Championing Queensland's biotechnology sector

About LSQ

Representing more than 100 industry members from the life sciences ecosystem, and connecting industry with government and research organisations.
Life Sciences Queensland Limited (LSQ) is a Queensland peak body that offers opportunities for industry stakeholders to come together and cooperate to grow their businesses and help create a dynamic, internationally competitive and sustainable life sciences industry in Queensland, Australia.

LSQ is helping to shape the strategic direction of the industry in Queensland and influence public policy. LSQ also provides members with tools, services, market intelligence and access to an international network of life sciences organisations with the aim of identifying new business opportunities and accelerating business growth.
Meet our Members

Sector impact

A$534.3m
Estimated export value of life sciences from Queensland
Contributing A$2.11 billion in gross, value-added.
12,400
People currently employed in life sciences in Queensland
That's an increase of 3000 jobs since the Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan was launched in 2017.

Our members forge new frontiers in fields that are critical to human health, sustainable development and economic prosperity, spanning medical devices and diagnostics, medicines, agricultural and marine biotechnology, animal health and bio-energy.
LSQ has supported bringing together the BioManufacturing Alliance (BMA), which aims to establish aviable advanced biomanufacturing industry for the state.
LSQ has supported the Queensland delegation to BIO, the world's largest biotech conference, in the USA, for many years. It has published a Queensland Bioeconomy & Biomedical Directory to support the delegation.
Queensland Bioeconomy & Biomedical DirectoryBioManufacturing Alliance (BMA)
LSQ celebrates the people and organisations making an impact to the Queensland life sciences through its annual GENE Awards.
As Queensland's premier life sciences event, these awards showcase the depth and potential of the sector, with categories recognising achievement by individuals and companies at both early and late stages, throughout Queensland. They are open to LSQ member companies and their staff working throughout Queensland.
Learn more

Meet the LSQ team

A woman with her hair in a bun and wearing glasses smiles at the camera. She is wearing a bold black and white jacket, printed with Aboriginal designs, over a black shirt.

Ms Sally Dillon

Senior Communications Manager

Sally is an experienced strategic communications specialist and brings to Life Sciences Queensland three decades of media, corporate communications, social media and marketing expertise. She has an impressive background in community organising and outreach for member-based organisations and is relentlessly curious about innovation, science and technology.

Solving communication challenges is Sally’s passion, and her strength is connecting people and ideas to create positive impact. Her diverse career spans public and commercial radio journalism, book publishing, travel writing, corporate communications and advocacy. Having worked in roles in the university, public service and for-purpose organisations, Sally is ideally placed to amplify the impact of the life sciences sector.

She has worked as a journalist for the ABC, Radio New Zealand, and a number of commercial radio stations, and has written feature stories for The Guardian and many of Australia’s news publications. Sally has an eye for a story that will pique the public’s interest and is an expert at translating complex ideas into compelling stories for diverse audiences, from public servants to researchers and school students.

A champion for women, Sally is on the Advisory Committee for the QUT Pathways to Politics Program for Women. She has an Arts Honours degree, a Bachelor of Business in Communications, specialising in journalism and public relations, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Indigenous). She is also a qualified Counsellor and has volunteered for the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

Sally is perfectly positioned to head the Communications division at Life Sciences Queensland, where she will focus on driving transformative change and elevating the status of the Queensland life sciences sector. Her passion for equity, sustainability, and impactful communication aligns seamlessly with the organisation's vision, making her an invaluable asset for the team.

Email Sally

Ms Natalie Davis

Member Engagement & Events Manager

Natalie brings a fresh, dynamic approach to membership engagement and events at Life Sciences Queensland.

With a diverse background spanning industries such as banking, recruitment, real estate, and education, she’s honed her expertise in creating meaningful connections and driving impactful member experiences.

A strategic thinker with a degree in Journalism, Natalie’s communication skills are at the heart of her success, whether she’s collaborating with stakeholders or leading marketing initiatives. Her passion for growth and innovation ensures that every event she manages and every member she engages feels the value Life Sciences Queensland delivers.

Known for her infectious energy, humour, and relentless pursuit of new opportunities, Natalie is committed to elevating the member experience, fostering collaboration, and driving results. She’s a key part of our team, always pushing for excellence and new ways to strengthen our community.

Email Natalie

Meet the LSQ board

Dr Denise Hodge

Board Director

Denise is Founder and CO-CEO JourneyTech Pty Ltd, a comprehensive research & technology translation and commercialisation service.  

She started her formal training as a biologist in the UK, graduating with a PhD from the University of York, in the field of molecular biology.  

After moving to Australia in 2004, Denise undertook a post-doctoral position at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland. With a strong foundation in the biological sciences, Denise then trained as a patent attorney, becoming registered in Australia and New Zealand in 2010. With a number of years’ experience working in private patent and trademark attorney firms, Denise has critical expertise in IP strategy and management across all areas of IP, including patents, trademarks, plant breeders’ rights and designs.  

In 2010, Denise joined QUTbluebox Pty Ltd as a Commercialisation Manager, responsible for ‘cradle to grave’ commercialisation of technologies across the University in all areas of research.  

In 2014, Denise became Director, Commercial Operations at QUT bluebox, responsible for commercialisation from licensing to startup creation, industry partnerships, IP strategy, protection and management, and early seed funding, leading a team of Commercialisation Managers. In 2017, Denise extended her experience in commercialisation to the United Kingdom, where she joined The University of Edinburgh. Denise led the Business Development team (across biology, chemistry and physics), establishing multiple industry partnerships, negotiating benefit sharing arrangements between parties and driving research translation efforts.  

With a key understanding of international models, Denise moved to Melbourne and joined Agriculture Victoria Services Pty Ltd (AVS) as their Chief Operating Officer, leading and delivering on all commercial, research translation activities for Agriculture Victoria and managing the commercial team.  

After three and a half years at AVS, Denise joined James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville to become their Director, JCU Connect, leading the University’s Research Office, Commercialisation and Innovation capabilities across all areas of the university. Since founding JourneyTech, Denise has continued to collaborate with JCU across IP management, research translation and commercialisation.