Ed Tweddell
Encyclopedia
Ed Tweddell was an Australian businessperson best known for his stint as CEO of Australia's largest indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturer F H Faulding and as Chairman of Ansell
. He also served on the board of a number of significant private and public sector organisations including the National Australia Bank
, Australia Post
and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO).
and graduated in science and medicine from the University of Queensland
. Dr Tweddell started his career as a medical practitioner before obtaining a job with Pfizer Inc. in 1976. At Pfizer, Tweddell worked on drug development and medical relations. In 1986, Tweddell was appointed CEO and President of a Japanese healthcare company and stayed with that company for a couple of years.
, a pharmaceutical company based in Adelaide
. It was Australia's leading native pharmaceutical company. As CEO, Faulding entered into a joint venture with the CSIRO to develop new drugs. He also advocated Federal Government funding for pharmaceutical research given that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
. Under the Keating Government, pharmaceutical companies were offered incentives under the Factor f scheme to develop Australia's pharmaceutical industry. Following a Productivity Commission
inquiry, the Factor f scheme was replaced by the Pharmaceutical Industry Investment Program. In 1999, Tweddell signed an agreement with the Federal Government where Faulding would receive $40 million in funding over five years in return for industry development.
Under Dr Tweddell, Faulding established Faulding Pharmaceuticals based in the northern hemisphere. By 2000, the company was receiving more than half of its revenue from overseas. The continued growth of Faulding led to Mayne Nickless buying the company leading to Tweddell's resignation as CEO and from the board in 2001. At that point, it was one of the biggest companies in South Australia.
In 1998, Tweddell was appointed as a director of the National Australia Bank, where he sat on a committee assessing business risk. He resigned in 2004 after the foreign exchange scandal led to the bank losing hundreds of millions of dollars. He was also the chair of biotechnology company Peptech, but resigned after three months following an argument with its management.
Tweddell was on the board of Australia Post since 2001 and the CSIRO since 2002. He was a dedicated supporter of the arts, serving as the Chairman of the Adelaide Festival of Arts
. He founded the Nepenthe Group winery in 1994 and was a former President of the Adelaide Hills
Wine Region.
Tweddell died on 4 August 2005. He is believed to have killed himself following an illness.
Ansell
-Other:*Ansell's Shrew*Ansell's Mole Rat - rodent*Ansell's Epauletted Fruit Bat - megabat*Ansell Limited - medical gloves and condom manufacturer...
. He also served on the board of a number of significant private and public sector organisations including the National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank is one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia in terms of market capitalisation and customers. NAB is ranked 17th largest bank in the world measured by market capitalisation...
, Australia Post
Australia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
(CSIRO).
Early life and career
Tweddell was born in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and graduated in science and medicine from the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
. Dr Tweddell started his career as a medical practitioner before obtaining a job with Pfizer Inc. in 1976. At Pfizer, Tweddell worked on drug development and medical relations. In 1986, Tweddell was appointed CEO and President of a Japanese healthcare company and stayed with that company for a couple of years.
F H Faulding
Tweddell returned to Australia in 1988 as Managing Director of F. H. Faulding & CoF. H. Faulding & Co
F. H. Faulding & Co was a pharmaceutical company founded in Adelaide, South Australia in 1845 by Francis Hardey Faulding , a native of Swinfleet, near Goole in Yorkshire, son of Francis Faulding, a surgeon.-History:...
, a pharmaceutical company based in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. It was Australia's leading native pharmaceutical company. As CEO, Faulding entered into a joint venture with the CSIRO to develop new drugs. He also advocated Federal Government funding for pharmaceutical research given that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS is a program of the Australian Government that provides subsidised prescription drugs to residents of Australia. The PBS ensures that all Australians have affordable and reliable access to a wide range of necessary medicines.-History:The PBS was established...
. Under the Keating Government, pharmaceutical companies were offered incentives under the Factor f scheme to develop Australia's pharmaceutical industry. Following a Productivity Commission
Productivity Commission
The Productivity Commission is the Australian Government's principal review and advisory body on microeconomic policy and regulation. It is an independent statutory authority in the Treasury Portfolio and responds to references from the Treasurer...
inquiry, the Factor f scheme was replaced by the Pharmaceutical Industry Investment Program. In 1999, Tweddell signed an agreement with the Federal Government where Faulding would receive $40 million in funding over five years in return for industry development.
Under Dr Tweddell, Faulding established Faulding Pharmaceuticals based in the northern hemisphere. By 2000, the company was receiving more than half of its revenue from overseas. The continued growth of Faulding led to Mayne Nickless buying the company leading to Tweddell's resignation as CEO and from the board in 2001. At that point, it was one of the biggest companies in South Australia.
Board Positions
Dr Tweddell's success at Faulding led to offers to sign on the boards of other companies. In 2001, he became the chairman of Ansell, where he led the restructure of the former Pacific Dunlop company by keeping the Ansell business and divesting unprofitable businesses.In 1998, Tweddell was appointed as a director of the National Australia Bank, where he sat on a committee assessing business risk. He resigned in 2004 after the foreign exchange scandal led to the bank losing hundreds of millions of dollars. He was also the chair of biotechnology company Peptech, but resigned after three months following an argument with its management.
Tweddell was on the board of Australia Post since 2001 and the CSIRO since 2002. He was a dedicated supporter of the arts, serving as the Chairman of the Adelaide Festival of Arts
Adelaide Festival of Arts
The Adelaide Festival of Arts is an arts festival held biennially in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Although locally considered to be one of the world's greatest celebrations of the arts, that is internationally renowned and the pre-eminent cultural event in Australia, it is actually...
. He founded the Nepenthe Group winery in 1994 and was a former President of the Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...
Wine Region.
Tweddell died on 4 August 2005. He is believed to have killed himself following an illness.