Over 13 years experience in drug discovery, preclinical development and partnering of novel candidates developed by leading research groups in NZ and the USA. Routinely leads negotiations with global partners that generate successful partnerships and deliver pre­clinical assets targeting a range of indications. Awarded NZ Bio’s Bioscientist of the Year in 2016. She is an inventor on multiple international patents.

At her roles in a NZ research institute (2001-2007) she managed commercialisation activities and pre-seed funds.  Since 2012, she held executive roles in healthcare start-ups, growing international sales and distribution partnerships and securing investment capital.  Ms Yiannoutsos was pivotal in establishing NZ’s angel investment community with the launch of the first angel network (MINE) which resulted in $14M investment in start-ups.

Prof Painter is one of Avalia's two founding scientists. In addition to his role with Avalia he is Group Leader at Ferrier Research Institute and Professor at Victoria University of Wellington. He completed his postdoc at the University of Cambridge, authored over 50 peer reviewed publications and a key inventor across 9 patent families including US patent US7,129,355, which has resulted in over $16 million in global sales.

Prof Hermans is one of Avalia's founding scientists. In addition, he is deputy Director, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research (MIMR) and Professor at Victoria University of Wellington. In 2001, he was at the Tumour Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, at the Uni. of Oxford, UK. Authored over 60 peer reviewed publications and is a named inventor on several patents. Involved in multiple immunotherapy clinical trials.