About Us

Board of Directors

Garth Tierney - Managing Director

Garth is a co-founder of Trident and has 20 years clinical research experience.

Garth has a pharmacology background and he worked in basic research for several years before joining the pharma industry. During this time Garth published various papers and won the Whelan prize (awarded by ASCEPT).

After joining industry in 1988 Garth worked for Roche and Sterling Winthrop in clinical research positions of increasing responsibility until he joined Australian pharma company Faulding in 1993 as Clinical Research Manager.

Garth went on to both establish and head the South Australian Quintile’s operations until 1997. During this time Garth completed post graduate qualifications in business administration and later completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. In 1997 Garth left Quintiles to establish Trident Clinical Research.

During his 20 years in industry Garth has developed a broad therapeutic background, extensive project management skills, extensive line management and general management experience and expertise as a company director.

Since establishing Trident, Garth has overseen the small 3 person start-up develop into one of Australia’s most successful independent CROs employing 100 staff in 3 countries.

Louise Hayman - Director

Louise is a co-founder of Trident and has worked in the clinical research field for over 20 years. She studied pharmacology at the University of Sydney and also completed an Arts degree in history and English literature.

Initially Louise worked for US company Smith Kline & French (now GSK) in regulatory affairs and clinical research. She joined Janssen-Cilag in 1990 and worked as a Senior CRA and Project Manager, specializing in gastroenterology, psychiatry and oncology. In 1995 she joined Quintiles, initially as a Senior CRA, and then took on the role of Training and Development Manager for the Australia, Asia and South Africa. At this time she completed a postgraduate qualification in Training and Development.

In 1997, Louise joined with Garth Tierney and Michelle Sharp in establishing Trident Clinical Research. She has been actively involved in strategic decisions, as well as holding positions in project management, training and development and line management.

Michelle Sharp - Director

Michelle is a co-founder of Trident and has over 20 years clinical research experience. Michelle has a major in pharmacology and immunology from Monash University and joined the pharmaceutical industry after graduation.

Michelle worked for Hoechst Australia from 1986 in a combined role of regulatory affairs and clinical research. The main therapeutic areas focused on whilst at Hoechst were endocrinology (including infertility), gastroenterology, cardiovascular and kidney disease. Michelle joined Biomedicus, the clinical research division of IDT, in 1992 as a Senior Consultant working as a Project Manager for infectious disease and psychiatric studies.

In 1994, Michelle joined Quintiles to open and subsequently manage the growing Melbourne office, whilst continuing to project manage large multinational studies for the Asia Pacific region.

In 1997 Michelle joined with Garth Tierney and Louise Hayman to establish Trident Clinical Research. Michelle has continued with a strong project management focus, and has been actively involved in all strategic decisions and various management roles for the growing company.

Lisa Van Holst - Company Secretary

Lisa joined Trident in 2008 as Financial Manager and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2009 and Company Secretary in 2010.

Prior to 2008 Lisa was the external accountant for Trident, while working at East Partners.

Lisa holds degrees in Engineering and Taxation and has over 12 years experience in accounting, taxation and business development and is an Associate member of Chartered Secretaries Australia and CPA Australia.