Jitto Arulampalam who is the current Chairman of Lanka Graphite (Australian public company) is a Melbourne based businessman with over 20 years of extensive experience in corporate restructuring, capital raising, listing and running of public companies on the ASX. Having started his career in Accounting, Jitto spent more than 8 years with Westpac Banking Corporation in several key operational and strategic Banking roles before joining boards of Public companies. In 2004 Jitto was head hunted by Newsnet Ltd as its CEO to assist in the restructuring of the company and to position it for an IPO. Since this appointment he was responsible for guiding the company through a successful restructure and positioned Newsnet as a leading innovator in the messaging/telco space to be recognised by the 2006 Australian Financial Review MIS Magazine as one of the "Top 25 global rising stars". In May 2010 Jitto co‐founded ASX listed postash mining and exploration company Fortis Mining Ltd (ASX: FMJ). As the Executive Chairman, Jitto was instrumental in the company's acquisition of world class potash assets in Kazakhstan, a monumental deal which ultimately led to the company being awarded "IPO of the Year 2011". Jitto was also previously the Chairman of ASX listed companies Great Western Exploration Ltd (ASX: GTE) and Medicvision Limited (ASX: MVH). Jitto is a member of many professionals bodies including the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Michael received his Ph.D degree in Molecular Biology from the University of North Texas and his Postdoctoral fellowship training in Molecular and Cellular Genetics Biology from the Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Medicine. Before Michael founded Texas BioGene, Inc. (TBG) in 1999, he held positions as a Director of Research and Development at BioSynthesis, Inc. and an adjuvant professor at the Biology Department at UNT. He has further received research grant awards for studies of glaucoma gene expressions, structural biology of bacterial toxins, and peptide mediated gene transfer from government departments such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) or industrial companies like Alcon Corp.. Michael has focused and specialized on molecular diagnostic methodology and enzyme/protein engineering since he joined TBG Biotechnology Corp. as a Chief Scientist Officer since 2006.
Ifan has over fifteen years of management experience in biotechnology industry and is familiar with In vitro diagnostic device markets and regulations in China. Ifan worked for ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute) in Taiwan and was in charge of technology transfer, industrialization and collaboration between industry and academic research. Afterward, he was appointed as president by a biotechnology company in Nanjing and successfully made the company return to profitability. He also successfully raised capital and expanded product lines for the company during his tenure. In 2013, he joined TBG and was in charge of establishing and operating the TBG (Xiamen) company in China mainland.
Ms. Hipona joined Progen in 2008 and was the Group Financial Accountant prior to assuming the role of General Manager - Finance in December 2014. Ms Hipona is responsible for managing the Finance team and corporate financial reporting. Prior to joining TBG (formerly Progen Pharmaceuticals), Ms Hipona worked as an Auditor in-charge in KPMG Manila where she had a wide exposure in commercial audit, technical accounting works, tax and some consultancy services obtained from various client engagements. She was also and Audit supervisor of a branch of the AMA Group of Companies, one of the largest educational network in Asia. She became the Chief Accountant of Philippine Industrial Engineering Company in Makati City, Philippines and was primary responsible for overseeing and managing Finance. She also served as Accountant of OQYANA Limited, a real estate company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates who commenced the development of "The World", a man-made project off the coast of Dubai.
Ms. Hipona holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Saint Mary's University, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).