Hexima Limited | Scientists

Professor Adrienne Clarke is a founding member of Hexima, and was Chief Science Officer from April 2006 to November 2008. She currently serves as Hexima's Chief Science Advisor and continues in her role as Deputy Chairman. Professor Clarke is Laureate Professor at The University of Melbourne. She was appointed to a Personal Chair at the School of Botany (awarded in 1982) and is past Director of the Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, The University of Melbourne (1982–1999), former Chairman of CSIRO (1991–1996), former Lieutenant Governor of Victoria (1997–2000) and former Ambassador for Biotechnology for Victoria (2001–2003). She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1991 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2004.

Professor Clarke was President of the International Society for Plant Molecular Biology (1997–1998). She is a Foreign Member, American Academy of Arts and Science; Foreign Associate, National Academy of Sciences, USA; Companion, The Institute of Engineers, Australia; Fellow, Australian Academy of Science; and Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Professor Clarke was formerly a Director of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd and of Woolworths Ltd.

Professor Marilyn A Anderson

BSc (Hons) (The University of Melbourne), PhD (La Trobe University)

Chief Science Officer

Professor Marilyn Anderson is one of Hexima’s founding scientists and was appointed Chief Science Officer in November 2008. She is located within the Department of Biochemistry at La Trobe University. Professor Anderson leads a team with strengths in biochemistry, enzymology and cell and molecular biology and discovered the insecticidal and antifungal molecules that are key to Hexima’s ongoing technology development and discovery. Professor Anderson chairs the Management Committee which oversees the antifungal program with DuPont.

Professor Anderson has held board positions with South East Water Limited and Hexima Limited and is currently a member of the board of directors of City West Water Limited.

Dr Robyn L Heath

BSc (Hons) (Monash University), PhD (The University of Melbourne)

Senior Vice President Product Development

Dr Robyn Heath is one of Hexima’s founding scientists and now leads Hexima’s Product Development Team within the School of Botany at The University of Melbourne. Dr Heath established Hexima’s cotton transformation capability and organised and delivered Hexima’s first field trials. She is currently leading programs to introduce Hexima’s proprietary genes into corn, cotton and canola and is leading the Dow Collaboration project. As part of the collaboration with DuPont she is building the team’s capabilities in corn transformation as well as evaluation of plants for resistance to the major corn pathogens.

Dr Heath has extensive research and management experience in both Government and university laboratories. She was previously a Director of Hexima Limited.

Dr Mark D Hulett

BSc (Hons) (The University of Melbourne), PhD (The University of Melbourne)

Vice President Research

Dr Mark Hulett was appointed Vice President Research in January 2008. Now based at Melbourne’s La Trobe University, Dr Hulett will lead a research program into the potential human applications of Hexima’s proprietary molecules in the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Dr Hulett comes to us from the John Curtin School of Medical Research where he had an outstanding career in cancer and immunology research. In recognition of his standing in that community, he was elected President of the Australian Society for Medical Research. He has also won numerous awards including The Young Tall Poppy Award, the Howard Florey Investigator Award and the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation Senior Medical Research Fellowship.