The Brave New Nexus of Design, Health, and Technology

Part of Ideas shaping tomorrow

The Brave New Nexus of Design, Health, and Technology

Industry experts discuss the defining strengths of design within the expanding Victorian MedTech industry, showcasing cutting edge designs.

Design plays a central role in achieving positive health outcomes. As one of the fastest growing players in the global MedTech industry, Victoria is gaining a reputation for its quality, innovation and commitment to excellence in design.

Jeff Malone, CEO of BioMelbourne Network discusses the defining strengths of design within the expanding Victorian MedTech industry, and how this sector is successfully combining human-centred design, interdisciplinary collaboration and world-class artisan manufacturing to improve human health.

Following Jeff’s introduction, five designers and experts at the cutting-edge of projects improving outcomes in health and medicine, showcase leading innovations in the fields of new wearables, sleep technology and patient-centred design in dynamic 5-minute presentations.

Host

Jeff Malone, Chief Executive Officer, BioMelbourne Network

Jeff Malone has over thirty years of industry experience in the field of health tech and design. He has expertise in the medical, healthtech and defence sectors and is known and respected domestically and overseas. Jeff works as a mentor and advisor to global innovation ecosystems and accelerator programs, brokering innovation and advocating on behalf of the healthtech industry.

Jeff joined BioMelbourne Network as the CEO in July 2020. Prior to this, Jeff served as the Australian General Manager of SRXGlobal, Australia’s largest medical and defence contract electronics manufacturer, which was awarded the 2014 Large Manufacturer of the Year in Victoria.

Speakers

Leah Heiss, Associate Professor and Eva and Marc Besen International Research Chair in Design at Monash University.

Through collaborative projects, Leah has designed technologies for hearing loss, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gut disease and loneliness.
Her design work has been recognised with six Australian Good Design Awards (including the 2018 Australian Good Design Award of the Year) and the CSIRO Design Innovation Award.

Dr Sophie Payne, Senior Research Fellow, Bionics Institute

Dr Sophie Payne is a Senior Research Fellow at the Bionics Institute and has an honorary position at the University of Melbourne. Her specialty is in the use of medical devices in the autonomic nervous system to treat disease.

Sophie’s research vision is to progress a pipeline of electroceutical technology to provide clinical relief in a number of diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes and urinary incontinence. Her specialty is in the use of medical devices in the autonomic nervous system to treat disease.

Peter Vranes, CEO Nutromics

Peter Vranes is the co-founder and CEO of MedTech startup, Nutromics. A serial entrepreneur with a track record of success, Peter is passionate about using medical technologies to create a more proactive healthcare system. He previously founded and commercialised several natural cosmeceutical skincare brands. He has a background in chemical engineering and specialises in developing brands, commercialising technologies, and scaling businesses.

Pauline Newlove, Project Manager, Hydrix

Pauline is a program manager with over 12 year's experience across project management and mechanical engineering, predominantly within the Medical Device market.

With a strong belief that playful exploration is a great way to open minds to new ideas, Pauline employs a dynamic and creative approach across the product development journey – spanning front-end conceptualisation through to solving intricate engineering challenges.

Pauline’s holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Design, and Innovation from the Technical University of Denmark, as well as a number of patents from her career in product development.

Cameron van den Dungen, CEO of Sleeptite

Cameron van den Dungen is the CEO of Sleeptite and a Non-Executive Director of Forty Winks. For close to 15 years, Cameron has travelled the world searching for innovation and technology in sleep science and research focused on ‘what is next’ for the sleep industry, and how the bedroom can evolve as part of the connected home. Cameron uncovered gaps in the quality of the data collected by existing sensors, as well as a lack of research and understanding around how to measure ‘a good night’s sleep’. This led Cameron to create Sleeptite, an aged care focused healthtech company designed to innovate health and sleep.

Supported by Australian MedTech Manufacturing Centre (AMMC) and the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry & Regions of the Victorian Government. 

These events are part of Melbourne Design Week 2023, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.