Tech bio
thinker builder
Dr Ipshita Mandal-Johnson thinks deeply on bio based tech knowledge across strategy-systems-philosophy. Ipshita thrives on translation of this knowledge through building and providing advice through ecosystems, organisations and individuals. She has almost 20 years’ experience in academia, private-public and charity sectors in pharma and biotech, technology, and financial services. She is currently studying non-dual philosophy, and reflecting especially through nature poetry.
Her core values are Introspection (Self and Society), Innovation (Science and Technology), and Impact (Service to Others).
Ipshita had completed a BTech in Biotechnology at the University of Auckland (1st Class Honors, Senior Scholar) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge (with former Pro Vice Chancellor for Enterprise Prof Nigel Slater).
Alongside her studies she had co-founded the Global Biotech Revolution in 2012, led the first GapSummit in 2014 and growth of activities in Singapore and the US till 2017, and currently continues to advise and speak at key flagship events .
She had also at this time working in a synthetic biology and chemistry biotech Bactevo (renamed to Nanna Therapeutics) eventually as CBO, which was acquired by Astellas Pharmaceuticals for its rare disease pre-clinical assets in an €80M acquisition.
She then worked at McKinsey and Company in the India and US offices primarily in the banking, public policy, technology, and pharmaceuticals practice areas (including co-managing the Digital India 2.0 knowledge piece across 11 ministries, and a Chief of Staff for a $60Bn global pharma M&A).
She has been an advocate for impact investing, gender lens and women’s health through co-founding Global Bio Fund, building the Xcellerator community (>2000 members), developing an investment thesis for Jaya Ventures and invested in Baymatob in 2022 a med tech in maternal health.
She has been providing advice to a portfolio of organisations in and outside NZ through BioPacific Partners, Impact Lab, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Kiwinet, MBIE funded RNA Development Platform and the NZIAT establishment team.
She is one of the founders of WellyForge, current member of BiotechNZ, and an alumni and mentor at First Foundation, and an advisory board member of Chiasma. She was a former member of Global Women and UNAIDS HIEx Investors Council.
She has been invited to give lectures at Victoria University of Wellington, University of Auckland, Harvard School of Public Health, and University of Cambridge. She has been a speaker or been published in NZ Herald, CEICS Nobel Campus, Nature Careers, The Economist Intelligence Unit, SynBioBeta, Global BioEconomy Summit, Women in Bio, Foreign Policy, Nasdaq, and Profit Meets Impact.
She has also been listed an inaugural 40 under 40 for University of Auckland, thrice listed in the 50 Movers and Shakers in UK Bio Business, not accepted Fulbright Science and Technology Award, invited to the 43rd St Gallen Symposium as a Leader of Tomorrow, and nominated as a Young Global Leader 2026 Class at the World Economic Forum.
