Ganesh M. Kishore
CEO
Dr Kishore has a distinguished track record of accomplishments in biotechnology R&D and businesses. After receiving a PhD in biochemistry from Indian Institute of Science, he received postdoctoral training in chemistry and biology and also served as a Robert A Welch Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin.
He then joined Monsanto Company as a Senior Research Biochemist responsible for developing processes for the synthesis of Aspartame, the active ingredient of NUTRASWEET and EQUAL. He subsequently took leadership for developing the technology behind ROUNDUP READY and ultimately the entire agricultural technologies and biotechnology for the Monsanto Company. He was named a Distinguished Science Fellow, the highest honor bestowed upon scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the company but also the scientific field in general and, Assistant Chief Scientist of the company.
He won the Queeny Award, a prize given by Monsanto Company in recognition of his contributions to the development of ROUNDUP READY technology. In addition to his personal contributions, as the leader of Plant Sciences Research at Monsanto, his team developed and commercialized most of the agribiotech products that are in the market today. He played a pivotal role in the transformation of the chemical company into a life sciences company and led the charge on a series of investments in the genomics technologies within the company. He retired from Monsanto after serving as the President of its Nutrition and Consumer Products division as well as the Chief Biotechnologist.
Dr. Kishore joined DuPont in 2002 as the Chief Technology Officer for its Agriculture and Nutrition Platform and took over the role of Chief Biotechnology Officer for the company in 2005. During his tenure at DuPont, he guided the acquisition of several key technology companies and relationships and bolstered the biotech competence within the company. He left DuPont in 2007 to join Burrill & Company as Managing Director.
Roger E. Wyse
Co-Chairman / Director
Dr. Wyse is the Managing Director of Burrill & Company, and has more than 27 years of experience as an internationally recognized plant scientist and business consultant.
Dr. Wyse is an internationally recognized scientist and was a Dean at two major research universities. He served for five years as Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. From 1986 to 1992 he served as Dean of Research at Rutgers University. Throughout his administrative career Dr. Wyse has been known for his vision and leadership in developing national policies and funding for life sciences research. Dr. Wyse chairs or serves on the boards of six private companies: Attune, Brand Accelerator (Chair), Chakra Biotech (Chair), Corazonas (Chair), Efficas, and Segetis. He is Co-Chairman of the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund; and is a member of the International Advisory Panel for Biotechnology (BioIAP) for the Prime Minister of Malaysia. He was founder and Chairman of the Alliance for Animal Genome Research. He is also on the board of the industry group BIO and on the executive committee of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section. In research, Dr. Wyse earned international recognition for his basic studies in plant biochemistry.
He has published more than 150 scientific papers. In recognition of his research accomplishments he received the prestigious Arthur Flemming Award in 1982 as the Outstanding Young Scientist in the U.S. Federal Service. He was elected a Fellow of both the Crop Science Society of America and The American Society of Agronomy. And in 2008, he was elected as a Fellow of The American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has also served as a consultant to numerous Fortune 500 companies.
Rashidan Shah Abdul Rahim
Director
Rashidan Shah is a Director of the MLSCF and Special Project Division of MTDC and has extensive experience in the securities industry. He graduated in Accountancy and began his career in Bapema Trading Sdn Bhd (now known as PFM Capital Sdn Bhd) as an analyst in 1990.
Subsequently, he worked with various stockbroking firms including UMBC Securities Sdn Bhd, Capital Corp Sdn Bhd and Charles Bradburne & Co. (now known as Avenue Securities Sdn Bhd) as sell-side analyst and research manager specializing in banking, property and power sectors as well as market strategy.
Prior to joining MTDC in August 2004 as Assistant General Manager in Investment Division, Rashidan joined Smith Newcourt as an institutional sales dealer followed by BBMB Securities Sdn Bhd (now known as ECM Libra Securities Sdn Bhd) in mid 1995 as General Manager, Research and left BBMB Securities Sdn Bhd in May 2004 as Executive Director of Dealing.
Greg Young
Director
Greg joined Burrill & Company in 2000 and has been primarily involved in sourcing, evaluating and investing in new business opportunities as part of the firm’s venture activities. His focus areas of investment cover renewable energy and chemicals, as well as biological processes which promote sustainability. He also acts as an investment manager for the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund (MLSCF), a venture fund co-managed by Burrill & Company. Greg currently serves on the Board of HCL CleanTech and is a Board Observer on the Boards of Akermin and Glori Energy. Greg was instrumental in sourcing and consummation of Burrill & Company and MLSCF’s investment in Gevo. Previously, Greg worked as a molecular biologist focused on protein expression at an early-stage biotech company located in San Diego. Greg received his BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California, San Diego and an MS in Biotechnology and Business from Northwestern University.
Nelleita Omar
Director of Special Projects
Nelleita Omar is a Director of Special Projects, assisting MLSCF's global portfolio companies to pursue opportunities for expansion or collaboration with Malaysian partners. Nell also assists in stakeholder engagement activities involving policymakers, industry partners and the media. Prior to MLSCF, Nell was a researcher, advisor and speechwriter at the Prime Minister’s Office from 2003 to 2009, covering diverse policy areas and economic sectors from biotechnology to agriculture. She was also a member of the Board of the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation. Prior to Government, Nell was an Associate at the Boston Consulting Group covering a wide range of industries around the ASEAN region. Nell holds a BSc. in Economics and an MSc. in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.
Chen Yee Liaw
Analyst
Chen Yee is an Analyst with the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund. She graduated with honors from the California Institute of Technology in 2009, with a B.S. in Biology and Business Economics. At Caltech, she did research in elucidating the molecular basis of early T-cell development defects that may impact autoimmunity in a Type 1 diabetes mouse model. She was recipient of the Richter Scholar Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in 2006 and the Hugh & Audy Colvin Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in 2007. Chen Yee has also interned at Deloitte Consulting, in Strategy & Operations, where she was involved in a cost reduction project with a major retail client.
Ginny Leong
Office Manager