Biotelliga’s leadership team, scientists and collaborators are driven by their collective vision for innovative technologies, leadership and expertise in the global bio-tech crop protection market.
MANAGEMENT
Damien Fleetwood
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Damien is a leader with a passion for combining business with science and technology to increase food production and reduce the environmental impact from agriculture. He has a PhD in molecular genetics and extensive experience in R&D management, including global programmes for product development. In previous roles at Biotelliga (as CSO), the University of Auckland and AgResearch Dr Fleetwood designed and led several programmes on the development of sustainable pesticides and next-generation plant protection technologies using beneficial plant-infecting fungal endophytes.
Lynne Butler
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Lynne holds a BPharm and MBA. She has extensive operations and project management experience and has held senior operational and project director roles within the health and biotech sectors. Ms. Butler has also managed development projects across multiple global sites in the biopharma sector.
ADVISORS
Oliver Ratcliffe
CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR
Oliver is an executive leader with more than 20 years of experience in the Agricultural Biotechnology sector. He joined Biotelliga as a business adviser in 2020 to lead corporate development initiatives for the company. Oliver has been Vice President of Business Development at Koch Biological Solutions and Senior Vice President, and then President, of R&D of Mendel Biotechnology Ltd. He holds a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology and Genetics and an executive M.B.A. from the Judge Business School at Cambridge University. Oliver is a dual UK-US citizen who is based in California.
Roma Gwynn
REGULATORY ADVISOR
Holding a PhD in biological control, Roma is a biopesticide specialist with over 35 years experience – initially as a research scientist, then working for biocontrol companies, and now as an international independent specialist. Roma has taken a lead role in the development and registration of many new biopesticide technologies including semio-chemical, botanical and microbial substances. Her expertise lies in facilitating the process of taking biopesticide products to market by streamlining bio-discovery, product development, registration and marketing, with particular expertise in efficacy.
Donovan Smith
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Donovan holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting, is a qualified CPA and has more than 20 years’ of accounting, financial leadership and M&A experience, having worked across large international corporate entities as well as small to medium companies both in South Africa and New Zealand.
In his more recent roles, Donovan has served as the CFO for Software Company Cin7, which saw significant growth and a majority divestment to a Private Equity firm in the USA. In addition to his role as Virtual CFO for Biotelliga, he is also the Head of Finance for a large telecommunications provider.
BOARD
Wolfgang Roesch
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY
Wolfgang is a specialist in the biological crop protection business, including R&D, marketing strategy, international business management, and M&A. His recent professional experience has seen him hold several management portfolios for Bayer CropScience. Whilst at Bayer, Wolfgang was instrumental in the introduction of biologicals as a mainstream business for global crop protection, overseeing the acquisition of Agraquest and Prophyta.
Trevor Perry
DIRECTOR
Trevor has a 30 year history with Prudential Assurance where he attained senior positions including the Managing Director of South East Asia and Australasia. He led Prudential through several reorganisations including the takeover and integration of NZI into Prudential. Trevor is now an angel investor in a number of companies ranging across the technology, advertising, horticulture, refining and retirement village sectors. He has been on the board of a number of Australian companies.
John Judge
CHAIRMAN
John is the former Chairman of ANZ Bank New Zealand Ltd and the Accident Compensation Corporation, and a former director of Fletcher Building Ltd. He is a former Chief Executive Officer of the professional services firm Ernst & Young, a position he held for 13 years. John chairs the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation Board and Auckland Arts Festival Trust, and is non-executive director of a number of private companies.
