Our team enables drug discovery through shared national infrastructure and expert capability
Compounds Australia brings together scientific and operational expertise, advanced technical capability, and professional support to deliver trusted compound management services that accelerate early-stage drug discovery.
Working collaboratively with our members, partners, and stakeholders, we translate the evolving needs of researchers into high-value services that support discovery, collaboration, and research translation.
Committed to continual improvement and innovation, our team works to ensure Compounds Australia remains a trusted national resource, delivering sustainable impact for researchers and advancing the development of future medicines.
Compounds Australia Management
Dr Nyssa Drinkwater
BUSINESS & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Dr Nyssa Drinkwater is an internationally experienced biomedical research specialist and program manager. As Business and Partnerships Manager, Nyssa leads the development and implementation of the facility’s strategic objectives, working with national partners and stakeholder to identify, develop and support new opportunities for Compounds Australia and its Members.
Following the completion of a PhD in drug discovery at the University of Queensland, Nyssa undertook a productive 10-year research career spanning large academic and industry-based drug discovery programs in both Australia and the United Kingdom. In 2018, she transitioned to professional research and management roles, joining Compounds Australia in 2023.
Rebecca Lang
FACILITY MANAGER
Rebecca Lang is Compounds Australia’s Facility Manager and a leading expert in compound management and liquid handling automation. With over 17 years’ experience at Compounds Australia, Rebecca has played a pivotal role in building and strengthening the facility’s capabilities and is internationally recognised for her contribution to the delivery of its unique, high‑value services.
As Facility Manager, Rebecca leads the delivery of Compounds Australia’s projects and services, working closely with members and stakeholders to ensure the facility’s infrastructure and operations remain state‑of‑the‑art and optimised to meet evolving needs. She is highly regarded for her ability to translate researcher requirements into robust, practical, and scalable sample management solutions.
Stephen Toms
AUTOMATION ENGINEER
Stephen Toms manages and maintains Compounds Australia’s bespoke, high‑end automation infrastructure suite. His role is central to ensuring that the complex automated systems underpinning Compounds Australia operate reliably, efficiently, and safely in support of the facility and the needs of its research users.
With deep expertise in custom automation systems and supporting infrastructure, Stephen works closely with the Operations team and international vendors to oversee the design, integration, and ongoing optimisation of specialised automation platforms. He plays a pivotal role in maintaining Compounds Australia’s cutting‑edge capabilities, enabling high‑quality outcomes through innovative, robust, and reliable automation solutions.
Compounds Australia Staff
Paris McColl – Operations Technician
Steve Harch – Operations Technician
Tatiana Rezende – Technical Officer
Heather Watts – Quality Assurance and Control Technician
“Communication from Compounds Australia was extremely efficient and unambiguous. Importantly, after the primary screen concluded and the end user was looking to validate the key targets, Compounds Australian went above and beyond to identify solutions to a major problem we faced in sourcing sufficient reagents. Without their diligence and commitment, this project would not have been completed as originally anticipated.“
– Professor Kaylene J. SimpsonHead, Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics
Contact details
- Phone
- (07) 3735 4445
- Location and postal address
- Compounds Australia
- Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics
- Griffith University
- Building N75
- Brisbane Innovation Park
- Don Young Road
- Nathan QLD 4111
