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Led by Professor Karen Reynolds, our team has a strong track record of research excellence and commercial experience. We also leverage extensive networks across industry, government and academia.

Our staff are trusted advisors who go above and beyond to support our clients bringing new medical device innovations to market.

 

Leadership

karen reynolds

Prof Karen Reynolds

Director

karen reynolds

 

FTSE, FAHMS, HonFIEAust, PhD, MSc, MA, BA(Hons)

Professor Karen Reynolds is Director of the Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI) and the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP)  at Flinders University.  Bridging the divide between research and industry, Karen is considered as one of Australia’s leading researchers in biomedical engineering and has been recognised for her outstanding contributions.  She became an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia in 2017, awarded Engineers Australia David Dewhurst award in 2016, South Australian Scientist of the Year 2012, elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (2011), and awarded Australian Professional Engineer of the Year (2010).  Karen has held a number of external roles including Member, Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and Director, Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering Board.

 

Ideas Incubator

Stephen Blakeney

Stephen Blakeney

National Innovations Manager

Andrew Milligan

Stephen Blakeney is the National Innovations Manager for the Medical Device Partnering Program, MedTech Venture Partner for the Target Translation Research Accelerator, co-lead for Research Translation at the Medical Device Research Institute, a Guest Lecturer and mentor for the Innovation in Medical Device course at Flinders University, his role is co-funded by the Australian National Fabrication Facility, and he is a member of the Bridgetech steering committee.

Stephen started his career as a mechanical engineer developing a system to help deliver electrodes to the brain for Deep Brain Stimulation to treat Parkinsons and he has since gone on to work on a wide variety of devices including a liver retractor for laparoscopic surgery, ophthalmic equipment, post-stroke rehabilitation equipment and more. Stephen moved into commercially-focussed roles around 6 years ago, including working for the Health and Medical team at the Department for Trade and Investment where he led a delegation of health and life sciences companies on a trade mission to China and helped to support inbound investment of companies into Adelaide.

In his current role he supports medical device companies around Australia, speaking to at least 50-100 medtech start-ups per year and providing advice and guidance on how to commercialise their medical devices.

 

Jodie Hobbs 3

Jodie Hobbs

Research and Development Manager, MDPP

DSC 9574

BSc BEng (Biomed) (Hons)

Research and Development Manager Jodie Hobbs is a Biomedical Engineer with over 16 years’ experience in medical device design and prototyping.  Working with medical practitioners, researchers and allied health she has developed many technology solutions incorporating sensing, measurement, electronics, software, data analysis and wireless communications.  Jodie has been involved across all stages of the research and development process from literature review and project scoping to assembly and user trials.  She enjoys the challenge of problem solving with the aim to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

 

Alex Barker

Dr Alex Barker

Innovations Manager

Alex Barker

PhD BSc BHlthSc (Hons)

Alex is the Innovations Manager within the Medical Device Partnering Program. As Innovations Manager she intends to build on the experience she obtained in her previous role as Innovations Officer. Alex has experience in understanding the commercialisation pathway for medical technologies and enjoys exploring new innovations and building relationships with stakeholders.

Before joining MDPP Alex previously worked as a Research Associate at the University of South Australia on an industry/CRC funded project to develop antimicrobial orthopaedic devices. She was responsible for developing and conducting preclinical models in addition to collaborating with industry partners and end-users. During this time, she undertook the BridgeTech Program where her desire in connecting industry with researchers to develop new innovations grew.

Debbie garden

Debbie Cocks

Research Support Officer

Debbie garden

Debbie is the Research Support Officer with the Medical Device Research Institute and Medical Device Partnering Program at Flinders University. Debbie joined the team in 2012 and provides research, project and administrative support. Debbie’s role involves co-ordinating network functions and events, overseeing MDPP finances, assisting with grant submissions, responsible for website and social platform updates, and database management.

Debbie is also Personal Assistant to Professor Karen Reynolds, managing her diary and administrative needs.

 

Sam deGroen

Dr Angus Wallace

Research Associate

Sam deGroen

PhD BEng BSci (hons)

Angus is a biomedical engineer who specialises in all things data. He is interested in the design of robust and resilient systems to collect and organise data and from it inform decision-making processes, whether interactive or automatic. He has wide experience in data science, and has analysed/modelled systems from many sectors, including biomedical, power electric, agricultural, and genomic, and runs the gamut from linear models to machine learning.

Angus also has experience in the design and building of embedded systems and the software architectures that are needed to support them.

 

 

Denny Yun

Tai-Jie (Denny) Yun

Electronics Design Engineer

Denny Yun

BSc (Electrical Engineering), MSc (Medical Informatics), MTech (Software Engineering)

Denny joined the MDPP team in May 2021 as an Electronics Design Engineer, supporting medical device design and prototyping.

Denny previously worked for research institutions in Taiwan, where he was responsible for coordinating and advancing the process of innovative medical device design as well as developing technology solutions.

He has participated in all stages of the innovative medical device research and development process, from project initiation to technology transfer and patent application.

He has a strong interest in engineering craftsmanship in embedded hardware and software design, aiming to dedicate himself and constantly contribute to the field of medical devices. 

 

John Nicholl

John Nicholl

Mechanical Design Engineer

John Nicholl

MDes (Industrial Design)

John joined the Medical Device Partnering Program in November 2021 as a Mechanical Design Engineer, bringing a background of knowledge from the field of Industrial Design to support medical device design and prototyping.

In the past John has worked as a freelance industrial designer and as a researcher, designing habitation spaces onboard submarines. Bringing 4 years of experience with human centred design processes at the Studio for Confined Human Environment Design (SCHED) at the university of South Australia, John looks to implement seamless interactions between users and medical device technology.

Venture Partnerships

 


 

Andrew Milligan

Dr Kerstin Schuetz

MedTech Venture Partner

Andrew Milligan

Kerstin is an experienced Executive and Non-Executive Director with a uniquely developed skill set and proven record in technology translation, stakeholder engagement and management, and partnering with industries and universities at an international level. Well- practiced in research, global and start-up businesses and government, she works in industry sectors including MedTech, Biotech and Pharma .

Her expertise include 10+ years devoted to research in the therapeutic areas of pain management, central nervous system disorders and Influenza, as well as significant experience in the establishment and management of a high throughput drug discovery group at a publicly listed Australian biotech company, Bionomics. Her management career has been further underpinned by the completion of an MBA at Melbourne Business School. Dr Schütz has also worked in a number of Business Development and Commercialisation roles in Universities, federal government programs including Accelerating Commercialisation and CTCM and executive roles within biotech companies. In global markets she has worked with a multinational German pharmaceutical company as well as Pfizer in the US. Kerstin is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and sits on boards and advisory committees in the sector.