Andrew Powell is the Operations Manager for the Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation (CDCO). Andrew has over 15 years' experience working within the academic and biotechnology sectors in scientific and management roles. He completed an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science and Ph.D. in Physiology at Monash University. In 2003, he accepted a post-doctoral role with the newly established CDCO and worked across the Biopharmaceutics section, before moving on to lead the Metabolism Team. After five years with the Centre, Andrew took up a position as Preclinical Project Manager with biotechnology company Cytopia. In this role, he managed a formal IND-enabling toxicology program and associated regulatory submissions, as well as various CMC, pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies. In 2010, Andrew returned to the CDCO in his current role where he manages operations to ensure that the working needs of collaborators and key stakeholders are met. He also liaises with potential external partners to plan and establish new collaborative projects and acts as a project coordinator for selected projects.