PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Oregon Bioscience Association’s Board of Directors announced today the selection of its new Executive Director, Liisa Bozinovic, who will assume leadership of the trade/industry association on April 11, 2019.
Bozinovic comes to Oregon’s growing life science and medical device industry organization from its peer organization, Biocom, where she currently serves as executive director of Biocom Institute. Biocom works to accelerate the success of its more than 1,100 members through advocacy, networking, capital development and purchasing programs. Biocom Institute provides a rich array of professional and workforce development and STEM education programs for the life science industry.
Bozinovic has served in a variety of financial and operational leadership roles for Biocom over the years. Since 2014, she has served as the executive director of Biocom Institute. Previously, she spent four years in a financial and operational leadership position with Polyzen Inc., a developer and contract manufacturer of medical devices. Bozinovic is a proven leader and innovative thinker with broad-based expertise in operations, financial management, community relationship building, and value-driven program creation.
Bozinovic also focused her time at Biocom Institute developing successful life science programming for at-risk youth and military veterans. Bozinovic is a volunteer board member of Learn Grow Lead, an organization empowering young people in developing countries to get an education and achieve a sustainable livelihood. She serves on the board of the Boz Institute, a San Diego-based science research and teaching institute.
“It’s with great enthusiasm that we welcome Liisa to Oregon Bio, and know that her proven leadership, knowledge and experience in our industry will be a tremendous asset to us and our members as we continue to build on the sectors tremendous momentum,” said Ryan Dunlap, Oregon Bio’s board chair and senior vice president at MolecularMD, an ICON plc company.
“The recruitment team of local biotech executives and industry leaders searched for a values-driven leader with a deep bench in cultivating a world-class bioscience ecosystem; supporting innovation in industry and training; seeking grants, partnerships and fundraising; and leading dynamic advocacy initiatives. We found these key leadership qualities in Liisa,” said Nancy Lime, head of Oregon Bio‘s search and transition team, and partner and principal consultant of Arpeggiate Consulting Group.
Bozinovic joins the Oregon Bioscience Association in its 30th year, having matured a lively and dynamic life science and biotech environment. Oregon Bio’s soon-to-be-updated economic impact survey will follow on its 2016 jobs report that showed notable gains in employment and the number of firms; an increase in investor engagement; and the 74 percent success rate in job placements for successful graduates of the public/private BioCatalyst program. These grads earn an average of $87,780, twice the Oregon average annual wage.
Bozinovic received her bachelor’s in accounting from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. She earned her CPA in Michigan before entering the life science industry. She chairs the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes and serves as a board member of the Council of State Bioscience Associations. Prior to her work at the institute, she served as controller and executive financial officer for the combined entities of Biocom, Biocom Purchasing Group and Biocom Institute.
“Liisa’s deep and successful experience in workforce training and development and related legislator education, academic and industry partnerships, and in diversity and inclusion best practices fit perfectly with Oregon Bio’s successes to date,” says Oregon Bio’s interim executive director Julie Black, who also leads the association’s partnerships and membership cultivation. “Liisa's leadership and experience will ensure we are equipping our organization to help our members succeed in this fast-paced industry.”
“I am thrilled to be selected to lead Oregon’s thriving life science industry and to advance the solid foundation the board and industry leaders have cultivated in the local ecosystem,” says Bozinovic. “I believe there are great collaborations and development opportunities to be realized,” she added.
About Oregon Bioscience Association
The Oregon Bioscience Association advocates for its members and the industry to create opportunity through advocacy, cultivation and education. Oregon Bio promotes the growth and quality of the bioscience industry in Oregon and continually seeks ways to support sustainability and growth in the life science, bioscience, biotechnology and device manufacturing industries and to create acceleration initiatives so members can achieve their full scientific, economic and social potential. Oregon Bio, a nonprofit membership association, is both the Oregon affiliate of BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization), and AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology Association).
BIO found in 2016 Oregon’s jobs in biotech grew faster than most other U.S. markets. The “Value of Bioscience Innovation in Growing Jobs and Improving Quality of Life 2018” report showed that Oregon has 938 bioscience establishments and 13 life science research institutions comprising a growing industry footprint, with the biotech and life sciences industry’s average salary at $68,781. Oregon, employing more than 13,500 workers directly, is emerging in several bioscience areas and shows job growth in four of the five major subsectors from 2007 to 2016. BIO found Oregon’s share of NIH funding also grew in 2016.
