Leanna has broad executive, board and investment experience, particularly in biotechnology. She founded a successful company, TGR BioSciences Pty Ltd and now chairs biotech companies, TekCyte Ltd and Carina Biotech Ltd, as well as Health Translation SA. She is also a board member of Uniseed Venture Capital and a member of the National Research Infrastructure Advisory Group. She has been Chief Scientist for SA (2014-2018) and Chair & CEO for the CRC for Cell Therapy Manufacturing (2017-2019). She holds honorary doctorates at the University of Adelaide and the University of SA as well as the Cooperative Research Australia Lifetime Achievement Award for Industry-Research Collaboration.

Dr Leanna Read has a high international reputation not only for her research but also for her efforts to apply them to treat important disease indications in children.

She has played a significant role in developing biotechnology industry in this country both through her part in turning GroPep Pty Ltd into the successful company it is today, her association with one of the most successful CRCs (Tissue Growth and Repair), her involvement with the IR & D board as Chairman of the Biological Committee and Chairman of the START Grant Committee, her establishment and soccessful leadership of the Child Health Research Institute, or through membership of many major advisory and management committees. Last but not least she has pursued and organised many collaborative ventures with both local and overseas companies to take her discoveries to the clinic and the market place.