AusBiotech expands 2026 partnerships for investor programs and women’s leadership events
AusBiotech signed an MOU with Proto Axiom for a coordinated 2026 investor-focused event calendar. It also expanded its Medicines Australia partnership for women’s leadership events in Sydney.
AusBiotech and Sydney-based life sciences company creator Proto Axiom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen national coordination across investor-focused programs connecting researchers, investors, and industry within Australia’s life sciences ecosystem. AusBiotech and Medicines Australia are also expanding their partnership to deliver both the long-running Women in Life Sciences Luncheon and, for the first time, a dedicated Leadership Summit in March 2026. Held in Sydney on 6 March to coincide with International Women’s Day, the events will bring together leaders from biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, digital health, research and government.
The new agreement between AusBiotech and Proto Axiom creates a coordinated calendar of investor focused events, starting with Challenger Pitch for Health in March and a new joint program in August and September 2026. Under the agreement, Proto Axiom will act as a “Pipeline Partner” for AusBiotech’s Early Stage Innovation Forum aligned activity, while AusBiotech will serve as an “Industry Partner” for the Challenger Pitch for Health. The partnership is designed to create a more connected researcher and founder journey, providing clearer pathways from early pitching and validation through to national industry platforms, and later stage investment.
The collaboration complements AusBiotech’s broader program of investment-related partnerships, including the recent launch of its Investor Readiness Panel. The framework is designed to strengthen founder preparedness, align companies with appropriate capital, and improve the quality of investor engagement across the ecosystem.
The Women in Life Sciences Luncheon is expected to attract more than 600 attendees, providing a forum for reflection, connection and candid discussion about the shared challenges women face across the industry. As part of a significant expansion of the partnership, the new Women in Life Sciences Leadership Summit will focus on equipping mid-career and emerging leaders with practical tools to advance to senior roles. This year’s program aligns with the global theme #GivetoGain.
Leadership Summit sessions will explore resilient leadership in uncertain environments, decision-making with incomplete information, maintaining authenticity while navigating change, and building trust and ethical leadership in an AI-enabled world.