Dr David Wilson

Elected Member - Professional and Technical

Positions

• Member, JCU Council
• Member, Work Health and Safety Committee

Biography

Dr Wilson obtained his undergraduate degree in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Melbourne, with Honours in physical chemistry. He completed a PhD in biochemistry at The University of Queensland on the venom of Australian funnel-web spiders. He has held research positions at Xenome Ltd, a start-up biopharmaceutical company, in Brisbane, at The University of Queensland and a professional and technical position in research laboratories at James Cook University. This research work has focussed on the identification of venom molecules from marine creatures, spiders and scorpions with potential as therapeutic leads and has resulted in ~70 peer-reviewed journal articles. The commercial work at Xenome Ltd focussed on the development of a small cone snail venom molecule in clinical trials for the treatment of acute postoperative pain and chronic pain (e.g. pain associated with cancer). He has also held an academic administrative position as a professional officer (administrative and laboratory support) at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland. He completed an MBA at the Queensland University of Technology, concentrating on finance entrepreneurship.

Dr Wilson has extensive experience as a higher-degree research supervisor and was awarded JCU’s Supervisory Panel Member of the Year in 2023. He served as the treasurer of the International Society on Toxicology from 2020-2024 and remains an active council member of the society. He has also served as the national anti-doping officer (2018-), Vice-President (2022-2024) and President (2024-) of the Australian Pole Sports Federation. In 2023, he was awarded Male Athlete of the Year by the International Pole Sports Federation and is an internationally accredited pole and aerial sports judge.