To achieve this competitiveness in the biotechnology industry, the education system for science students needs to be sufficiently adequate to produce graduates that are scientifically competent to generate the technology opportunities, have the business acumen to map the commercialisation pathway, and have the entrepreneurial mind-set to both drive and enable business success.

Executive Director, Zahra Champion will share an update on the BioTechNZ’s strategy and plans for the coming year.

Aotearoa New Zealand is well positioned to leverage its resilient urban/rural commercial and societal ecosystems to create a vibrant, sustainable and balanced future-focused bioeconomy. This enormous potential to be a true global leader in healthy communities, added-value circular value chains and environmental sustainability - with an economy built around the export market drivers in this space – will require new approaches to collaboration, technology investment and policy support.

Mara Gordon is a cannabis advocate, entrepreneur, and researcher. She has harnessed her background as a process engineer to create therapeutic dosing regimens for thousands of patients around the world, drastically improving their health, quality of life and longevity.