Ego Pharmaceuticals’ Scientific and Operations Director was presented with the Clunies Ross Entrepreneur of the Year Award at a gala event in Sydney on Thursday 13 June.

Dr Jane Oppenheim, whose leadership has seen the Ego manufacturing plant expand 10 times, creating valuable jobs, has been recognised with one of Australia’s top awards.

Jane leads the development of skin products all based on strong science that help resolve issues like skin tears and eczema, including QV Skincare and SunSense sunscreen.

Academy President, Professor Hugh Bradlow FTSE, congratulated Dr Oppenheim. “The Clunies Ross Awards have been offered since 1991, recognising people who have applied outstanding technological achievements for the benefit of Australia.

“The nation’s future prosperity depends on embracing new technology to address critical national challenges.

“Dr Oppenheim has made a tremendous contribution – delivering skin products that change people’s lives and in the process creating export-based jobs.”

Dr Oppenheim said she was honoured to be given a Clunies Ross Award.

“My focus is on creating and manufacturing products that can treat and prevent skin problems.

“Use of our QV Skin Lotion twice daily reduces skin tears in residents of aged care home by up to 51 per cent – which is significant, given up to 40 per cent of residents can suffer tears, each of which costs $488 to treat.

“I’m also proud of our work on helping improve eczema among children. Our QV Intensive Moisturiser reduces children’s hospital stays and gets them back to school and family faster.

“At Ego, we’re constantly upgrading our production facilities so we can manufacture better products, more efficiently. Our next step is industry 4.0 – having all our machines connected and ‘talking’ to each other.”

Sir Ian Clunies Ross, born in 1899, was best known for his pioneering work in veterinary science. In 1949, he became Chairman of the newly renamed CSIRO.

The Clunies Ross Awards are administered by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.Enter article description summary