A career based on curiosity and determination
Dr. Leigh Beveridge’s career in medicine and biotechnology began long before he first worked in the industry. Growing up in Australia, he was the type of kid who asked questions about everything. “I didn’t think of it as studying,” he remembers. “I just wanted to understand how systems and stories are connected.”
This curiosity stayed with him. It brought him an accelerated education, highest academic honors and a medical education that combined science with empathy. Today, it advances its work as a senior leader in global clinical development, leading late-stage programs in hematology, oncology and immunology.
“I have always believed that good science starts with listening,” he says. “You cannot develop useful therapies without a thorough understanding of the people they are intended to help.”
Below we take a closer look at the career that made him one of the most thoughtful and systemic leaders in modern biotechnology.
Early foundations: curiosity, structure and creativity
Dr. Beveridge was raised by parents who valued both imagination and precision. One worked in education, the other in technical jobs. This mixture taught him to think across disciplines. He spent his childhood reading, drawing, conducting scientific experiments, and participating in writing competitions.
In these early years a way of thinking developed that he still uses today. “Growing up, I learned to look at both data and people,” he says. “Science is never just numbers – it is human.”
This balance of logic and empathy later became central to the way he leads teams and designs medical strategies.
Academic excellence and a growing vision
His academic path built on this early curiosity:
- Accelerated Learning Program, Wheelers Hill Secondary College
- Biomedical Science at Monash University (Dean’s Honors List)
- MBBS at the University of Tasmania (Dean’s Honors List)
- Awards for Clinical Excellence, Internal Medicine and Psychiatry
- Research scholarship for bachelor’s degree programs
- Master of Medicine in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Development (University of Sydney, 2021)
- MBA from UC Davis (2025), Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society
Even as his education progressed, the core motivation remained simple. “I wanted to understand how treatments actually resonate with patients,” he says. “Not just the science – the systems behind it.”
This attitude paved the way for his future career in global drug development.
From medicine to global development leadership
Dr. Beveridge’s early experience in hematology and internal medicine shaped his understanding of patient needs. However, his long-term focus has always been on innovation and system design. That led him to biotechnology, where he spent more than a decade driving programs aimed at changing the standard of care.
Lead development at Servier and Genentech
At Servier, he led global development for pegylated asparaginase (Asparlas/Oncaspar) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His work supported regulatory submissions, pediatric extensions, and investigator-initiated research.
“It was a chance to work on therapy that was meaningful to families,” he says. “These experiences stay in your memory.”
Later, at Genentech, he led clinical development programs in complement inhibition and autoimmune hematology, areas where scientific innovation is rapidly increasing.
“I learned that late-stage development is where science meets strategy,” he explains. “You need precision, but also empathy. You have to see the bigger picture.”
A leadership style based on listening and systems thinking
Dr. Beveridge describes his leadership approach as “curiosity with discipline.” He is known for bringing cross-functional teams together and promoting clarity in decision-making.
He often tells young professionals, “Leadership isn’t about having the loudest voice. It’s about asking the right questions.”
His work as a mentor to UC Davis MBA students in the areas of articulation and critical thinking also reflects this mindset. “Teaching keeps me honest,” he says. “It reminds me to communicate ideas simply and clearly.”
Advocacy, Mentorship and Community
In addition to his scientific and strategic work, Dr. Beveridge active in community building and inclusion efforts. He has supported LGBTQ+ initiatives in STEM and business leadership and continues to mentor young physicians and scientists.
“I want people to feel seen in this industry,” he says. “Diversity is not a slogan. It’s about how to build better science.”
He has also volunteered as a telephone counselor with Lifeline Australia, as a radio presenter with JOYFM and as a mentor with organizations supporting type 1 diabetes.
These experiences determine how he leads. “You learn a lot about people by listening to their stories,” he says. “It makes you a better clinician and a better strategist.”
A life beyond the laboratory and boardroom
Outside of work, Dr. Beveridge energy in travel, writing, dancing and performance art. He enjoys design thinking, culinary exploration, mindfulness, and weightlifting – interests that help him stay grounded.
“Creativity keeps me balanced,” he says. “It reminds me that precision and imagination can coexist.”
Further information about his work can be found at Dr. Leigh Beveridge.
A leader shaping the future of therapeutic innovation
Today Dr. Beveridge as a leader who combines science, strategy and humanity. His career reflects a common thread: curiosity about how systems work, discipline in decision-making and empathy for the people behind each therapy.
“When you work in drug development,” he says, “you don’t just move data, you move lives.”
His story shows how thoughtful leadership – based on curiosity, ethics and clarity – helps shape the next generation of medical innovation.
