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Carlene Todd
Vice President Access at Roche Canada
Professional Background
Carlene Todd is a dedicated professional with a rich and extensive background in pharmaceutical market access and health economics, driven by a profound commitment to enhancing patient access to essential medications. With over 17 years of experience at Roche Australia, Carlene has significantly contributed to the field by developing numerous successful reimbursement submissions and leading a high-performing Market Access & Public Policy team for the past five years. Under her leadership, the team has grown and diversified, embracing a collaborative approach that encourages innovative thinking and stakeholder engagement.
Throughout her career, Carlene has recognized the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, including healthcare providers, payers, and policymakers, to improve reimbursement frameworks and highlight the societal value of medicines. Her expertise in navigating Australia's complex reimbursement landscape has made her a key influencer in enhancing patient access to new therapies, ensuring that innovations reach those who need them most.
Education and Achievements
Carlene Todd's educational journey laid a solid foundation for her career in health economics and pharmaceutical marketing. She studied Health Economics through a distance education course at Victoria University of Wellington, where she developed a comprehensive understanding of health policy and economic evaluation. Additionally, she holds dual degrees from the University of Auckland—a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc)—with majors in Marketing, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology. This unique combination of education equips her with a systematic approach to assessing the economic impact of new medicines and understanding their clinical applications.
Her role as Vice President of Access at Roche has been pivotal, not only in driving strategic market access initiatives but also in advocating for patient-centered approaches to healthcare. Carlene's prior positions at Roche include Director of Health Economics & Pricing, Group Health Economics Manager, Senior Health Economist, and Health Economist, showcasing her progressive advancement and deepening expertise within the organization. Before her tenure at Roche, she gained additional experience at ADIS International, where she held various editorial and writing positions in health information systems and pharmaco-economics publications, further demonstrating her commitment to disseminating important health-related information.
Strategic Contributions
Carlene Todd is deeply engaged with industry-wide reimbursement initiatives, contributing to several organizations and groups that focus on improving access to medicines. Her active participation in the Medicines Australia (MA) Health Economics Working Group for four years and her involvement with the Oncology Industry Taskforce for three years underscore her dedication to providing strategic advice on patient access within the pharmaceutical industry. These efforts reflect her understanding of critical issues that affect patients and the healthcare system.
Among her noteworthy contributions, in 2015, Carlene played an instrumental role in drafting Roche and MA submissions to the Senate Inquiry into the Availability of New, Innovative and Specialist Cancer Drugs in Australia. Her ability to articulate insightful recommendations was paramount, especially during the public hearing where she presented critical information on patient access and the need for innovative treatments.
In 2016, she was an active member of the MA PBAC Guidelines Working Group, where she contributed to the important task of reviewing and updating guidelines related to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). Her involvement ensured that the guidelines remained relevant and practical for assessing new therapies. Furthermore, her role with the Patient Voice Initiative Steering Committee demonstrated her commitment to amplifying the voices of patients in health technology assessments (HTA), fostering better understanding and engagement among stakeholders.
Carlene has also been instrumental in developing a framework for the tiering of PBAC submissions during 2016-2017. Her efforts focused on ensuring that evidence, evaluation, and resource use align sensibly with clinical needs, budget impact, and submission complexity. This work highlights her analytical skills and ability to create effective solutions that enhance the pharmaceutical industry's responsiveness to patient and societal needs.
In summary, Carlene Todd embodies a blend of clinical knowledge, economic expertise, and a drive for improving patient access to medicines. Her more than 17 years of experience at Roche Australia reflect her dedication to the industry and the patients it serves. As she continues to lead the Market Access & Public Policy team, Carlene remains at the forefront of advocating for access to innovative therapies and actively shaping policies that define the future of healthcare in Australia.