Meet the eBonz team

Peter Hunter, PhD

DIRECTOR, Auckland Bioengineering Institute

Prof Hunter's research is focused on modeling many aspects of the human body using specially developed computational algorithms and an anatomically and biophysically based approach which incorporates detailed anatomical and micro structural measurements and material properties into the continuum models. The interrelated electrical, mechanical and biochemical functions of the heart, for example, have been modeled in the first 'physiome' model of an organ.

He is helping to lead the international Physiome Project which aims to use computational methods for understanding the integrated physiological function of the body in terms of the structure and function of tissues, cells and proteins.

He is currently a Professor of Engineering Science and Director of the Bioengineering Institute at the University of Auckland, Director of Computational Physiology at Oxford University and holds honorary or visiting Professorships at a number of Universities. He is on the scientific advisory boards of a number of Research Institutes in Europe, the US and the Asia-Pacific region. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society (London and NZ), the World Council for Biomechanics, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and the International Academy of Medical & Biological Engineering.

Chris Coombe, BCom, CA, Dip. Tchg

Chris is a finance professional with unique business experience gained in a number of different sized companies, ranging from large corporates to co-operatives to small and medium sized enterprises. In addition to being an experienced accountant, Chris has a broad commercial background that covers general management, marketing and strategy development. Chris currently acts as the Chief Financial Officer for New Zealand Diagnostics Limited and its subsidiaries (including eBonz Limited). Working within these subsidiaries, Chris has a passion to assist these businesses to successfully commercialize their ideas and technologies.

In the past Chris has held senior management and finance roles including: General Manager of domestic produce marketer Leader Brand Marketing, senior positions in ZESPRI International (Group Treasurer and Strategy & Financial Planning Manager) and senior positions within Air New Zealand (Manager IS & Strategy, Manager Marketing & Business Performance, and Manager Cargo Finance).

Chris commenced his accounting career in the audit and assurance division of Arthur Andersen after graduating from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce (accounting). He also studied at the Auckland College of Education, graduating with a Diploma in Teaching. Chris is a Chartered Accountant (CA) of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, and a Certified Finance and Investment Professional with the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc.

William B. M. Randall, MSc, PhD, MBA

Dr. Randall has an MSc degree in ecology and limnology from Miami University (Ohio), an MBA degree from Northeastern University (Boston) and a PhD degree in biology from the University of Auckland (New Zealand). His background combines high level experience in both the financial services industry and academia.

During the past 6 years, he has been involved in commercializing New Zealand life science opportunities within New Zealand's government research and university sectors. He is a partner in Chrysalis Capital Partners and an executive director of New Zealand Diagnostics Limited (NZDx), an early stage investor in novel, disruptive medical diagnostic devices and life science technologies. The latter company was selected by the Government's Seed Co-Investment Fund program as a co-investment partner and manager to provide capital on a 1:1 matching basis with Government to qualified technology start-up companies. A key to the company's success has been the quality of its Board of Directors and key management personnel who, collectively, bring decades of experience in both management and scientific knowhow. As a result of NZDx's investment activity, William has been actively involved with the development of eBonz Limited and is an executive member of its Board of Directors.

Prior to 2004, William acted as a biotechnology industry specialist for Industry New Zealand (now NZ Trade & Enterprise), an independent consultant to the New Zealand biotechnology industry and as a principal and partner in Bio-Strategy Associates Limited. Aside from his involvement with New Zealand Diagnostics and eBonz, Dr. Randall is also the Trust Board Chairman of the Auckland Museum.

Dr. Randall has spent fifteen years in banking and finance during which time he was the Assistant Treasurer of Fidelity Investments (one of America's largest investment companies) and the managing director of ANZ McCaughan Securities NZ Limited (a bank-owned New Zealand stock broking company). William's primary interest lies in helping New Zealand to develop its ability to commercialize the science opportunities arising from it universities and Crown Research Institutes.

Kevin F. Daish, BSc, PhD

Dr Kevin Daish has a BSc in Biochemistry and Physiology from the University of London and a Ph.D from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Kevin has over 20 years experience as a senior manager in sales, marketing and operations of the biotechnology and life sciences industry.

Kevin has come to New Zealand from the United Kingdom where he was working as a Global Marketing Director for the medical technologies and services company GE Healthcare. Prior to this, Kevin has held Commercialization Director positions and Managing Director roles with UK and European biotechnology companies.

Kevin has a wealth of experience of launching new biotechnology products to market and building strategic commercial alliances. Kevin is well versed in reviewing and driving output from research functions to find market opportunities. As such he has set up a number of successful collaborations with both academic and commercial partners through licensing and sales agreements.

Kevin's appointment with Uniservices and the Bioengineering institute as a commercialization manager will help eBonz broaden the application of their platform technology to accelerate the business development of their work.

Duane Malcolm, BE, ME, PhD

Research Engineer

Duane has a BE in Engineering Science and an ME and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Auckland. Duane's ME was on estimating the material properties of biological membranes and his PhD was on simulating the transport of solutes and fluid in the ocular lens. Duane has gained skills ranging from instrumentation and measurement to computation modeling.

For the last three years, Duane has managed the technical side of the eBonz project, which includes software, database and user interface development. Duane is currently focused on the development of tools to automatically segment and generate anatomical models from CT scans.

David Nickerson, PhD

Research Scientist

David is a Research Fellow in the Auckland Bioengineering Institute where he leads the Auckland Kidney Physiome project. David is also involved in many aspects of the CellML project as well as various cardiac modeling projects. He also develops several CellML-related software tools.

David is developing the computational framework used by eBonz in the creation and customization of anatomical models.

Hugh Sorby

Software Developer

Hugh is a Software Developer in the Auckland Bioengineering Institute where he develops software for eBonz. Hugh is also involved in developing Cmgui.

Hugh is developing the modeling and CAD framework used by eBonz.