Meet the Team
We’re not just a start up, we’re a growing force for good.
Climate change is here. Our vision is of a world where food security, sustainability, nutrition and deliciousness go hand-in-hand.
Our team brings together world-leading expertise across key disciplines. We work with energy and creativity to unlock synergies and deliver results.
Producing dairy in oilseed crops is challenging. We are succeeding. Join us.
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
Amos
Palfreyman
Amos drives corporate strategy, leads our Management team and our fundraising engagement. His extensive international networks and outstanding ability to build and maintain relationships enable Amos to open doors, establish and complete core partnerships key to our efficient B2B business model. Amos has worked across the food, alt protein and tech sectors. He brings unique insights and energy to his leadership.
CO-FOUNDER, FINANCE & VALUE STRATEGY
Ira
Bing
Ira works as an executive Chair across C-level projects. He has a background in technology investment and lifescience start-ups. He focuses on reviewing contracts, developing and testing strategy, and value (including fundraising) and provides broad support across all other areas as required, especially where his legal, commercial and investment background are relevant.
CO-FOUNDER & CSO
Professor Oded
Shoseyov
Oded oversees all science and innovation. He is key to developing our core R&D vision, providing ideation leadership and direction. He shares technical resourcing with Miron and is responsible for the continuous optimization of the various facets of our scientific program towards the delivery of results, improving the qualities of expression, and enhancing the portfolio of registrable IP and human talent in the team.
CO-FOUNDER & HEAD OF FOOD APPLICATIONS
Professor Harjinder Singh
Harjinder is a world-renown dairy scientist. He has responsibility for our Food Applications platform. His deep knowledge of dairy chemistry and protein interactions help us identify new dairy molecule designs with enhanced functional and nutritional benefits to develop tomorrow’s superior food and beverage products.
CTO
Dr Miron
Abramson
Miron is our technical and R&D lead. He is a molecular biology and plant biotech specialist with an impressive record of germplasm transformation breakthroughs. Miron heads the development of our Plant Biotechnology platform, leading the design and execution of our genetic and crop development, cultivation, protein expression and data strategies. Working closely with Oded, Miron is the driving force for documenting IP and spearheading our in-silico evolution to help scale and ensure future competitiveness.
COO
Dr Abby
Thompson
Abby has extensive experience working between researchers, industry and government to manage complex projects and relationships. She has a background in dairy science and human nutrition, bringing a strong technical understanding to the Operating Officer role. Abby works between Amos, Miron and Ira to effect the implementation of strategy and the operational build out of Miruku, balancing time, capital and team to reach value faster.
FOOD FORMULATION LEAD
Dr Alejandra
Acevedo-Fani
Alejandra is part of the Food Applications team. She works with the team to develop model systems and microassays that provide insights into how our proteins will perform within food and beverage products. As we produce larger quantities of proteins, she will also be responsible for developing prototype products, including their formulations and production methodologies.
PROTEIN CHARACTERIZATION LEAD
Mai
Shamir
Mai works within the Plant Biotechnology team and is responsible for evaluating the proteins expressed within our modified plants. She determines what, where and how much has been expressed, and carries out microassays to characterize the proteins and help inform our decision-making.
Advisors
SAFFLOWER PROTEIN & FATS TRANSFORMATION
Dr Maurice
Moloney
Maurice is one of the world’s experts in transforming oil crops. He draws on decades of experience understanding what these crops can and can’t do and how. He works closely with Oded, Miron and Craig to consider iterations, adjustments, and improvements (both incremental and breakthrough) to enlarge our patent landscape and improve its defensibility and practical utility.
AUSTRALIAN OILSEED INDUSTRY
David ‘Rock’
Hudson
During David’s 23 years with Monsanto, he was actively involved in the introduction of Roundup Ready® canola and Ingard® (Bt) Cotton into Australia. More recently, he was responsible for gaining Australian regulatory approval for Super High Oleic Safflower. David will advise Miruku on pathways to market in Australia, including regulatory approvals, and facilitate access to the required infrastructure (e.g. regulatory, laboratory, glasshouse and field trials) and industry connections.
US REGULATORY PATHWAYS FOR NOVEL CROPS
James ‘Jim’
Ligon
Jim has a long career in the US ag biotech sector. He has spent the past 20 years working in regulatory affairs and stewardship of GM crops. He has helped obtain FDA approval for various products, including the production of animal feed enzymes in the grain of corn. Jim will advise on the progression to market of Miruku Dairy Seeds within the US, with a particular focus on the regulatory aspects.
NZ & AUS REGULATIONS
Carl
Ramage
Over the past 20 years Carl has supported the development of novel agbiotech products (including super high oleic safflower) in Australia through various roles across the supply chain. He is strategically focused with strengths in the navigation of complex regulatory landscapes and has a strong process development, implementation and review skill set backed by a solid peer reviewed publication record. One of Carl’s other roles is the Director for the Center for Risk Communication AUSTRALASIA.
SAFFLOWER BIOTECH
Dr Craig
Wood
Craig leads our oil crop transformation and grower strategy in Australia. He has world leading capability in plant synthetic biology including high-throughput metabolic pathway engineering in plants including safflower and canola. Craig invigorates and reinforces our molecular ideation, preparation of future lipid plans, and the development of our Australian regulatory and growing pathways/options. Craig is also the Group Leader for Synthetic Traits at CSIRO.