Dr Rathjen's career has seen her move from the research bench where she established a significant track record of scientific publication and an inventor of new approaches to the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases and inflammatory disorders to become a business leader who commercialises novel technologies and has developed Bionomics, a thriving ASXC-listed biotechnology comany. The tumour necrosis factor (TNF) technology which Dr Rathjen co-invented has yielded approximately $200 million in revenues to date with an anticipated additional $150 million in revenues to 2012. Prior to commercialisation of this technology, Dr Rathjen successfully lead the defence of the underlying patent estate from challenges by two multinational pharmaceutical companies (BASF/Knoll and Johnson & Johnson). In 2004 Dr Rathjen was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from Flinders University. Dr Rathjen has contributed to broader scientific and innovation initiatives in Australia through her membership of the Prime Minister's Science Engineering and Innovation Council (personal member), the Australian Biotechnology Advisory Council (former Deputy Chair), the industry Research and Development Board and the South Australian Higher Education Council.