Meet the Leadership Team
Meet the Leadership Team
Seasoned Clinical Trial Strategists Driving Executional Excellence
Seasoned Clinical Trial Strategists Driving Executional Excellence
Ascend Clinical is founded, staffed, and guided at every level by a team of veteran experts who combine more than three decades of clinical field experience with the entrepreneurial acumen that caters to both emerging startups and established multinational organizations.
Ascend Clinical is founded, staffed, and guided at every level by a team of veteran experts who combine more than three decades of clinical field experience with the entrepreneurial acumen that caters to both emerging startups and established multinational organizations.
Innovating through Experience & Entrepreneurial Spirit
Innovating through Experience & Entrepreneurial Spirit
Innovating through Experience & Entrepreneurial Spirit
Deep Clinical Roots
Our leaders have collectively navigated countless trials, lending perspective to every phase—early feasibility through large-scale, multicenter studies. We understand how to minimize hurdles, streamline data delivery, and keep trials on a steady upward course.
Deep Clinical Roots
Our leaders have collectively navigated countless trials, lending perspective to every phase—early feasibility through large-scale, multicenter studies. We understand how to minimize hurdles, streamline data delivery, and keep trials on a steady upward course.
Entrepreneurial Drive
Partnering with high-growth med-tech startups and respected industry giants alike, our team recognizes the unique pressures of rapid innovation. This perspective shapes how we adapt to sponsor needs and solve challenges.
Entrepreneurial Drive
Partnering with high-growth med-tech startups and respected industry giants alike, our team recognizes the unique pressures of rapid innovation. This perspective shapes how we adapt to sponsor needs and solve challenges.
Global Healthcare Insight
While Australia-based, Ascend Clinical supports an international footprint, continually working with cross-border teams to align regulatory, logistical, and scientific imperatives. This broad lens keeps us prepared for the intricacies of Clinical Trials and others.
Global Healthcare Insight
While Australia-based, Ascend Clinical supports an international footprint, continually working with cross-border teams to align regulatory, logistical, and scientific imperatives. This broad lens keeps us prepared for the intricacies of Clinical Trials and others.
Our leadership team combines nearly three decades of clinical field experience, trusted partnerships and deep-rooted understanding of sponsor needs. Our entrepreneurial ethos and clinical acumen enable us to identify and deliver against sponsors’ strategic needs.
Welcome to Ascend – where senior leadership is embedded with your team to drive clinical outcomes that matter today and into the future…
Our leadership team combines nearly three decades of clinical field experience, trusted partnerships and deep-rooted understanding of sponsor needs. Our entrepreneurial ethos and clinical acumen enable us to identify and deliver against sponsors’ strategic needs.
Welcome to Ascend – where senior leadership is embedded with your team to drive clinical outcomes that matter today and into the future…
Christine Nimalasiri
Clinical Director
Christine Nimalasiri
Clinical Director
Christine is a seasoned Clinical Director, with more than 20 years’ experience managing medical device trials across the Asia-Pacific region, specialising in Cardiology, Neurology, and Endocrinology. Recognised for expertise in protocol development, site management, and regulatory submissions, she collaborates with KOLs to drive impactful research and innovation.
As a panel member for the Australian Diabetes Clinical Trials Network (ADCTN), Christine leverages her insights to advance clinical initiatives. Her dedication to advancing medical technologies and delivering high-quality research aligns with Ascend's mission to improve patient outcomes.
Christine is a seasoned Clinical Director, with more than 20 years’ experience managing medical device trials across the Asia-Pacific region, specialising in Cardiology, Neurology, and Endocrinology. Recognised for expertise in protocol development, site management, and regulatory submissions, she collaborates with KOLs to drive impactful research and innovation.
As a panel member for the Australian Diabetes Clinical Trials Network (ADCTN), Christine leverages her insights to advance clinical initiatives. Her dedication to advancing medical technologies and delivering high-quality research aligns with Ascend's mission to improve patient outcomes.
Christine is a seasoned Clinical Director, with more than 20 years’ experience managing medical device trials across the Asia-Pacific region, specialising in Cardiology, Neurology, and Endocrinology. Recognised for expertise in protocol development, site management, and regulatory submissions, she collaborates with KOLs to drive impactful research and innovation.
As a panel member for the Australian Diabetes Clinical Trials Network (ADCTN), Christine leverages her insights to advance clinical initiatives. Her dedication to advancing medical technologies and delivering high-quality research aligns with Ascend's mission to improve patient outcomes.
Our Executive Team
Our Executive Team
Our Executive Team
Our Executive Team
Jules Bligh
Operations Director
Equipped with more than two decades of clinical research operations, Jules has a reputation for driving innovation and excellence. Specialising in first-in-human and Phase I-IV trials, Jules has guided numerous sponsors from developmental stages through regulatory clearance and commercialization.
Prior to Ascend, Jules held leadership roles at organisations including CSIRO leading cross-functional, global teams to deliver high-quality outcomes in diagnostics and biotech. Known for her strategic approach and operational excellence, Jules fosters confidence among sponsors, relationships with KOLs and sites and strong connections with regulatory bodies.
Equipped with more than two decades of clinical research operations, Jules has a reputation for driving innovation and excellence. Specialising in first-in-human and Phase I-IV trials, Jules has guided numerous sponsors from developmental stages through regulatory clearance and commercialization.
Prior to Ascend, Jules held leadership roles at organisations including CSIRO leading cross-functional, global teams to deliver high-quality outcomes in diagnostics and biotech. Known for her strategic approach and operational excellence, Jules fosters confidence among sponsors, relationships with KOLs and sites and strong connections with regulatory bodies.
info@ascendcro.com | +61 2 88757898
Copyright © 2025, Ascend Clinical. All Rights Reserved.
Jules Bligh
Operations Director
Equipped with more than two decades of clinical research operations, Jules has a reputation for driving innovation and excellence. Specialising in first-in-human and Phase I-IV trials, Jules has guided numerous sponsors from developmental stages through regulatory clearance and commercialization.
Prior to Ascend, Jules held leadership roles at organisations including CSIRO leading cross-functional, global teams to deliver high-quality outcomes in diagnostics and biotech. Known for her strategic approach and operational excellence, Jules fosters confidence among sponsors, relationships with KOLs and sites and strong connections with regulatory bodies.
Jules Bligh
Operations Director
Equipped with more than two decades of clinical research operations, Jules has a reputation for driving innovation and excellence. Specialising in first-in-human and Phase I-IV trials, Jules has guided numerous sponsors from developmental stages through regulatory clearance and commercialization.
Prior to Ascend, Jules held leadership roles at organisations including CSIRO leading cross-functional, global teams to deliver high-quality outcomes in diagnostics and biotech. Known for her strategic approach and operational excellence, Jules fosters confidence among sponsors, relationships with KOLs and sites and strong connections with regulatory bodies.
A seasoned clinical field specialists with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the medical device industry across multiple roles with strategics, sites and CROs, Peter’s vast cross-therapeutic experience benefits all sponsors working with Ascend.
Peter has been instrumental in gaining adoption for medtech devices across complex therapeutic areas including cariology, vascular and neurology. Throughout thirty years, Peter has built relationships with KOLs, surgeons, site staff and hospital teams to enhance patient outcomes. These trusted partnerships help our sponsors optimize outcomes and advance to their next milestone.
A seasoned clinical field specialists with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the medical device industry across multiple roles with strategics, sites and CROs, Peter’s vast cross-therapeutic experience benefits all sponsors working with Ascend.
Peter has been instrumental in gaining adoption for medtech devices across complex therapeutic areas including cariology, vascular and neurology. Throughout thirty years, Peter has built relationships with KOLs, surgeons, site staff and hospital teams to enhance patient outcomes. These trusted partnerships help our sponsors optimize outcomes and advance to their next milestone.
Peter Hanrahan
Field Services Director
Peter Hanrahan
Field Services Director
Peter Hanrahan
Field Services Director
A seasoned clinical field specialists with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the medical device industry across multiple roles with strategics, sites and CROs, Peter’s vast cross-therapeutic experience benefits all sponsors working with Ascend.
Peter has been instrumental in gaining adoption for medtech devices across complex therapeutic areas including cariology, vascular and neurology. Throughout thirty years, Peter has built relationships with KOLs, surgeons, site staff and hospital teams to enhance patient outcomes. These trusted partnerships help our sponsors optimize outcomes and advance to their next milestone.
Ascend ensures each clinical program rises above conventional boundaries, creating better outcomes for sponsors, patients, and the global healthcare community.
Ascend ensures each clinical program rises above conventional boundaries, creating better outcomes for sponsors, patients, and the global healthcare community.
Ascend ensures each clinical program rises above conventional boundaries, creating better outcomes for sponsors, patients, and the global healthcare community.
info@ascendcro.com | +61 2 88757898
Copyright © 2025, Ascend Clinical. All Rights Reserved.
info@ascendcro.com
+61 2 88757898
Copyright © 2025, Ascend Clinical. All Rights Reserved.