-profit partnering with remote First Nations communities to facilitate entrepreneurship and activate community-led enterprises that foster health and well-being. In particular, Chloe is working with Oliver Bazzani to deliver the Perth Biodesign course and with Sandra Medic to deliver the Biodesign content for iPREP Biodesign.
Oliver Bazzani
Course Director
Oliver is a founder, investor, and educator, with over seven years’ experience working across technology, investment, strategy, and growth. He has worn multiple hats, including Director, Growth Lead, Facilitator, Mentor, and Product Manager. As a result, he has been lucky to learn from and collaborate with hundreds of innovators, founders, corporate leaders, and investors from across Australia, Canada, and the US. Driven by his passion for tackling big problems, Oliver has worked throughout the innovation ecosystem, including developing programs for the first Indigenous Angel investors, early-stage Founders, and Health System Innovators; to building a co-working and performance space for Regional Creatives. His interest in healthcare was sparked during his participation in Perth Biodesign for Digital Health 2020, where he and his team sought to solve the problem of finding the psychologist that's right for you. Their solution, Charli, was recognised as the winner of the 2020 Perth Biodesign program and 2020 Freo Startup Fest. Currently, in addition to being Program Delivery Lead for the Perth Biodesign Course, Oliver is Program Designer, Facilitator and Mentor for the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program. He also invests and connects Founders to their first cheques with the Perth Angels Investor Group, Startmate and AirTree. He also empowers artists across Western Australia as Chairperson of Regional Arts WA.
Team Unicorn
A category 3 patient referred for a public hospital outpatient appointment (e.g. with an orthopaedic surgeon) can wait years before even having their first appointment. During this time, there is minimal engagement between hospitals and patients, and no advice provided to patients about what they can be doing to best manage their condition while they wait. This means their condition is likely to continue to decline. For many conditions, including hip and knee osteoarthritis which we have focused on, there is clear evidence that conservative management approaches (e.g. exercise, education) improves symptoms and outcomes, and reduces the need for surgery.
We aim to empower uptake of conservative management in patients on public hospital wait lists. To achieve this, our solution educates patients about the benefits of conservative management, connects them with available support services, monitors their progress, and allows them to easily take themselves off a waitlist if they no longer feel the need for surgery. We anticipate that this will filter out patients who do not really want or need surgery, reducing the number of patients on the waitlist and ensuring hospital resources are used on those who need it most.
Team Members
Jean Mangharam
Consultant Ergonomist, Physiotherapist
Human Factors, Prevention, Musculoskeletal, Falls, Governance, Research
Angus Pyle has been working as a Management Consultant for Visagio over the past year and a half. He has worked primarily on data visualisation and reporting, with some other work completed in simulation and modelling.
Angus is currently studying a degree in Financial Mathematics from Curtin University, focussed on operations research and optimisation.
Jeffrey Low
Biomedical Engineer
Product Design,
Tissue Engineering,
Quality assurance
Emel Rothzerg is a UWA graduate with a first class honours degree in Biomedical Science and medical research. Emel has been working together with a multi-disciplinary team of lead scientists and clinicians to develop a prognostic marker for osteosarcoma patients. Meanwhile, she has built up her research and publication profile both nationally and internationally. She also delivered substantial contributions in leadership, teaching and management. Emel is the Vice President (Research) of the UWA Postgraduate Students’ Association and she has been heavily involved in the sustainable development goals.
Mais Zaher
Biomedical Engineer,
Parent
Exercise and
Technical, Clinical Biomedical Engineer, Parent
Jack is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Institute for Nutrition Research at Edith Cowan University. Jack received his PhD from Deakin University in 2020. His doctoral research investigated the role of exercise and nutrition in managing musculoskeletal adverse effects of prostate cancer treatment. His current research focuses on developing and evaluating novel approaches to better deliver effective and accessible exercise and diet support for cancer survivors and those living with chronic disease.
Rhiannon Foster
Management
Consultant
PBusiness, Human Centred Design, Change Management, Transformation
An innovative, passionate, and creative Senior Physiotherapist with 7 years of experience managing a diverse client base. Reuben has gained invaluable experience in a variety of different health settings including; private practice, private/public hospital, and nursing home. He has proven ability to envision, innovate, and drive a variety of projects, requiring leadership qualities, creativity, and support for team members. Recent completion of Reuben's Master of Clinical Physiotherapy has provided a wealth of inspiration/ideas on beneficial methods which solve key industry health problems.
Vithan Thillairajah
Resident Doctor
Public Health, Rural Medicine, Multicultural & Youth Advocacy
Adam has over 15 years’ experience across research and technology commercialisation and complex systems transformation. He holds a degree in Neuroscience (Pharmacology), an MBA and is WA committee member for Ausbiotech; the representative body for the life sciences sector in Australia. He is a founder of Emyria (ASX:EMD) and is a Foundational Fellow of the Collaboration for the Advancement of Sustainable Medical Innovation (CASMI) UCL UK. We works with investors and founders to identify, support and commercialise early stage science led companies.
Mentors
Ian Varughese
Information Systems Architect
Axonium &
Modillion Technology
Ian is an experienced Information Systems Specialist who has delivered custom web solutions for complex problems in health, education, and finance sectors, as director of Modillion Technology and Axonium. Most recently, he created a bespoke reporting and management system for the HealthNext (cloud transformation) project at the Department of Health WA. A former Analytics Manager at Deloitte, he has developed critical data systems for health infrastructure projects in Australia worth $6 billion, and designed solutions for Ramsay Health Care, Perth Children's Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital, and various government departments.
Surrey Hughes
Engineering Manager
Healthengine
Surrey is a passionate business oriented technologist who holds an optimistic vision for the future. Having founded four businesses and worked across the telecoms, energy and now healthcare industries he has a broad view of what works and what doesn’t in practical terms. He is a firm believer that a rising tide lifts all boats and lighting another’s candle doesn’t dim the light, but brightens it for all.
Team Rocket
Matilda is a place where people with endometriosis can get timely access to expert holistic care from the comfort of their own home, with the encouragement of the 'Tilly Tribe', Matilda's supportive peer community. Matilda is a cohort-based online program that empowers people with endometriosis to take control of their health and implement positive evidence-based behaviours to improve their symptoms before or after laparoscopic surgery.
Team Members
Harpreet Singh
Clinical Nurse Educator, Registered Nurse
Coronary Care, Angiography
Joanna is a Continence and Womens Health Physiotherapist, graduating from Curtin University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy and in 2018 with a Masters of Clinical Physiotherapy in Continence and Womens Health. Joanna spent the early years of her Physiotherapy career working in both the public and private hospital sector before making the switch to private practice to solely treat pelvic health patients. Joanna specialises in the management of bladder and bowel dysfunction in both men and women, as well as the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, female sexual dysfunction, and antenatal and postnatal disorders. Her primary interest is in treating women diagnosed with endometriosis as she enjoys the holistic management and challenge of optimising symptoms of this chronic disease. Joanna currently works at Body Logic Pelvic Health in Subiaco.
Nivruthi Shekar
PhD Student
Biomedical Science, Nanotechnology
Kevin is a physiotherapist and academic with a PhD in low back pain who is passionate about using technology to enable equitable, evidence-based, and effective healthcare. He has numerous publications in highly ranked research Journals, has presented at multiple international conferences, has run several free local and rural community events, produces and co-hosts the top-rated ‘Empowered Beyond Pain’ podcast, and has enjoyed various grant successes. Skilled in teaching, communication, and knowledge translation (by producing infographics, podcasts, and videos), he is an inquisitive, non-judgemental, solution-focused life-long learner.
Michael
De Luca
Audiologist
Paediatric Audiology, Remote Audiology
Having worked in London, San Francisco and now Perth, Maggie has extensive experience leading healthcare innovation projects across a range of unmet clinical needs. She is skilled in business development, product management, marketing, data insights and strategic business planning. She has a proven track record for developing and leveraging partnerships, navigativing roadblocks and scaling growth in complex healthcare organisations. Maggie chooses to work with incredible people on game-changing, patient-centric projects in the healthcare environment.
Dr Peter King
Facility Manager
Centre of Microscopy. Characterisation and Analysis,
PhD Biochemistry, Co-Founder
Niamh is a passionate child-health researcher at the Wal-yan Respiratory Centre at the Telethon Kids Institute. She uses big data to study the immune system in babies who get lung infections and asthma with the ultimate goal of disease prevention. Niamh has ten years’ research experience and has led several successful projects to completion to attract further funding. She is a STEM Ambassador for WA, extending her leadership beyond her research and increasing STEM skills in WA through public engagement. Niamh is the co-winner of the WA Premier’s PhD Scientist of the Year 2021, awarded for her contribution to STEM in WA. She has recently completed her PhD and is actively seeking opportunities to engage with innovative and entrepreneurial leaders, to tackle new challenges and to positively impact health in WA.
Rhys Jones
PhD Student
Electrical Engineering /Optics
Dr Carlo Bellini is a leadership, healthcare and innovation expert. He runs his own boutique consultancy, Health Innovation Performance (HIP) Consulting where he works with executives and leaders who seek to innovate and transform their organisations to deliver higher performance.
Carlo is a specialist in change in complex health systems, with deep experience in both large corporates and agile startups. He consulted for the Boston Consulting Group in Australia and Japan, was Chief Medical Officer at Chevron Australia, an early employee at a Silicon Valley based AI start-up, and was the first Western Australian to study at the Google and NASA-sponsored Singularity University. His global and multi-disciplinary career enables him to move fluently between clinical, business, and tech domains, encompassing both large corporations and startups.
Carlo graduated valedictorian of his University of Western Australia medical class. In 2016, Carlo was recognised as Australian Financial Review Young Executive of the Year and one of Western Australia's “40under40” leading entrepreneurs. He also holds an MBA from Oxford University, where he graduated on the Dean's Commendation List.
Mentors
Renee Hallam
Executive Team, Senior Advisor Innovation and Commercialisation
Telethon Kids Institute
A visionary business and people leader with strong personal values, Renee brings experience across a range of industries and a track record spanning end-to-end operations, sales and marketing, consulting, technology, health and safety, innovation, research and development, portfolio management and executive leadership. Skilled in grass roots capability development and project delivery through to executive leadership Renee has a strong orientation to customer outcome and brings a unique mix of business astuteness with a growth mindset and deep care for the organisation and team she belongs to and the customers she serves.
Renee's professional experience includes senior leadership roles in not-for-profit, corporate and consulting. She has a track record in helping organisations achieve their potential, delivering great outcomes for members, shareholders and community. Renee has strong personal values and builds positive cultures, guiding strategy, navigating change and instilling governance and performance.
Robert Sardual
Engineering Manager
Healthengine
Robert is a creative, passionate, and dedicated IT think-tank with more than 15 years of experience on managing, planning, complex designing, development.
An out-of-the-box solution’s provider and a client-oriented creator with solid strengths on analysis, business, process re-engineering, and project and team management.
There is a niche group of people with multi-skills, noted photo memory, mental focus, and strives to hone them to perfection - Robert is one of them.
Julian Shapley
Co-Founder
Glucose Republic Ltd.
Entrepreneur in Residence
Biodesign Australia
A medical device innovator, entrepreneur and leader with over 20 years of research, development and operational experience, Dr Shapley was instrumental in the inception, development, formation, and financing of Cellnovo.
As a biochemist and mechanical design engineer, and following post-doctoral experience within university and commercial development, Julian developed the founding technologies within the Cellnovo system, led cross-functional teams from ideation through to regulatory approval, led the quality team and design-for-manufacture, and the setup of a prototype manufacturing line. In the role of Chief Science Officer, he then focused on the continued protection and expansion of Cellnovo’s IP portfolio, business development activities and the integration of external technologies.
More recently, Julian has founded Glucose Republic, a company combining biology and software to help people eat and live better. Glucose Republic is building a personalised intelligence system for measuring and predicting metabolic responses to the food we eat and the exercise we take.
Dr Shapley has recently relocated to Australia having been awarded an Australian Global Talent Visa and is the inaugural Biodesign Australia Entrepreneur in Residence.
Team Supanova
The mental health system is overwhelmed. GPs, Headspace centres and emergency departments are inundated and the healthcare workforce is dwindling and exhausted. With ~40,000 12-17 year olds in WA having a diagnosable mental health illness and 80% of these not receiving care, experts have called for urgent action to tackle the nation’s deepening youth mental health crisis. As teenagers push away from family to peers, parents lose confidence in communication, feeling lost and uncertain as they navigate a broken mental health system. With many parents considered “part of the problem”, it is unsurprising that less than a third used services to help support their child. Parent help is often an addendum on mental health websites - making them feel like afterthoughts in their adolescents' struggle.
Imagine a digital solution, revolutionising the journey for parents. Removing uncertainty, providing timely, targetted, fit-for-purpose support. With evidenced-based, clinically endorsed resources, our curated tools improve understanding and communication. Connecting with a support navigator provides that human connection guiding through the mental health miasma. With a shared passion for mental health and a deep awareness of the problem, our team puts the needs of parents first. At Tria Health, we engage, support and empower the parents.
Team Members
Chat Chandrasekera
Medical Intern
Digital Health
Anna graduated from UWA with a bachelor in Software Engineering and Data Science and has since been working with Singular Health in improving personalised health care. To Anna it is always rewarding hearing the outcome of her work and the first hand experiences are what motivates her in this industry. Anna's biggest passion in life is to help improve the lives of others, whether it be by giving a smile with some kind words or by drastically improving their standard of living.
Dr Francesco De Toni
Healthcare Innovation Projects
Adjunct Research Fellow
MPhD Linguistics, Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence
Deirdre is an Advanced Practice Pharmacist
working in an interdisciplinary team as an outreach clinical pharmacist. She has 30 years’ experience working across various countries and healthcare settings, including academia, industry, primary care and hospital. She is passionate about improving medication management in vulnerable populationsthrough research and innovation. Deirdre believes a greater focus should be given to patient centred outcomes for meaningful healthcare reform.
Justin Chong
Project Development Manager
Software Development, Medical Devices, Control Algorithms, Cryptocurrency
Reuben is an inquisitive and collaborative professional with skills in business development, product design, and strategy aquired through a range of professional and volunteer positions, and background in neuroscience, anatomy and human biology. With an initial focus on mental health, Reuben is currently working to identify critical needs and collaborate with mental health professionals to create a solution designed to improve client wellbeing and enhance clinical capabilities. Reuben’s future goal is to apply these understandings to create scaled solutions within wider healthcare. Reuben is the WA Business Development Manager at the global consulting company Lee Hecht Harrison, where he works directly with the managing director to execute the full sales and business development process from prospecting, closing sales, managing customer relationships, sales strategy, marketing, and event and course design.
Paul Stone
Software Engineer, Technology Consultant
Software Development, Cloud Devops + Security
Tiziana is a Senior Clinical Psychologist who works in a tertiary hospital with children, teens and families on mental health issues associated with having a chronic condition. Tiziana also worked for many years in Italy and Switzerland as Trainer for Health Professionals, running interactive workshops in Child Mental Health, Psychological Interventions in Chronic Disease and Patient Empowerment. She has a strong interest in Innovation in mental health and wellbeing of young people with T1D and her work is grounded in narrative and family therapy, attachment theory, patient engagement techniques and psychological interventions in T1D. She has a holistic and systemic approach and is interested in personalised medicine, digital health and mental health solutions to provide a better support to people with mental health issues, their families and for clinicians working with them. In Australia and internationally.
Sarah Daly
Research Scientist
Diagnostics, Cancer, Medical Devices
Simeon is currently a part of Healthengine’s Product team, on a mission to modernise healthcare, and he is a long-time member of the Perth Product community. Simeon has recently started with Healthengine and he believes that is is very exciting to be a part of the evolution of healthcare! He loves to create value for people and organisations and is passionate about Product. Additionally, Simeon possesses significant experience working with Product - leading multi-disciplinary agile teams and broad business management skills from a prior career in the Banking Industry.
Mentors
Simon Jennings
Group Manager, Platforms (Core and Clinical)
Silver Chain Group
Simon has extensive experience within the public and private health and aged care sector with over 15 years’ experience across the UK and Australia. He is a strategic thinker with a strong connection to practical planning and has led many major clinical software implementations. He has also defined and delivered technology strategies and architecture. Simon has exceptional clinical / care staff engagement expertise with a strong understanding of health and aged care operations across multiple settings. Alongside his main role running the key applications, data and integration teams at Silver Chain, Simon also lectures at Curtin University in the field of Health Informatics and Digital Health.
Dr Tracey Wilkinson
Director Stakeholder Engagement WA
MTPConnect
Tracey has over 13 years' experience in the Medtech, Biotech, Pharma and Digital Health (MTP) sector across research, start-up and tech transfer roles. Currently Director Stakeholder Engagement WA at the MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, she works to accelerate growth of the MTP sector in WA and Australia. Operating at the interface of government, industry and the research sector, Tracey loves to build connected communities and support innovators to translate their innovations into real-world outcomes. Tracey co-founded an award-winning bioinformatics analysis start-up prior to completing a PhD in bioinformatics at the University of Melbourne.