Tiresias: The stars arev aligning in the firmament

“Make a dent in the universe.”

Steve Jobs

My Friends,

That these are exciting times for Optiscan, Tiresias has no doubt. The appointment of Robert Cooke, as Chairman, is an affirmation of Optiscan that we, my friends can be truly excited about. But, as Tiresias has often counselled before, truly, this is still only the beginning.

Robert Cooke’s coming aboard is an enormous ratification of Optiscan real-time pathology technology and Optiscan's future in cancer screening, and cancer management. There are two questions that Tiresias would like to discuss today, which I think all his friends might find interesting. The first; why is this so good for Optiscan? The second, and the more interesting, why would someone like Robert Cooke choose to “nail his colours to the mast” of Optiscan?

To the first question first; In Tiresias’s opinion, it is doubtful that Optiscan could have made a better appointment than Robert Cooke. He brings everything that Optiscan needs now and has lacked till now. He has a long and proven track record in hard-core business skills, vision, and connections in the business world in Australia, Asia and Europe. He has had managing director/CEO roles. As CEO, he brought Healthscope, from private equity, to a highly successful ASX listing. This is now one of Australia's leading private hospital medical Centre pathology operators. Cooke has deep connections throughout the medical system and is currently a director of Icon Group and Evercare. These directorships promise great synergy for Optiscan. The Icon Group is the leading cancer treatment provider In Australia and New Zealand and is growing in Asia with cancer centres in Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Vietnam. You will recall that The Clermont Group, the recent cornerstone investor in Optiscan, manages many hospitals in the same region. Icon Group is dedicated to providing full service for cancer patients from diagnosis to therapy. In addition to state op the art treatment it is involved in cancer trials and developing new cutting-edge technology for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Obviously Optiscan can provide another arm to the early diagnosis of cancer which will expand Icon’s business into early screening and diagnosis, particularly in Asia.

And Evercare? What is Evercare, and why would Robert Cooke be on its board? Evercare is a leading healthcare group in emerging markets operating across south-east Asia and Africa. It is dedicated to lead the way and transforming traditional for healthcare model which has floundered in the developing countries. Among its international board members, the one that took Tiresias’s interest, apart from Robert Cooke, is Cheryl Scott. She is formally a senior advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their global health and development initiatives. Leapfrogging the traditional model requiring the building of huge pathology infrastructure, is what this group is about and is exactly what Optiscan is about.

So, back to the first question: why Optiscan is so fortunate to have Robert Cooke as his new Chairman? Tiresias does not need to belabour these and all the other reasons obvious any further. Tiresias is pleased, and he trusts that you his friends are pleased too.

Now to the interesting second question; why does Robert Cooke choose to become Chairman of Optiscan, and why now? Well, in answering this question Tiresias trusts that in answering the first has gone same way in showing why it is a natural and obvious choice for him, at this stage in his career and at this stage of Optiscan’s development.

With his experience in the healthcare industry and his obvious interest in cancer, there comes a time when one wants to make a real difference, a difference which improves the world and peoples lot in it. He obviously sees the full potential of Optiscan’s real-time pathology. He is excited enough to want to be part of it, and lead Optiscan to fulfil its potential. To truly "Make a dent in the universe" of cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment. With his experience and track record, this is no mean endorsement. This, my friends, makes Tiresias very very pleased. Optiscan now has the benefits and the guidance of a cool and experienced hand. We are now on the next plateau. Tiresias has seen much, little excites him these days, but even will soon need a sip of Ambrosia to settle, and to calmly contemplate the firmament, and await the next star to appear in the Optiscan constellation. He feels that we might not be long in the waiting.