Gabriel Perera
Gabriel Perera’s hallmark of success is his ability to translate sophisticated business strategy, market knowledge, technical data and competitor insights into tactical business plans, sales strategies, and customer-centric solutions that have delivered substantial gains in revenues, profits, and ROI in the intensely competitive consumer health market.
His capability has been well evidenced in roles with TSI International where based in Shanghai he served as Chief Strategy Officer across raw materials (TSI is the #1 Glucosamine manufacturer and supplier in the world), TGA and cGMP contract manufacturing and a range of new business models including bespoke premix supply and innovative turn-key manufacturing models to global customers.
Prior to TSI, Gabriel served on the Executive Team at publicly-listed Blackmores Ltd where, as Director of Business & Product Development-Asia, he was chosen by the CEO to transform the product development function in Asia by creating a two-year product development pipeline across 11 Asian markets, and a cross functional new product development process. He was additionally charged with delivering the first international Joint Venture to build Blackmores’ operations in the high growth Indonesian market.
He successfully negotiated a joint-venture with Kalbe Farma that commenced trading in 2015, and oversaw program/project, product registrations, development and negotiations, due diligence, Board approvals and contracts for that business which is currently forecasting AU$7M revenue in its first year of operation. He exceeded the budget for new product development by 400% or AU$16.5M in FY15 and, working with a global network of suppliers and partners, developed a two-year portfolio of 200 products for 11 Asian markets. The contribution of new products was >16% of Asia revenues in FY15, and is forecast to contribute >26% of Blackmores’ Asia revenues in FY16, including a significant contribution from China FTZ sales.
Prior to this position, as Director of Business Development, he was asked by the CEO to join the Executive Team and drive growth for the Group, delivering the company’s largest acquisition - BioCeuticals. He concurrently undertook General Management of Pure Animal Wellbeing, completing and operationalising a strategic review that effectively positioned the business in the marketplace with a pipeline of products and customers ensuring ongoing success.
Additionally, he supported the CEO and Board to complete a detailed market analysis of Blackmores’ Australian business, enabling a corporate refocus and a revised go-to-market strategy that underpinned the move from flat to double digit growth which was supported by the immediately earnings accretive BioCeuticals acquisition providing AU$45M in revenue and EBIT of >AU$5M in year one. AU$1M of slow-moving and obsolete stocks were cleared via establishment of a channel for the business to move through underperforming SKUs and Pure Animal Well-being delivered a 32% year-on-year growth in invoiced sales and record-breaking positive EBIT for the first time in seven years. In that business, Gabriel re-energised a team of 13, successfully launched the operation in key Asian markets, and built a pipeline of registered and non-registered animal health products.
Prior to Blackmores, he had the opportunity to run consumer health brands and also worked as a Strategy Consultant for Accenture in Australia and China.
Gabriel has a Master of Business (Hons) 1999, a Bachelor of Laws 1998, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) 1996. He graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) in 2012 and has qualifications in Ayurveda. He strongly supports developing the next generation of leaders in an organisation and plays an important role in acting as a lifelong mentor to talented individuals in the teams he oversees. A father of 2 young children, Gabriel resides in Sydney and enjoys travel, keeping fit and learning from new cultures.
Dane Renshaw
Dane is a product development and regulatory affairs specialist in the natural and complementary medicines industry with extensive experience across therapeutic goods, functional foods, cosmetics in a variety of dose formats.
Having trained at Southern Cross University, Dane was fortunate to be taught and mentored by highly respected experts and professionals in the field. After completing a degree in Naturopathy, he went on to complete his Honours degree at Southern Cross Plant Science and was later employed as a research scientist there to investigate the wound healing potential of Australian native plants. He has co-authored a number of academic journals on this research.
From his early work as a research scientist through to working as a regulatory consultant and later heading up a product development and regulatory affairs team for one of Australia’s leading practitioner-only brands, Dane has a diverse background that has given him a thorough understanding of the whole product development journey, from ideation through to the research, regulation and marketing of health products.
Dane makes things happen quickly, by guiding the process from initial concept to implementation and removing the friction that many brands commonly experience on this journey.
He is passionate about the complementary medicines, health and wellness industry, but more so, about developing products that actually work.
