Gillian Corken

Gillian is an investor in Medwell Ventures Pvt Ltd and a healthcare entrepreneur, with expertise in building successful ventures in the developing markets.

She co-founded Clindepharm International Pty Ltd, the first clinical Contract Research Organisation (CRO) in South Africa, in 1990, which was acquired by the US-based Quintiles Transnational Inc. She held various senior positions at Quintiles in the US and Brazil, and was also a board member for the company’s two regions – Africa, Asia and Australia (AAA) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Passionate about Africa and its people, Gillian contributes as a healthcare professional in the Sub-Saharan region and other emerging markets. She has been the Non-executive Chairperson of Cytespace Research Management (a clinical research site solutions organisation), Africa, since November 2012. A member of the International Community for Accordia, she has also co-founded two natural therapy companies – Phytotherapy Pty Ltd and Phytoderm cc. Community-based programmes, initiated by her in Brazil and South Africa, have enabled disadvantaged youth to enter the workplace. Gillian obtained an MPharm (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, majoring in Clinical Pharmacy. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the Rhodes University, South Africa, and has completed INSEAD’s International Executives Programme (IEP) in France and Singapore.