Gordon Francis Meijs
Biography
Gordon Francis Meijs was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 4 November 1956.
He obtained his BSc (University of Adelaide) with First-Class Honours in Organic Chemistry in 1977 and his PhD (University of Adelaide) in Organic Chemistry in 1981.
From 1981 to 1982, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA and a Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Adelaide from 1982 to 1985.
In 1986, he joined the CSIRO Division of Applied Organic Chemistry as a Research Scientist in the area of specialty polymers. He was promoted to Senior Research Scientist (Biomaterials & Specialty Polymers) in 1988 and appointed Project Leader, Polymeric Biomaterials in 1989. He became a Principal Research Scientist in 1992, a Senior Principal Research Scientist in 1996; Program Manager, Biomaterials and Bioengineering in 1998 and a Chief Research Scientist in 2000.
Gordon was trained as an organic chemist and has extensive research and research management experience in CSIRO and within CRCs. Gordon has an extensive patent portfolio and commercialisation experience and plays a key role in the design and implementation of the strategic change program in IP management improvement.
His key research achievements are:
- coinvented highly effective chain transfer agents for the control of molecular weight and end group functionality in free radical polymerisation. Major program initiated with DuPont (USA) to exploit use of these materials in automotive coatings and electronics applications.
- led team that developed new classes of cell growth polymers (porous and non-porous), suitable for biomaterial applications (including synthetic artificial cornea). Novartis-sponsored company Biocure Inc., formed to exploit non-ocular applications of this and other technologies.
- coinventor of broad functional patent for contact lens materials suitable for continuous wear over 30 days. CIBA Vision Product ‘Focus Night & Day’ based on this technology.
- part of team which devised a method for effecting highly monodisperse free radical polymerisations. Licensed to DuPont.
- led a multidisciplinary team that developed several families of highly flexible biostable polyurethanes for medical implant. Australian startup company, Elastomedic Pty Ltd, now Aortech Biomaterials Pty Ltd, formed to manufacture and use Elast-Eon^TM^ family for fabricating implantable medical devices.
For the period 2000-01, he was Commercial Advisor (seconded), Corporate Commercial and Finance Group, CSIRO and from 2002 to 2007, the CSIRO Corporate Group’s: Senior Manager, Business Improvement, Business Development and Commercialisation. In 2007, he became General Manager, Intellectual Property Development, CSIRO Corporate Group.
Career
Associated Scientific and Management Positions Held
|
2003 – 06 |
Visiting Professor, Graduate School for Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales |
|
2001 |
Member, Corporate Strategic Priorities Task Groups ‘Going Global’ and Technology Transfer Commercialisation – ‘New Enterprise Creation’ |
|
1999 – 2001 |
Board Member, Cardiac CRC Nominees Pty Ltd (rep CSIRO) |
|
1999 – 2001 |
Board Member, PolyU Pty Ltd (rep CSIRO) |
|
1999 – 2000 |
Chair, CSIRO Molecular Science, Site Environmental Management Committee |
|
1999 |
Chair, Site Management Committee, CSIRO Molecular Science, Clayton |
|
1998 – 2001 |
CSIRO Molecular Science, Divisional Management Team |
|
|
International Research Program Steering Committee |
|
1998 – 2000 |
Member, CIBA Vision/CRC for Eye Research and Technology, SEE3 |
|
1998 – 99 |
Assistant Director, CRC for Cardiac Technology |
|
1997 – 2003 |
Adjunct Professor, Graduate School for Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales |
|
1997 – 2000 |
CSIRO Sector Component Coordinator – Biomaterials |
|
1997 – 2000 |
Board Member, CRC for Cardiac Technology (rep CSIRO) |
|
1997 – 99 |
Director – Accommodating Intraocular Lens Program, CIBA Vision/ CRC for Eye Research and Technology |
|
1995 – 2001 |
Executive Committee Member, CRC for Eye Research and Technology |
|
1995 – 99 |
Adjunct Professor, University of Technology, Sydney |
|
1992 – 2000 |
Project Leader, CRC for Eye Research and Technology |
|
1992 – 99 |
Key Researcher, Executive Committee Member and Project Leader, Cooperative Research Centre for Cardiac Technology |
Professional Societies
|
2005- |
Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors |
|
2000 – 03 |
Member, Australian Research Management Society |
|
1994 – 98 |
Treasurer, Australian Society for Biomaterials |
|
1992 – 98 |
Committee, Australian Society for Biomaterials |
|
1991 – 94 |
Member, Victorian Branch Membership Development Committee |
|
1990- |
Member, Australian Society for Biomaterials |
|
1988 – 90 |
Member, Victorian Branch Committee |
|
1988 – 90 |
Convenor, Victorian Branch Membership Development Committee |
|
1993 |
Chairman, Victorian Polymer Group |
|
1993 |
Member, Polymer Division Standing Committee |
|
|
Royal Australian Chemical Institute |
Other Professional Activities
|
1998 |
Chair: Committee to audit CIBA Vision (USA) contact lens manufacturing process |
|
1996 |
Member, Human Resources Strategy Group, CSIRO Division of Chemicals and Polymers; Chair (1997-98) |
|
1992 – 94 |
Member of the Silicone Implants Panel of the Therapeutic Devices Evaluation Committee, Commonwealth Department of Community Services and Health; consultant (1994- ) |
|
1989 – 93 |
Member of the Standards Australia Subcommittee on Laboratory Safety: Chemical Aspects and the Subcommittee on Laboratory Safety: Storage of Chemicals in Laboratories |
|
1988 – 92 |
Safety Officer, CSIRO Division of Chemicals and Polymers |
Honours and awards
|
2003 |
CSIRO Medal, RAFT Polymerisation Team |
|
2002 |
CSIRO Business Excellence Award (Relationship Management) CIBA Vision Team |
|
2000 |
Inaugural CSIRO Business Excellence Medal (Technology Transfer) Polyurethanes Technology Team |
|
1995 |
Australian Polymer Science and Technology Achievement Award; Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Polymer Division |
|
1994 |
Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute |
|
1990 |
CSIRO Medal, Specialty Polymers Team |
|
1982 |
William Culross Prize for Scientific Research (University of Adelaide) |
Source
- Meijs GF, 2009, Personal communication.