About - Invetech

Invetech's Story

At Invetech, we bring your innovations to life. We are a product realization company that designs, engineers and manufactures fully customizable platforms, tailored to our clients’ needs.

Our mission is to push the boundaries of what’s possible in health and life sciences in close collaboration with our clients and leveraging our deep domain expertise. We are passionate about transforming groundbreaking ideas into business successes, specializing in custom engineering solutions that power the next generation of diagnostics and cell therapies.

From cutting-edge instrument development and contract manufacturing to single-use consumables, we offer comprehensive solutions that support innovation at every stage.

We are an independent, privately held company with a long history of operating in large, global and public companies such as Danaher and Fortive. This legacy has made us experts in continuous improvement (Kaizen) and the associated “Lean” techniques, based on the Toyota Production System.

Our team sets us apart from the rest. We are a group of highly skilled engineers and scientists, each bringing expertise across diverse fields, united by a shared commitment to revolutionizing human health. Guided by visionary leaders with decades of experience, we collaborate closely with our clients to bring life-changing products to market, improving lives and advancing science.

Leadership:

Andreas Knaack

President & Chief Executive Officer

Andreas has been President of Invetech since 2016 and became CEO after leading its MBO from Fortive in 2024. He brings a rare mix of technical expertise, business insight, and a passion for healthcare innovation. A Hamburg University of Applied Sciences graduate, he holds a degree in computer engineering.

His healthcare journey began when his thesis professor connected him to Draeger Medical in Germany. Designing neonatal incubators proved life-changing, sparking a lifelong commitment to advancing healthcare technology.

With three decades in engineering, venture capital, and executive leadership, Andreas transitioned from engineering to VC early on to bridge technical innovation with market needs. Since joining Invetech in 2004, he has led key initiatives, including expanding point-of-care diagnostics. His leadership is defined by integrity, fairness, and delivering client value.

Janet O'Meara

Chief Financial Officer

Janet has held head finance roles across a variety of industries for 32 years, with 23 of them as the CFO in global organizations. She bridges commercial insights with financial robustness of the business. Recently, Janet was elevated to Fellowship status with the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a recognition of both her professional achievements and her community contributions.

In addition to being the CFO, she is also the head of IT at Invetech.

Outside of work, Janet is a dedicated volunteer and role model. She has spent 15 years leading Girl Guides and facilitating the Queen’s Guide program in Victoria, inspiring and shaping the lives of young leaders.

She also enjoys creative pursuits and travel with family & friends.

Paul Bowen

Chief Legal Officer

Paul joined Invetech in 2021, bringing extensive legal expertise and a deep commitment to healthcare and life sciences. With over 25 years in law, including nearly two decades in private practice as a partner at K&L Gates, he has guided organizations through complex legal and strategic challenges in highly regulated industries.

Paul earned his degree from the University of Washington (top 10% of his class) and his law degree from the University of Kansas, where he was recognized for appellate advocacy. In private practice, he specialized in regulatory and enforcement issues in government-funded R&D. Transitioning to in-house roles, he helped drive strategic growth.

Outside work, he enjoys travel, hiking, mountain biking, snorkeling, and anything with a throttle—often navigating a track or trail with skill.

Damian Verdnik, PhD

Head of Diagnostics

Damian has 18 years of experience in healthcare. With a background in mathematical physics, philosophy, and life sciences, he combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape.

His career began in life sciences during the genomic research boom, focusing on machine learning and genomic analysis and bringing innovative solutions to market.

Damian holds degrees in mathematical physics and philosophy, along with a PhD in the history of quantum mechanics from Cambridge University. At Invetech, he leads a talented team developing diagnostic solutions that make a real impact on healthcare.

Outside of work, Damian enjoys singing in choirs, cycling long distances, and time with family. His passion for innovation, learning, and personal growth makes him a unique and valued leader at Invetech.

Sarah Phillips

Vice President, Cell Therapy

With over 20 years in healthcare, Sarah has built a career spanning diagnostics, clinical trials, and regulatory affairs before moving into cell therapy. Originally from the UK, she earned a Biomedical Science degree with honors from the University of the West of England and moved to Australia 15 years ago. Since joining Invetech in 2021, she has been known for her strategic thinking, relationship-driven approach, and ability to tackle complex challenges.

Passionate about making a real impact, Sarah is motivated by the knowledge that breakthroughs in healthcare transform lives. Outside of work, she enjoys beachside living, spontaneous weekends with friends, and spending time with her dog, Dexter. Whether solving problems at work or perfecting a home-cooked meal, she believes the best results come from collaboration, curiosity, and a little bit of fun.

Richard Badham

Vice President, Operations

Richard is an experienced professional with over 13 years in the healthcare industry, having transitioned from a career in the aviation sector. Before joining Invetech, Richard worked at Rolls-Royce in the UK, where he played a key role in designing and developing military jet engines, including those for the legendary Concorde and the F-35B.

After moving to Australia, Richard shifted gears into the medical device industry. His engineering mindset, combined with a focus on improving efficiency and quality, made him a natural fit.

On weekends, Richard can be found restoring vintage cars and motorcycles – a hobby that allows him to combine his love of technology with a bit of history. From fixing up classic cars to tackling complex medical device challenges, Richard’s unique background and dedication to excellence make him a key part of Invetech’s team.

Paul Tsironis

Vice President, Business Excellence

Paul leads Invetech’s Business Excellence (IBX) function where he leverages his extensive background in engineering and leadership, along with a deep passion to improving healthcare, to drive continuous improvement, operational excellence, sustainable growth, and innovation across the business.

Before joining Invetech in 2013, Paul spent most of his career with Toyota, both in Japan and Australia, where he led global Engineering teams across all stages of the vehicle development process pioneering decentralization of Toyota’s Technical Center function and successfully launching multiple global vehicle platforms.

Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from The University of Melbourne.

He relocated from Melbourne to San Diego over seven years ago where he now lives with his wife and three children.

Phillippa Martin

Vice President, People and Culture

With extensive experience in the healthcare sector, Phillippa is deeply passionate about making a positive impact on society.

Holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Human Resources from Monash University, she has been a key player at Invetech for over eight years.

In her role, Phillippa thrives in a culture that values innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Phillippa played a pivotal role during Invetech’s divestiture from Fortive, leading HR initiatives to successfully navigate this major transition. She firmly believes in the power of a unified leadership team and the importance of evolving company culture and processes.

Phillippa encourages employees to embrace challenges and take risks. After a career pause to prioritize family, she joined Invetech, seeking purpose in leading and helping others. Outside of work, Phillippa enjoys biking, hiking, and attending her kids’ sport games.

Team Passion Projects

At Invetech, our team’s creativity doesn’t stop at the office door. From personal passion projects to bold new ideas, our engineers bring the same innovative spirit and problem-solving mindset to everything they do. Explore some of the exceptional projects they’ve brought to life—showcasing the incredible talent, ingenuity, and drive that fuel both their work and their passions.

All Projects
Kinetic Art
Custom Gear
Woodworking
Optic Art
Vehicles
Music
Photography

Kinetic Sculpture

Nikola Modrusan
Nikola merges engineering with artistry to create mesmerizing kinetic sculptures for music festivals – 3D printing designs that move and captivate.

1960 Royal Enfield

Richard Badham

Richard purchased this bike on e-bay as a wreck. He did a complete nut and bolt restoration on it, and now uses it regularly.

Coffee Table

Christian Olmstead

“My dad and I do woodworking together regularly, especially as gifts for friends and family. A friend of mine needed a coffee table and I offered as a wedding gift. This coffee table looks like a simple project of maple wood, but looks deceive. We used a jig and router to slowly cut out a perfect circle – much easier said than done. The result is a seamless, elegant piece that feels heavy and grounded in a living room, providing a center piece of discussion for loved ones.”

Custom Ski Rack

Donald Kirk

“It’s not all about work. I applied my skills to make a simple ski rack… and yes, that is a pool noodle!”

Geometric Cutting Board

Christian Olmstead
“This cheeseboard was a unique project that uses a hexagon with 3 sets of lines to create a three-dimensional prism effect. I was inspired by using a different shape for a cheese board. The wood used was maple and padauk, creating an orange hue to the entire piece. The tricky challenge with this piece was the angle between the three lines to create the hexagon accurately.”

WWII Jeep Re-Build

Richard Badham

In his free time, Richard loves to restore vintage cars. He recently purchased this WWII jeep off of Facebook Marketplace, and refurbished it from the inside-out.

Band:

Maxim Pamieta

Max is a songwriter, producer, and performer for the band Halcyon Drive. He’s the co-writer of 2 EPs and 1 album and was recently signed to Sony Music Australia.

Microscopic Photography

Michelle Duquette

Michelle is not only a Chief Scientist at Invetech, but she is also a talented photographer. She likes to combine her passion for science with her art, which led her to attaching a microscope lens to her camera!

Invetech's Story

Leadership:

Andreas Knaack

Janet O'Meara

Paul Bowen

Damian Verdnik, PhD

Sarah Phillips

Richard Badham

Paul Tsironis

Phillippa Martin

Team Passion Projects

Kinetic Sculpture

1960 Royal Enfield

Coffee Table

Custom Ski Rack

Geometric Cutting Board

WWII Jeep Re-Build

Band:

Microscopic Photography

Join Our Team!

Locations:

Invetech's Story

Leadership:

Andreas Knaack

Janet O'Meara

Paul Bowen

Damian Verdnik, PhD

Sarah Phillips

Richard Badham

Paul Tsironis

Phillippa Martin

Team Passion Projects

Kinetic Sculpture

1960 Royal Enfield

Coffee Table

Custom Ski Rack

Geometric Cutting Board

WWII Jeep Re-Build

Band:

Microscopic Photography

Custom LED Signs

Join Our Team!

Locations: