Our Leadership Team
Trust, communication, and a strong sense of a family culture is near and dear to all of us at BioCina.
The BioCina founders and team members have worked together in a multitude of capacities over the years and have a deep history of building successful companies, across several countries, not only in life sciences, but also in information technology, finance and real estate. Our shared history and success as a tightly-knit group have produced a unique camaraderie and trust within our team that has become core to our company identity.
Senior Leadership Team
Mark W. Womack
Chief Executive Officer
Mark W. Womack
Chief Executive Officer
Mark W. Womack is BioCina’s Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for all aspects of BioCina’s performance, development, and growth, including defining the vision and strategies for the business.
Mark is an organization builder with a track record of delivering unprecedented growth and profit in every role.
In Mark’s most recent role prior to BioCina, as the CEO of KBI Biopharma and Selexis SA, he led the company to a run rate of over a 30% YOY revenue increase in only 6 months, and implemented a new commercial strategy to generate significantly greater client program size and profitability. Prior to that, as CEO and Managing Director of Stelis Biopharma, he oversaw the build and qualification of a state-of-the-art vaccine facility in record time, as well as the development and implementation of Stelis’ operations infrastructure as a newly formed end-to-end Biologics CDMO, all while leading the organization to exceed new business sales targets.
Prior to Stelis, as the CBO for AGC Biologics, one of the world’s leading global biopharma CDMO’s, Mark led the organization to nearly a 300% increase in new sales in just two years. Over those two years, he drove the acquisition of many of the top Large Pharma companies into the AGC Biologics Client portfolio. Prior to the AGC Biologics board appointing him to the role of CBO, he led the development of their brand strategy for the newly formed company and then led the global integration of the three former CDMO’s that were merged to create AGC Biologics.
Prior to joining AGC Biologics, Mark served over 20 years as a management consulting industry leader and C-level client advisor, guiding many of the world’s renowned companies to achieve record highs in revenue and profit. He served as a Principal with Capgemini, an EVP with Celerant Consulting and the COO of two other international consultancies. He also was the Founder and President of J.W. Webb, Inc. Consulting. During his management consulting career, he led a $20B post-merger integration within General Motors, and numerous transformations that generated more than $100M in certified client benefits.
Mark began his professional journey by leading a succession of U.S. Navy units to unprecedented results, including while serving as a combat center leader on a destroyer class ship. During his military career, he was honored with numerous of the Navy’s highest honors and awards.
Mark has been quoted as a key source in The New York Times, Fast Company and numerous other major global media outlets and has been the keynote speaker on the topic of Achieving Disciplined Execution at numerous major corporate events around the world.
Mark received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Science in Organization Development from Chapman University and completed Harvard Business School’s Executive Program in Leading Professional Service Firms.
Michael Tsaconas
Vice President, General Manager
Michael Tsaconas
Vice President, General Manager
Michael Tsaconas is BioCina’s Vice President and General Manager. Michael is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing of liquids, creams, solid oral dose forms and large molecule drug substance at companies including FH Faulding, Mayne Pharma, Hospira and most recently Pfizer.
Michael has worked in the areas of Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Operational Excellence and Operations. He has had significant exposure to all aspects of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and experience in the oversight of facilities that manufacture for highly regulated markets. Michael has been involved with manufacturing operations that have taken programs from development through to commercial manufacture. He was responsible for Pfizer’s Adelaide operations that achieved FDA approval for a biosimilar product in 2020.
Michael is a hands-on professional with a demonstrated strength and passion for change management and a strategic focus on building and supporting high performing teams to achieve business outcomes that generate value and growth.
Michael is from Adelaide, Australia and holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Flinders University.
Jan Bekker
Vice President, Business Development Commercial Operations
Jan Bekker
Vice President, Business Development Commercial Operations
Jan Bekker is BioCina’s Vice President Business Development and Commercial Operations. Jan is a biopharmaceutical industry professional with over 20 years academic and industry experience with previous roles at Pfizer, Hospira, Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development, Stellenbosch University, and the Queensland University of Technology.
Jan’s significant industry experience and technical knowledge allows him to tailor programs that deliver on customer requirements. Jan has a depth of knowledge in program design that includes pre-clinical, clinical, and commercial manufacturing.
He brings a true end-to-end approach to BioCina’s Business Development capabilities.
Jan received his PhD from Stellenbosch University and his MBA from the University of New South Wales’s Australian Graduate School of Management.
Anthony Morgan
Director of Operations
Anthony Morgan
Director of Operations
Anthony Morgan is BioCina’s Director of Operations. Anthony is a seasoned professional with 23 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry, including Life Technologies, Invitrogen, Hospira and Pfizer. He has held positions in project management, business development, leading manufacturing operations and general management of operations and facilities.
Anthony’s broad experience and strong project management background drives BioCina’s Operations to focus on both cGMP compliance and manufacturing efficiency to support the delivery of successful client programs.
Anthony holds a Bachelor of Science, Plant and Microbial Sciences, from the University of Canterbury and has qualifications in Biochemistry and Project Management.
Melissa El Khouri
Head of Quality
Melissa El Khouri
Head of Quality
Melissa El Khouri is BioCina’s Head of Quality. Melissa drives for right-sized quality processes, to maintain the highest quality standards and cost-effective service. Melissa has over 10 years of experience in Quality, including previous roles at Hospira and Pfizer.
Her strong engineering and validation technical skills support her quality decision making and support of management of BioCina’s CDMO client portfolio.
Melissa has experience in designing and managing quality management systems that meet the regulatory requirements of highly regulated markets including, but not limited to, USFDA, EMA and the Australian TGA.
Melissa managed a successful USFDA Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) in 2019, that resulted in a product approval in 2020.
Melissa holds a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Engineering, from the University of Adelaide and a master’s degree in Engineering Management, from the University of Technology Sydney. She also volunteers as a committee member and representative for South Australia of the PDA Australia Chapter.
Jane Slobedman
Associate Director of Program Management
Jane Slobedman
Associate Director of Program Management
Jane Slobedman is BioCina’s Associate Director of Program Management. Jane has more than 25 years of experience in the Pharma industry, spending the last 13 years working as a program manager for biopharmaceutical projects, partnering with in-house and CDMO clients to bring projects from early-stage development to commercialisation.
Jane has worked in both drug product and drug substance manufacturing facilities and has significant experience in managing CDMO projects, working for leading pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Hospira and Mayne Pharma.
Jane’s passion is delivering programs that generate positive outcomes for clients and most importantly the patients that can benefit from the products BioCina manufactures.
Jane has an Honours degree in Chemical Engineering from Adelaide University.
Board of Directors
Mark W. Womack
Chief Executive Officer
Mark W. Womack
Chief Executive Officer
Mark W. Womack is BioCina’s Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for all aspects of BioCina’s performance, development, and growth, including defining the vision and strategies for the business.
Mark is an organization builder with a track record of delivering unprecedented growth and profit in every role.
In Mark’s most recent role prior to BioCina, as the CEO of KBI Biopharma and Selexis SA, he led the company to a run rate of over a 30% YOY revenue increase in only 6 months, and implemented a new commercial strategy to generate significantly greater client program size and profitability. Prior to that, as CEO and Managing Director of Stelis Biopharma, he oversaw the build and qualification of a state-of-the-art vaccine facility in record time, as well as the development and implementation of Stelis’ operations infrastructure as a newly formed end-to-end Biologics CDMO, all while leading the organization to exceed new business sales targets.
Prior to Stelis, as the CBO for AGC Biologics, one of the world’s leading global biopharma CDMO’s, Mark led the organization to nearly a 300% increase in new sales in just two years. Over those two years, he drove the acquisition of many of the top Large Pharma companies into the AGC Biologics Client portfolio. Prior to the AGC Biologics board appointing him to the role of CBO, he led the development of their brand strategy for the newly formed company and then led the global integration of the three former CDMO’s that were merged to create AGC Biologics.
Prior to joining AGC Biologics, Mark served over 20 years as a management consulting industry leader and C-level client advisor, guiding many of the world’s renowned companies to achieve record highs in revenue and profit. He served as a Principal with Capgemini, an EVP with Celerant Consulting and the COO of two other international consultancies. He also was the Founder and President of J.W. Webb, Inc. Consulting. During his management consulting career, he led a $20B post-merger integration within General Motors, and numerous transformations that generated more than $100M in certified client benefits.
Mark began his professional journey by leading a succession of U.S. Navy units to unprecedented results, including while serving as a combat center leader on a destroyer class ship. During his military career, he was honored with numerous of the Navy’s highest honors and awards.
Mark has been quoted as a key source in The New York Times, Fast Company and numerous other major global media outlets and has been the keynote speaker on the topic of Achieving Disciplined Execution at numerous major corporate events around the world.
Mark received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Science in Organization Development from Chapman University and completed Harvard Business School’s Executive Program in Leading Professional Service Firms.
Dr. Massih Tayebi
Director
Dr. Massih Tayebi
Director
Dr. Massih Tayebi is Founding Partner and Chairman of the Bridgewest Group. Massih and his brother and Co-founder Masood, create novel businesses with leading-edge processes and technology.
Inspired by deep tech, Massih incorporates AI with semiconductor tech and software platforms to enable disruptive new solutions. His vision for creating a better tomorrow drives much of the ideation and innovation success. Massih and his brother have received numerous awards including: the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the American Electronics Association High Technology Industry Recognition for Telecommunications, the San Diego Venture Capital Success Story, and the Coastline Foundation’s Visionary of the Year. Massih earned his M.S., Ph.D. and post-doctoral while in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Masood Tayebi
Director
Dr. Masood Tayebi
Director
Dr. Masood Tayebi is a Founding Partner and the CEO of the Bridgewest Group. He has a wealth of experience commercializing new technology, particularly in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, as well as the wireless communications sectors.
Dr. Tayebi is directly responsible for managing Bridgewest investments in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, hi-tech and wireless technologies, and software.
He has successfully founded many companies, including a global wireless communications service company, a disruptive semiconductor IP technology company, and BioDuro, a Global CRO company, with over 1,000 employees in the USA and China.
Dr. Tayebi has been integral in the success of multiple public and private companies alongside his brother, Dr. Massih Tayebi.
Rick Hancock
Director
Rick Hancock
Director
Rick Hancock was appointed to the Board of Directors as Executive Chairman in January 2022. Rick has worked in the Biotechnology Industry for over 35 years, including 20 years with various CDMOs in operational and executive roles.
Most recently, he served as Interim President and CEO at Avid Bioservices and prior to that, as President and CEO of Althea Technologies, Inc., a large molecule CDMO producing a wide range of biologics, plasmid DNA and parenteral products. In addition to Avid and Althea, Rick has held senior management positions at The Immune Response Corporation, and Hybritech Inc. (now part of Eli Lilly & Company) and is currently the Executive Chairman of Argonaut Manufacturing Services, Inc., a privately held CDMO serving the biotechnology and life sciences industries.
He also serves on the Board of Directors of Tempo Therapeutics, a privately held company, focused on tissue regeneration and vaccine technology, as well as Avid Biosciences, a public CDMO with expertise in Biologics and Viral Vector manufacturing services. Rick received a B.A. in Microbiology from Miami University.
Mike Cicio
Director
Mike Cicio
Director
Mike Cicio has worked in the Biotechnology Industry for over 30 years as a hands-on executive with experience with both world class innovators and CDMOs. Experienced in general management of clinical and commercial biotechnology business with a focus on operations. Mike has extensive experience in a variety of biotechnology platforms.
Mike received a BS in Biology from Fitchburg State University and worked initially with Genetics Institute, Cytel and Wyeth in manufacturing operations for these innovator companies. Mike joined Lonza, a global leader in CDMO in 2004 where he worked for 11 years. Starting as Director of Manufacturing and later VP of Operations/Site Manager in Portsmouth NH overseeing significant capital and customer expansion. Mike progressed into global operations as VP Pharma Operations with responsibility for manufacturing sites in the US, EU and Asia focused on strategic customer relationships, capital expansion, business plan development and contract negotiations.
Mike later held senior management positions at Baxalta/Shire as VP Recombinant Manufacturing and VP of Biologics External Supply and at Takeda as SVP Strategy and Business Excellence. In this role Mike worked to develop long range strategic plans including capital expansions, as well as business development of new product entities and product life cycle management. Mike is currently consulting with a focus in biotechnology site operational performance.