Welly Biotech ‘n’ Beers - Speaker Series - September

BioTech N Beers presents the second instalment of its speaker series!

Once a quarter we will be running a fireside chat with those that have been there done that, the up and coming and everything in-between.

Kindly hosted by LabWorks, our speaker will be John Robson telling us about his journey in investment from banks to BioTechs.

Generously sponsored by FB Rice, come along for a yarn, some war stories, and drinks and kai.

Check out John’s bio below and we hope to see you there!

Event Details:

Date: Friday, 26 September, 2025

Location: Level 10, 76 Manners Street, Wellington

Time: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Speaker: John (JR) Robson

Description: My journey from banks to BioTechs

About John Robson:

JR is the Managing Director of cell therapy company, BioOra Limited. BioOra addresses both access and scale issues by providing an affordable and accelerated pathway to market for CAR-T therapies via lower cost, high throughput, GMP licensed manufacturing capabilities from clinical trial through to registration and commercialisation.

JR is also the General Manager of Bridgewest Ventures in New Zealand, and he holds an executive position within the Bridgewest Group, a San Diego based privately held investment company that focuses on disrupting industries through innovation and with investment assets in excess of US$4 billion, and JR is responsible for the deep tech investment programme in New Zealand.

JR has nearly 30 years of investment experience across global markets and he has been intimately involved in the start-up community in New Zealand since 2008 through a number of early-stage technology companies as an executive and non-executive director. JR regularly writes and speaks about technology in a number of forums and is an avid futurist.

In addition to his executive roles, JR has been active in the Not-for-Profit ecosystem in New Zealand for 20 years and was the Chair of the National Board of the Child Cancer Foundation for 4 years, and is currently a Board Member of the One Percent Collective Trust. He was awarded Life Membership of the Child Cancer Foundation in 2017 by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, for his services to Childhood Cancer.

FB Rice:

FB Rice is a leading independent intellectual property firm with a strong focus on biotechnology and the life sciences. With more than 75 years of experience and a dedicated Wellington office, we’re proud to support New Zealand’s growing biotech community through local presence and expertise.

Our Biotechnology Group brings deep scientific and industry knowledge across areas such as gene therapy, diagnostics, biologics, vaccines, and medical technologies. We work closely with clients across academia, research, and industry to protect innovation and support commercial success—offering strategic advice on patentability, prosecution, due diligence, and portfolio management.

As active participants in New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem, we value collaboration and are committed to helping the local biotech sector thrive.

Lab-Works:

With over 30 years’ experience, Lab-works Architecture are New Zealand’s leading laboratory design architects, with a proven track record across research, teaching, healthcare, and analytical facilities. We believe well-designed laboratories and support spaces enhance capability, productivity, and competitive advantage, so we ensure our clients benefit from best practice in facility planning, design, and technology. Science is always evolving, and so are we—continuously updating our skills and staying at the forefront of new research to deliver leading-edge projects. Through active involvement in international conferences, standards committees, and ongoing research and development in the built environment, we provide design and technical solutions that are robust, fit-for-purpose, and future-focused.