Acrux's management team have extensive experience in the development and commercialisation of pharmaceutical products in the global marketplace.
Michael Kotsanis , BSc, MBus
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director
Michael has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has significant senior leadership experience across the global pharmaceutical markets. Michael was formally the Chief Commercial Officer for Synthon Holding BV, an international pharmaceutical company and a leader in the field of generic medicines with revenue over EUR250 million, and was based in the Netherlands, a position he held for four years. Prior to Synthon, he served as President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, for Hospira and where he was responsible for delivering over US$500 million in annual revenue. Hospira was the global leader in generic injectable pharmaceuticals prior to its acquisition by Pfizer. Michael joined Hospira following its acquisition of Mayne Pharma in 2007, where he served as President Asia Pacific from 2002. He joined Mayne following their acquisition of Faulding Pharmaceuticals in 2001, where he held responsibility for commercial activities in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to Faulding, Michael held a variety of sales and marketing positions with Boehringer Ingelheim, a German multinational pharmaceutical company over an 11-year period. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science from Monash University, Melbourne and a Master of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney. Michael is also a Non-executive Director of IDT Australia Ltd.
Deborah Ambrosini , CA
Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary
Deborah commenced at Acrux as the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary in June 2019. She is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand with over 20 years of experience in leading financial strategies to facilitate growth plans. Her experience spans the biotechnology, mining, IT communications and financial services sectors.
Deborah possesses extensive experience in debt and equity capital raising activities, regulatory compliance, process improvement, investor relations, large contract management and leading all aspects of accounting, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis. She also has significant experience both nationally and internationally in financial and business planning, compliance and taxation.
Deborah has held Director roles in both listed and unlisted entities.
Deborah has been a state finalist in the Telstra Business Woman Awards. She was also named as one of the Top 40 pre-eminent business leaders in the highly prestigious WA Business News 40 under 40 awards.
Felicia Colagrande , BSc(Hons)
Product Development and Technical Affairs Director
Felicia was appointed Product Development and Technical Affairs Director in February 2015. Felicia has a broad background in pharmaceutical operations, dermal drug development, analytical development and production. Felicia leads and facilitates all technical aspects of pharmaceutical product development including R&D, analytical development, project management and CMC development, with a focus on exploiting and optimising the company’s drug delivery technology. Felicia has 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry and joined Acrux in 2001. Felicia has previously held positions at Faulding Pharmaceuticals, the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the Austin Hospital, Silliker-Microtech Laboratories and was an Adjunct Appointee Lecturer with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University. Felicia has a Bachelor of Science degree (with Honours) from La Trobe University and an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business.
Charles O'Sullivan , B. Pharm
Portfolio Director
Charles commenced at Acrux as Portfolio Director in July 2015. He is an experienced healthcare executive with senior and international leadership roles in scientific affairs, medical affairs, health economics and government affairs.
Prior to Acrux, Charles was Asia Pacific Director of Medical and Government Affairs for Hospira (now Pfizer). Other pharmaceutical industry roles were at Mayne Pharma (Pricing and Reimbursement Manager), GSK and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. Additional external roles included being a Director of the Generic Medicines Industry Association of Australia (now the Generic and Biosimilar Association) and membership of a number of industry and government working parties.
As a qualified pharmacist, Charles has senior experience in the public hospital sector including pharmacy management and key committee membership including Bio-Ethics Committee, and Drug and Therapeutics Committees.
Charles has a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Monash University and a Graduate Diploma of Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Melbourne University.