Life Sciences WA
Life Sciences WA is the peak industry body for Western Australia's life sciences sector, convening companies, researchers, investors and government across medical research, MedTech, biotech, agrifood and bio-based industries via membership, events and advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPerth, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Life Sciences WA does
Life Sciences WA is the peak industry body for the life sciences sector in Western Australia, incorporated in 2021 and headquartered at Level 7, 863 Hay Street, Perth. It operates as a non-profit membership organisation spanning five customer segments — Human Health and Medical Research; MedTech and HealthTech; Biotechnology and Therapeutics; Agrifood, Agriculture and Aquaculture; and Bio-based Industries — convening companies, researchers, investors and policymakers on behalf of the WA life sciences ecosystem.
The association's operating model is built on three revenue pillars: recurring membership fees, paid event and workshop programmes (with per-attendee pricing in the A$660–A$950 range), and recurrent government support from the Western Australian Department of Energy and Economic Diversification since 2022. It delivers an events-led engagement model (12 events in 2024, of which 10 were described as firsts for Western Australia, generating 1,993+ registrations across the prior two years), formal regulatory submissions (three recorded) and an expanding set of strategic partnerships with national counterparts such as AusBiotech, MTPConnect and ANDHealth, corporates including Moderna and ASX, and academic and government stakeholders such as Curtin University and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
The organisation is governed by a chair (Dr Samantha South) and a small management team of around 10 named individuals led by CEO Michelle Thomas following the transition from Tobias Schoep. Its strategic focus, supported by government mandate and a broadening partner footprint, is on positioning Western Australia as a recognised life sciences hub through advocacy, capability-building programmes (including a new investor education initiative), and industry-development events.
Life Sciences WA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Life Sciences WA
- Legal name
- Life Sciences WA
- Website
- https://lifescienceswa.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Life Sciences WA is the peak industry body for Western Australia's life sciences sector, convening companies, researchers, investors and government across medical research, MedTech, biotech, agrifood and bio-based industries via membership, events and advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Life Sciences WA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Association Services
- NAICS
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54199)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Life Sciences & Biotechnology Congresses (THAHAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Healthcare & Life Sciences PR (BPAFADAJ)
Keywords
Where Life Sciences WA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Life Sciences WA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Life Sciences WA generates revenue through membership fees from organizations across the life sciences ecosystem including researchers, startups, SMEs, global companies, investors, service providers, universities, research institutions, advisers, and consultants.
- Event Revenue: The organization generates revenue through event registrations, ticket sales for events like the Women in Life Sciences Lunch and educational workshops, and workshop fees such as the IP Commercialisation Workshop.
- Government Support: With support from the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification since 2022, the organization receives government funding to deliver industry value and ecosystem development activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KCA Member Workshop Rate |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Member Workshop Rate |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | AusBiotech Members and ASX-Listed Companies |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Member Event Attendees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Life Sciences WA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Life Sciences WA is a peak-industry body that delivers a membership program, a calendar of networking and educational events, an industry directory, training and education programs, and formal advocacy submissions to support the Western Australian life sciences sector. Its members include researchers, startups, SMEs, global companies, investors, service providers, universities, research institutions, advisers, and consultants across human health, MedTech, biotechnology, agrifood, aquaculture, and bio-based industries.
Product overview
Life Sciences WA is Western Australia's peak industry body for the life sciences sector, offering a membership-based model rather than a traditional product platform. The organization's primary offerings include a Membership Program providing advocacy, networking, and industry intelligence; an Events and Networking Platform hosting signature events like the Women in Life Sciences Lunch and BioInnovation Festival; an Industry Directory showcasing member organizations; a strategic partnership with AusBiotech for national coordination; and Training and Education Programs including IP commercialisation workshops and investor education. These services collectively support the WA life sciences ecosystem through connection, acceleration, and profile-raising activities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Life Sciences WA Membership Program A membership program for organisations and individuals in the Western Australian life sciences sector providing advocacy representation, networking, industry insights, collaboration opportunities, and profile elevation.
- Events and Networking Program Organises and hosts events including the Women in Life Sciences Lunch (sponsored by Moderna), BioInnovation Festival, Medtech Masterclass, Broker Meets Biotech, and WA BioBriefing with ASX to build sector connections and showcase innovation.
- Industry Directory A searchable directory of Life Sciences WA members and organisations across the WA life sciences ecosystem, providing visibility and connectivity for sector participants.
- Training and Education Programs Skill-building and leadership programs including the Post-Graduate Student Commercialisation Workshop, Best Practices in IP Commercialisation Workshop delivered with Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia, Medtech Masterclass, and investor education initiatives with MTPConnect and ANDHealth.
- Advocacy and Policy Submissions Independent advocacy on behalf of the WA life sciences sector, including formal submissions to government inquiries on innovation, health and medical research funding, and R&D strategy.
Companies that use Life Sciences WA
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Life Sciences WA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Life Sciences WA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- AusBiotechflagshipAusBiotech (Australia's leading national industry body representing more than 3,000 life sciences members) and Life Sciences Western Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen partnership and unlock growth opportunities through closer collaboration. The MOU aligns with a shared vision to elevate Australia's position as a leader in biotechnology, medical technology, and health innovation. The partnership facilitates strategic opportunities for knowledge-sharing, expands member networks, and creates a stronger, unified voice advocating for Australia's life sciences industry.
- Department of Energy and Economic DiversificationcoreThe Department of Energy and Economic Diversification has supported Life Sciences WA since 2022, enabling the organization to deliver industry value and support the growth of Western Australia's life sciences ecosystem.
- MTPConnectcoreMTPConnect REDI Impact Report recognized Life Sciences WA's contribution to successfully developing and growing Australia's life sciences sector workforce. Life Sciences WA initiated the state's first dynamic, life sciences-focused investor education and engagement program.
- ANDHealthminorPartnered with ANDHealth as part of the investor education and engagement program to educate investors about life sciences investment opportunities through podcasts and in-person training sessions.
- Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and InnovationminorContributed expertise and insights to the investor education and engagement program alongside MTPConnect, ANDHealth, and Wrays.
- WraysminorContributed expertise and insights to the investor education and engagement program, providing knowledge on intellectual property and commercialization aspects.
- ModernaminorProud sponsor of the Women in Life Sciences Lunch event, demonstrating commitment to celebrating, connecting, and empowering women across all stages of their careers in the life sciences sector.
- ASX (Australian Securities Exchange)minorHost partner for the WA BioBriefing with ASX event on Listing, Compliance and Capital Raising for Public Biotechs. ASX provides drinks and nibbles and connects with pre-IPO candidates and ASX-listed entities in healthcare and life sciences.
- Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA)minorKCA is the peak body for industry engagement, technology transfer and entrepreneurship professionals across Australia and New Zealand. Life Sciences WA hosts KCA's internationally recognised Best Practices in IP Commercialisation Workshop in Perth.
- Curtin UniversityminorVenue host for the Best Practices in IP Commercialisation Workshop at their city campus location (137 St Georges Terrace, Perth), providing facilities for the training program.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Life Sciences WA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): The world's largest biotechnology industry association. Comparable as the global benchmark for life sciences industry-body advocacy, events (including BIO Convention), and policy influence, though operating at vastly greater scale.
Direct peers
- ANDHealth: Australian digital health commercialization organization. Comparable as a sector-focused intermediary running investor education and commercialization programs that overlap with Life Sciences WA's member services.
- BioIndustry Association (BIA): UK's national trade association for the life sciences and biotechnology sector. Closely comparable in mission, membership model, advocacy focus, and event programming for a national life sciences ecosystem.
- AusBiotech: Australia's national peak industry body for biotechnology with 3,000+ members. Directly comparable as both organizations serve overlapping constituencies across the Australian life sciences ecosystem and now have an active MOU.
- BioMelbourne Network: Victoria's peak industry body for life sciences, medical technologies, and digital health. Closely comparable as a state-level Australian industry association running member services, events, and policy advocacy.
- Life Sciences Queensland: State-level peak industry body for life sciences in Queensland. Directly comparable in mission, membership model, advocacy focus, and event programming for a sub-national Australian life sciences ecosystem.
- MTPConnect: Australian Growth Centre for the Medical Technologies, Biotechnologies, and Pharmaceuticals sector. Comparable as a federally-backed ecosystem developer with overlapping programs on workforce and investment education, and an active partnership relationship with Life Sciences WA.
- Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA): Peak body for industry engagement, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship across Australia and New Zealand. Comparable as an Australasian membership organization running IP commercialization workshops, with an active co-hosting relationship with Life Sciences WA.
Regional players
- BIOTECanada: Canada's national biotechnology industry association. Comparable in mission, advocacy, and member services model, but operating in a different geography from Life Sciences WA's WA-only mandate.
- Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio): State-level industry association representing the Massachusetts life sciences cluster. Comparable as a sub-national peak body running member services, advocacy, and events, though anchored in a much larger US cluster.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Life Sciences WA social profiles
Digital presenceLife Sciences WA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Life Sciences WA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Life Sciences WA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Life Sciences WA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Life Sciences WA
What does Life Sciences WA do?
Life Sciences WA is a peak-industry body that delivers a membership program, a calendar of networking and educational events, an industry directory, training and education programs, and formal advocacy submissions to support the Western Australian life sciences sector. Its members include researchers, startups, SMEs, global companies, investors, service providers, universities, research institutions, advisers, and consultants across human health, MedTech, biotechnology, agrifood, aquaculture, and bio-based industries.
Is Life Sciences WA a public or private company?
Life Sciences WA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Life Sciences WA founded?
Life Sciences WA was founded in 2021. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Life Sciences WA based?
Life Sciences WA is headquartered in Perth, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Life Sciences WA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are event Revenue and government Support.
Who are Life Sciences WA's main competitors?
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are ANDHealth, BioIndustry Association (BIA), AusBiotech, BioMelbourne Network, Life Sciences Queensland, MTPConnect and Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA). Regional players are BIOTECanada and Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio).
Does Life Sciences WA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Life Sciences WA.
What industry is Life Sciences WA in?
Life Sciences WA's product category is Industry Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAJAB, Life Sciences & Biotechnology Congresses, with a secondary code of BPAFADAJ, Healthcare & Life Sciences PR. Its NAICS code is 54199 and its SIC code is 8600.