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About BRAINYak
BRAINYak was founded by a group of dynamic young scientists in early 2006 as part of the Young Achievement Australia, Biotechnology Entrepreneur Program. The BRAINYak team, using their experience in scientific research, biotechnology and health care, have a mission to aid learning about neuroscience and to ease the passing on of information from neurologist to patient.
BRAINYak is delighted to introduce the following management team:
Legend » (Front Row, left to right) Avantika Banerjee, Cathy Jensen, Nicky Wallis, Scott Kolbe, (Middle row) Ye Cheng, Mari Kondo, (Back row) Eva So, Adam Walker, Emma Burrows
- Managing Director: Adam Walker
- Human Resources Director: Eva So
- Marketing Director: Emma Burrows
- Co-Manufacturing Director: Tim Brown
- Company Secretary: Nicky Wallis
- Finance Director: Ye Cheng
- Environmental and Co-Manufacturing Director: Cathy Jensen
- Sales Director: Mari Kondo
- Exit Strategy Director: Avantika Banerjee
- Design Director: Scott Kolbe
BRAINYak is confident that the dynamics of the company's organisation is such that optimal company morale is achieved, and thus the success of BRAINYak is enhanced. All company members have been elected to directorship roles, allowing all members experience in managerial positions. Due to the short time period of operation, individual directors are responsible for monitoring workload in their portfolio and recruiting others for assistance when required, in consultation with the Human Resources director.
Managing Director: Adam Walker
Called "Mr Reliable" in undergraduate classes, Adam has the composed maturity and discipline of an individual experienced in managing complicated tasks and meeting deadlines. After graduating dux of his high school, Adam grasped independence and moved away from his country home town at the young age of 18 and ultimately graduated with his Biochemistry (Honours) class at the University of Tasmania. Adam has now moved interstate to conquer the University of Melbourne. Although Adam is the youngest member (but highest paid) of BRAINYak he commands great respect from his fellow company members, chairing official meetings with effective communication and action. A former participant of the Ortus Star Program, a leadership and personal development program, Adam provides qualified leadership and encourages team building and exposure to various business-related and non-business related skills. Working closely with the Human Resources Director, Adam monitors the performance of all company sections and drives continuous improvements in all aspects of the company's work, to attain the maximal positive financial outcome for shareholders. His robust and clear vision for the success of BRAINYak ensures all company members are cohesive and committed to a common purpose.TOP
Human Resources Director: Eva So
As a budding young neuroscientist, Eva hypothesizes that her genuine steady sense of well being and enthusiasm stems from an excess of endogenous endorphins and food. She constantly motivates and monitors the welfare of every company member, making certain that all individuals are able to perform calmly and efficiently. Juggling studies, her position as vice-president of the HFI student committee and sport, Eva understands the importance of and is well experienced in time management and delegation of workload. Evident from her Australian Volleyball League training, Eva has experience in implementing team-building activities and has organised trainings for the development of team members in aspects required for success. Eva was a member of FuturEd, national finalists for The Higher Education Workplace Skills Olympiad, where she gained employability skills including project management, teamwork, workplace communication, negotiation and 'thinking outside the square'. Additional roles that she performs/ed include: mediation of differences, development and administration of leave and salary policies and the establishment and maintenance of confidential personnel records.TOP
Marketing Director: Emma Burrows
When not playing with her pet rat, Emma is an active sports woman and it is probably from her tackling award for college Aussie Rules that inspired Emma to work as a security guard at the Moto Grand Prix at Philip Island. Multitalented, Emma also has extensive sales experience in retail and is currently in hospitality, working and swinging at a jazz club. It is thus not surprising that Emma is naturally gifted in designing and supervising market research and strategies, which has increased product appeal, market impact and profitability of NeuroSlice. As a current member of the HFI student committee and internal communications committee, Emma brings to BRAINYak her experience in the planning and execution of advertising and promotions of products and activities. From these committees and being president of her college, she has also gained experience in producing media releases and designing and arranging aesthetically pleasing packaging and labelling of products to pin-point a target market. Working closely with BRAINYak's Sales and Exit Strategy Director, Emma also investigates avenues that will provide selling opportunities.TOP
Co-Manufacturing Director: Tim Brown
The next Wayne Gretzky, Tim is a skilled ice hockey player and thus is aware of the importance of safety in all activities. In this wisdom, he designs and implements systems to ensure the highest possible standards of safety during the manufacturing of NeuroSlice. The skills Tim has developed from his position as Treasurer of the HFI student committee is transferable to BRAINYak in establishing and maintaining accurate records of orders, deliveries and payments for raw materials and other production supplies. Similarly, he is also able to establish and maintain accurate records of materials in stock, work in progress, waste and finished products. A trait common in PhD students, Tim is capable of setting production goals and planning ways of achieving them. Many BRAINYak members attribute Tim's passion for making test product wooden prototypes of NeuroSlice to his excitement over manufacturing wooden toys for his baby boy. Additional roles that he performs include: locating and liaising with suppliers who can meet the company's requirements reliably. Additional roles that he performs include: locating and liaising with suppliers who can meet the company's requirements reliably.TOP
Company Secretary: Nicky Wallis
During her undergraduate years, Nicky was actively involved in various University of Melbourne Clubs, one of which she attained president status. Under her leadership, the club membership increased by 500% to 400 members in under a year. A feat such as this is highly commendable and reflects her proficiency and ability to ensure that all official meeting minutes and company contracts, shareholder records, documentation and formal correspondences are completed accurately and adequately. The success of her presidency of the "More Beer Club" gained commercial interest, which eventuated in national exposure, featuring in a popular Australian television series. Nicky is now excited over introducing BRAINYak and NeuroSlice to a world stage. Additional roles that she will perform include: co-ordinating the preparation and issue of the agenda for meetings and the annual report.TOP
Finance Director: Ye (Cici) Cheng
All the way from China, Ms Moneybags CiCi joins our team of neuroscientists with a unique and highly valuable background in finance and accounting. She is currently studying Masters of Applied Commerce (accounting), which makes her the most highly qualified BRAINYak member to design, implement and monitor accurate, efficient accounting systems. CiCi's second language (finance) has enabled her to efficiently prepare and monitor company budgets, and prepare product costing and breakeven analysis. It does not come as a surprise to BRAINYak that CiCi has mastered the ways of playing the GuZheng, a traditional 21 stringed Chinese instrument, as she is also proficient in the highly complicated and speculative task of routinely monitoring and analysing BRAINYak's financial position by assessing the risks and opportunities associated with business proposals. Previous employment as a toystore cashier has also prepared CiCi for responsibilities in managing company cash flow, receipts and payments. Additional roles that she will perform include: finalising accounts for periodical audits and at liquidation; arranging and operating BRAINYak's bank account and approving and administering payments recommended by other directors.TOP
Environmental and Co-Manufacturing Director: Cathy Jensen
Having grown up on a vegetable farm and paid $1 an hour picking strawberries for her dad to sell at the market, Cathy is unperturbed to be receiving around the same payment as she did when she was 5 years old. From country girl to Environmental Committee Chairperson at her Queensland high school, Cathy now is eager to apply her experience with researching the environmental impacts of activities to BRAINYak. Her initiative to introduce aluminium recycling into her high school against Principal objectives reflects her experience in negotiating for environmental concessions against financial perspective. This has been evident in her role as Co-Manufacturing Director, in which Cathy has implemented environmentally friendly materials that have surprisingly and greatly reduced the manufacturing and packaging costs of NeuroSlice. Cathy also ensures "green" operations in day-to-day activities of BRAINYak. Additional roles that Cathy performs include the overseeing the content of BRAINYak's website. Her attention to detail and her capability in composing relaxed text has allowed for the formation of a website which individuals with and without esoteric knowledge of the brain can easily access and enjoy. Furthermore, Cathy works in collaboration with her Co-Manufacturing Director to ensure highest possible standards of safety and quality during the manufacturing of NeuroSlice.TOP
Sales Director: Mari Kondo
A dubious attempt at selling home made lemonade on the street, when Mari was in primary school, illustrates her first extent of sales experience. Being hard working and tenacious, Mari has now developed admirable and practiced sales experiences during her time as a pharmacy assistant, which also required her to carry out stocktaking and management of stock databases and cash registers. Mari is thus well equipped to establish and maintain accurate sales records. Mari is currently also employed as a casual receptionist, which requires good personal presentation, professional attitude and polite telephone manners. Working closely with BRAINYak's Marketing and Design Directors to identify selling venues, she has set company sales goals and is confident that these will be achieved. Additional roles that she performs include: ensuring that products are not lost of damaged, preparation of common questions and answers to address customer service requirements and maintain records of sales commissions due.TOP
Exit Strategy Director: Avantika Banerjee
The dance star of the Bengali Association of Victoria, Avantika has featured in countless performances and takes pride in the detailed presentation of dance elements. From her experience on the stage, Avantika works closely with BRAINYak's Sales and Marketing Directors to ensure all company members are well-trained in confident and compelling sales strategies. Working closely and collaboratively with Managing, Sales and Marketing Directors also ensures that Avantika can identify and list potential exit avenues that will achieve the best shareholder return when BRAINYak liquidates. At the same time, Avantika gives NeuroSlice academic validity as she has extensive knowledge of the brain and neuroscience, having graduated with Anatomy (Honours) and a Biomedical Science degree, and for her PhD project investigates the function and distribution of various peptides in the brain.TOP
Design Director: Scott Kolbe
Previously a DJ in Australia and Japan, Scott now spins neuroimages of human brains afflicted with various disorders. As a neuroscientist, Scott is responsible for the development of and data analysis of structural brain changes in multiple sclerosis patients. Still travelling, he has presented his work internationally and prepared many research reports and grant applications for neuroimaging projects. BRAINYak is fortunate to have Scott, utilising his strength to give academic validity to NeuroSlice. Already involved in clinical circles, Scott links his network connections with BRAINYak's Marketing and Sales Directors, giving BRAINYak a greater chance of success. He combines his past experience in designing flyers for night clubs with his extensive knowledge of neuroimages to accurately and aesthetically design NeuroSlice.TOP
BRAINYak Professional Mentors
Carolyn Rolls
A talented patent counsel from Melbourne legal firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Carolyn has provided access to her astonishing range of expertise, including intellectual property advice.
Henry De Aizpurua
The Business Development Manager of the HFI, Henry's varied business skills have guided BRAINYak's way.
Anderly Chueh
Anderly is a PhD student from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and as a past YAA company member is kind in giving us a insider's view of the program.TOP
BRAINYak would like to single out the following friends for special mention:
Leslie Wallis
Leslie is an experienced engineer who has tirelessly provided excellent manufacturing of a series of prototypes and expert advice and feedback on the NeuroSlice design. Thank you Leslie!
Cameron McPherson
Despite several other commitments, Cameron has taken the initiative in designing and implementing a website for BRAINYak to distribute information. Thankyou Cameron!
Helen Overton
A talented graphic designer and animator, Helen has provided BRAINYak with attractive and distinctive logos to uniquely identify BRAINYak within a marketplace of competitors. We love the look Helen has given BRAINYak. Thank you Helen!
Rohan Neale
A talented humourist, Rohan is a one man image cutting machine with a sole purpose: To produce NeuroSlice images with the most accurate and sharp edges possible. Rohan, we salute you!
The Howard Florey Institute and Neurosciences Victoria
BRAINYak is delighted and proud to be sponsored by the Howard Florey Institute, Australia's leading brain research institute, and Neurosciences Victoria, an organisation dedicated to linking brain research with commercial opportunities. Both have provided wonderful help, support and infrastructure at all times during BRAINYak's development. Thank you HFI and NSV!TOP
