Maxine Simmons

Cure Kids Ventures Ltd
Chief Executive

Maxine has over 30 years’ commercial experience in start-up and expansion stage private company development. She founded one of New Zealand’s first biotechnology companies and was awarded a Distinguished New Zealand Biotechnologist Award in recognition for growing a significant biotechnology export business. Subsequently, Maxine established biotechnology consulting company, BioCatalyst which has provided business advisory services to many early stage biotechnology ventures. Since 2007 she has been Chief Executive of early-stage healthcare investment fund Cure Kid Ventures Limited.

Maxine holds a Master of Science (Hons) degree in biological science from the University of Auckland and is a Chartered member of the NZ Institute of Directors. She was a founding director of Industry New Zealand (now New Zealand Trade and Enterprise), formerly a director of NZ’s Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, Crown Research Institute, Industrial Research Ltd, Chair of the NZ biotechnology Industry organization, NZBIO and was a New Zealand representative on the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

Maxine is a member of the governing board of The Maurice Wilkins Centre for BioDiscovery and the advisory board of the MedTech Core which are both New Zealand centres for research excellence. Maxine also serves on the board of a number of early stage New Zealand healthcare companies.