Deborah Rathjen

Deborah Rathjen, B.Sc. (Hons), Ph.D., MAICD, FTSE, is the previous chief executive officer and managing director at Bionomics. Dr. Rathjen joined Bionomics in 2000 from Peptech Limited, where she was general manager of business development and licensing. She was a co-inventor of Peptech’s TNF technology and leader of the company’s successful defense of its key TNF patents against a legal challenge by BASF.

Dr. Rathjen has significant experience in company building and financing, mergers and acquisitions, therapeutic product research and development, business development, licensing and commercialization. Dr. Rathjen has been recognized internationally with awards and honors including the 2004 AusBiotech President’s Medal, 2006 Flinders University Distinguished Alumni Award, 2009 BioSingapore Asia Pacific Biotechnology Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, 2009 Regional Finalist Ernst & Young – Entrepreneur of the Year and 2014 Woman Executive of the Year BioPharm Industry Awards. In 2015 Dr. Rathjen was included in the top 50 most influential Australian businesswomen by The Australian.