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About Southern Star Research

Your trusted Australian contract research organization.

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Our Journey

Southern Star Research is a full-service Contract Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to navigating the complexities of bringing new medical products to market. With a legacy of excellence that began 14 years ago in Sydney, we have grown from a small, passionate team into a global network of experts committed to delivering high-quality services in medical writing, clinical monitoring, project management, biostatistics, data management, safety and medical monitoring, and quality assurance. 
 
Southern Star Research has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to the field, winning prestigious awards such as the Great Place to Work in Australia in 2024 and 2025, APAC CRO of the Year 2025 and the Frost and Sullivan 2024 Asia-Pacific Competitive Strategy Leadership Award. Our international team continues to deliver innovative clinical trial solutions across diverse therapeutic areas, ensuring the success of every study we manage. 

Our Board of Directors

Peter Elkhouri

Board Member

Johnny Zhang

Board Member

  • 30 years of research experience in academia, pharma & CROs
  • Advisor to the Australian Government on Clinical Research reforms
  • Prominent industry positions including Co-Chair of the R&D Taskforce
  • Appointed to NSW Dept of Health Early Phase Expert Oversight Committee
  • Previous member of several NHMRC committees overseeing clinical research

 

Dr David Lloyd

Managing Director

  • 25+ years of global clinical research experience based in AU & EU
  • PhD in viral immunology
  • Experience in biotechnology, medical device, pharmaceutical, consultancy and CROs
  • Significant skills in operational and project management

Dr Tracey Frear

Company Director

  • 20+ years as an experienced CFO across a range of industries including 10+ years in healthcare
  • 15+ years as a board member for listed, private and not-for-profit organisations serving as Chairman, Director, and Company Secretary
  • Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants
  • Bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Oxford and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Rick Taylor

CFO

Our Senior Management

  • 30 years experience in the medical devices, biotechnology, health services, and technology sectors both nationally, and internationally.
  • 20 years of experience in leadership and founding roles in Healthcare innovation
  • Degree in biomechanical engineering
  • Extensive experience and contribution to the evolution and growth of arthroscopy and orthopaedic devices across Asia Pacific

Lloyd Prescott

CEO

  • 30 years of research experience in academia, pharma & CROs
  • Advisor to the Australian Government on Clinical Research reforms
  • Prominent industry positions including Co-Chair of the R&D Taskforce
  • Appointed to NSW Dept of Health Early Phase Expert Oversight Committee
  • Previous member of several NHMRC committees overseeing clinical research

 

Dr David Lloyd

Managing Director

  • 25+ years of global clinical research experience based in AU & EU
  • PhD in viral immunology
  • Experience in biotechnology, medical device, pharmaceutical, consultancy and CROs
  • Significant skills in operational and project management

Dr Tracey Frear

Company Director

  • 20+ years as an experienced CFO across a range of industries including 10+ years in healthcare
  • 15+ years as a board member for listed, private and not-for-profit organisations serving as Chairman, Director, and Company Secretary
  • Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants
  • Bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Oxford and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Rick Taylor

CFO

  • 28 years’ experience across all biometric functions
  • Leadership of DM and Statistics departments in large global CROs in Australia and the UK
  • Established DM and Statistics departments CROs.
  • Very broad range of experience across a number of eCRF platforms and in SAS programming.

Peter Fursdon

Head of Biometrics

  • 20+ years working in the pharmaceutical development industry
  • Experience managing clinical quality assurance professionals and ensuring staff, client, and vendor compliance
  • Experience in drug development across biotech start-ups, large pharma, testing laboratories, drug manufacturing, pre-clinical studies, and laboratory accreditation

Kellie Lantry

Head of Quality Assurance

Aaron Tabensky

Head of Projects

  • 25+ years of global clinical research experience in pharma and CROs
  • 19+ years in Leadership roles
  • Extensive experience in operational efficiencies, change management, and line management

Belinda Fricke

Head of Clinical Operations

  • Pharmacology (pharmacokinetics) qualification
  • 27+ years clinical research experience in CROs and pharma
  • Clinical operations development pathway from CRA through SPM across Asia Pacific and extensive line management experience

Amanda Jubb

Head of Asia

We Are:

Agile, proactive and bespoke solutions that help you reach your commercial goals faster

The very best quality at a predictable price - no unexpected add-ons

Transparent, close relationships, with a focus on your unique needs

Simplifying the clinical trial process – we’ll help you navigate each stage with confidence

Awards

APAC CRO of the Year 2025

In recognition of this vision and the consistently outstanding results it delivers, Southern Star Research has been honored with the APAC CRO of the Year 2025 Award. This prestigious distinction bears testament to the company’s outstanding achievements in clinical research innovation, operational excellence, and client satisfaction across the Asia-Pacific region.

Great Place to Work

Southern Star Research was honored with the 'Great Place to Work' award for two consecutive years 2024 and 2025 recognizing our exceptional workplace culture and ongoing commitment to fostering a positive and supportive environment for our team.

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Frost and Sullivan

Southern Star Research was honored with Frost & Sullivan's 2024 Asia-Pacific Competitive Strategy Leadership Award recognizing our innovative approach and strong market position in delivering exceptional value and growth.

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ISO 9001 Quality

Southern Star Research has been assessed and certified by Compass Assurance Services to the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems standard, recognizing our commitment to excellence, efficiency, and continuous improvement in service delivery.

Media Contact

Simi Barretto

Marketing and Digital Media Manager
Southern Star Research
Location: Australia
Email: media@southernstarresearch.com
Tel: +61283501918

Get in Touch
Head Office:
Phone: +61 2 9011 6266

L1, 1 Merriwa Street,

Gordon, NSW, 2072 Australia

E: info@southernstarresearch.com 

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Specialist experience

Each member of our Leadership Team boasts an average of 30 years experience. Our clients have access to an extraordinary group of Clinical Research professionals, whose experience covers Multinational Pharmaceutical companies, Biotechnology, Medical Device, CRO’s, research institutes, Universities, Industry Associations & Government Bodies. Together, we ensure that every aspect of your unique and novel drug study  clinical trial is handled with scientific precision, care, and foresight.

Our team has all of the tools, knowledge and experience to solve almost any issue that may arise during the complex clinical trial process.

We recognize that each study is unique and different and there are nuances that need to be resolved proactively.

Our advisory board of top-tier specialists in multiple therapeutic areas engage in the early stages from protocol design in constructive discussions to anticipate challenges and enhance study efficiency throughout the study.