We’re back with the 6th installment of our epic “Road To…” series. This year, our team is headed Down Under to get up close and personal with Australia’s biotech and pharma industries.
Pharma's Almanac and That's Nice would like to extend their gratitude for the following companies for the support on this year's road trip. Thank you for your time and for sharing your valuable knowledge and insights.
Day 18 is a special bonus day, the thrilling culmination of our Road to the Max: Australia journey. This one is for the fans—the lovers of all things Mad Max. We’ve compiled extended footage from exclusive interviews with the stars, engineers, stuntmen, and fans who brought this iconic film series to life.
Day 17 marked the final chapter of Road to the Max: Australia, and it was one of our busiest days yet, stopping at Resolian, BioCina, and Thermo Fisher. All that’s left now is a well-earned champagne shower to celebrate. But the story doesn’t end here!
Reunited with the Interceptor, thanks to the expert team at NAS, the team was eager to regain momentum. Making up for lost time, today's journey was jam-packed with interviews with QUT, QBI, and the Servatus team.
Day 15 brought unexpected challenges as we spent most of the day in beautiful Byron Bay—without the Interceptor. The culprit behind the car trouble? Someone had mistakenly filled the Interceptor with diesel fuel.
After a long journey across Australia, the Interceptor finally needed a break, coughing up smoke and rattling to a halt. It was out of commission, sidelined by engine trouble. Mad Max had to set aside his road warrior instincts for a while, riding as a passenger as they made their way to Byron Bay.
Join us on a visit to the Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie, where injured koalas are rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild, where we interviewed the scientific team and volunteers dedicated to the care and conservation of these incredible animals.
Day 12 brought us to Newcastle for a thrilling day filled with cars, off-roading, and unexpected pitstops, including Cameron’s shop, where we met the man responsible for building, restoring, and maintaining some of the most iconic cars in TV and film. Cameron’s work on the Mad Max: Fury Road Interceptors and parts for Furiosa solidified his reputation as one of the top mechanics in the industry.
We hit the iconic Bondi Beach for a memorable meeting with two Mad Max legends. There, we had the privilege of sitting down with Tim Burns and Roger Ward, better known as Johnny the Boy and Fifi from the original Mad Max.
Another full day of discoveries in Sydney brought us face-to-face with BCAL Diagnostics and CAI. And, of course, no trip to Sydney is complete without a stop at the iconic Opera House.
Day 09 marks a major milestone on the Road to the Max: Australia as we hit the halfway point of our journey and spend our first full day in Sydney. Our visit with leaders from UNSW and FivepHusion left us more inspired than ever by the cutting-edge work being done to transform healthcare Down Under.
Despite the rocky start to Day 08, the team pushed forward on a 300-kilometer trek to Macquarie University, home to Australia’s original innovation district. Often referred to as “Pill Hill” for its high concentration of pharmaceutical companies, the region has solidified itself as one of Australia’s largest pharma strongholds.
After two action-packed days of Mad Max mayhem, we hit the road again for Day 07, heading toward our next stop – Canberra. Along the way, we stopped in Glenrowan at the Ned Kelly Museum & Homestead to learn more about the infamous bushranger.
Things shift into high gear as we make our way to Little River to meet up with the bikers from the original Mad Max cast. Lucas makes his formal debut as Toecutter and the crew assemble to recreate the film's iconic bridge chase scene.
After four days of insightful conversations with leading experts, we’re now shifting gears for some Mad Max-themed fun in Clunes. Enthusiasts from across Australia have gathered in their replica vehicles to celebrate the iconic film's legacy.
Day 04 of Road to the Max: Australia took us deeper into the heart of Melbourne’s life sciences sector, where we explored the innovations shaping the future of medicine and therapeutics. Take a ride with us as we continue our journey across Australia, uncovering the advancements that are changing lives.
Our first stop was the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Centre at Melbourne’s historic Austin Hospital. ONJCRI has more than 140 research studies underway and up to 200 ongoing clinical trials at any given time. We had the privilege of meeting with the research team, gaining insight into their work across a broad spectrum of cancer mechanisms and types.
Day 02 in Melbourne kept the adrenaline pumping as we continued Road to the Max: Australia. Today, our journey hit its first bump – car trouble in true Mad Max fashion. Thankfully, the NAS mechanic came to the rescue, getting us back on track and ready to pick up our last team member, producer Phill Neill, at Melbourne International.
In true Mad Max style, our team of five hit the ground running on the first official day. Today we're blazing through Melbourne, home to about 40% of Australian life science companies and over 60% of Australian pharmaceutical exports.
Our team is determined to seek out and meet the life science heroes on the forefront of Australia’s burgeoning pharma and biopharma research ecosystem. Follow our six Road Warriors as they head to the other side of the world and hit the road to uncover the future of Australia’s pharma industry on our highest-octane thrill ride yet – Road to the Max: Australia.