HealthInvest Sydney: Life Sciences in the Investor Spotlight

On Wednesday, 24 September 2025, the investment and life sciences communities met together as HealthInvest returned to Sydney. This event, proudly presented by IR Department and Morgans in partnership with Stockhead, successfully provided a space for in-depth discussion, networking, and building on the strong momentum within Australia's healthcare sector.

A Night of Insight from Industry Pioneers

The session, hosted by Jane Lowe, Founder and Managing Director of IR Department, and Scott Power, Senior Research Analyst at Morgans, spotlighted a series of compelling presentations that highlighted the strategic vision and cutting-edge science driving growth in the sector.

The presenting lineup featured:

• Clever Culture Systems (ASX: CC5) – Brent Barnes, CEO and Managing Director
• Cogstate (ASX: CGS) – Brad O’Connor, CEO and Managing Director
• EBR Systems (ASX: EBR) – John McCutcheon, CEO and President
• Neurizon (ASX: NUZ) – Dr Michael Thurn, CEO and Managing Director
• Tetratherix (ASX: TTX) – Will Knox, CEO and Executive Director

Attendees gained firsthand insights into a diverse range of technologies, from AI-driven diagnostics and digital cognitive assessments to novel cardiac implants and therapeutic biomaterials, showcasing the depth of innovation emanating from the Australian life sciences scene.

Key Takeaways from Scott Power

The Australian healthcare sector is down 8.1% since 1 July, underperforming the broader market, which is up 3.1%. The August reporting season offered limited relief, with offshore earners continuing to face headwinds from US tariffs and regulatory uncertainty. Despite the challenges, several positive themes are emerging: 

• Renewed focus on cost control and operational efficiency
• Continued investment in R&D
• Selective international expansion

 There is an increased level of activity in the capital markets particularly around secondary raisings with the IPO markets starting to show signs of opening after an extended period with little activity. This suggests investor confidence is growing and will continue to be assisted if interest rates are lowered further. Many healthcare stocks, particularly the emerging companies are trading at multi-year lows, presenting attractive entry points for investors. Structural demand drivers remain firmly intact: ageing population; increase in chronic disease; and medical innovation which is reshaping treatment paradigms.

While near-term sentiment remains cautious, improving fundamentals and long-term tailwinds suggest the sector is poised for recovery in the second half of FY26.

Access event materials

For those who missed the presentations or want to revise the content, the session materials are available here. 

Media coverage 

Our thanks to Stockhead who covered the event. Their wrap-up article, released last Friday provides a review of each of the companies. You can read the article here.

A Resounding Success

A huge thank you to our partners, presenting companies, and everyone who attended for making HealthInvest Sydney such a productive and insightful event. We look forward to bringing you more in the future.