CSL was one of a number of government owned enterprises which were established around the world in the early 20th century to ensure local supply of essential biologicals.
These modestly funded public sector organizations played a vital role in protecting public health for several decades but eventually found themselves unable to compete with the private sector because of the increasing investment needed to develop and license innovative products based on protected intellectual property.
Since it was privatized in 1993, CSL has not only survived but thrived; it is now Australia’s second largest company and one of the 5 largest in its field globally.
This presentation retells CSL’s story and highlights the different contributions of the two pivotal figures of the different era, Val Bazely and Brian McNamee.