Therese Seldon: A global biotech journey

From the labs of The University of Queensland to the tech hub of Seattle, Therese Seldon has crafted a career defined by curiosity, innovation and leadership. Now Chief Business Officer at Glowforge, a precision laser cutter company, Therese helps lead a team that transforms cutting-edge technology into accessible, creative tools for individuals and institutions alike.

“I’ve always been drawn to teams solving hard problems in ways that matter,” she says. Whether in biotech or consumer tech, innovation and impact have been her guiding principles.

From North Queensland to Silicon Valley

Therese’s journey began in North Queensland and took a pivotal turn after an undergraduate degree at James Cook University. Unsure of her next steps, she emailed UQ’s biotech school. To her surprise, program director Ross Barnard replied personally and invited her to do Honours in his lab. That decision, and Ross’s ongoing mentorship, changed everything. “Ross believed in me, helped shape my PhD pathway, and encouraged my time at the University of California San Francisco,” she says. “He helped set me on the path I’m on today.”

After completing her PhD at UQ and the Mater Medical Research Institute, Therese worked at CSL Behring before relocating to the US. There, she joined Immunexpress – a startup founded by an Australian – as their first non-founder US employee. She helped develop a molecular diagnostics product for sepsis and navigated its path through the FDA.

Her career in healthcare continued with roles at Providence, where she led telehealth product operations, and Biocartis, where she built an R&D team. But then came a twist: a move into consumer tech at Glowforge.

Building teams, leading strategy

Glowforge – a company that started with a record-breaking $28 million crowdfunding campaign – makes laser cutters that allow users to create with materials like wood, leather and acrylic. Therese joined as an early team member and now serves as Chief Business Officer, helping to steer strategy, company operations and achieve topline revenue growth.

Though the shift from biotech to consumer tech might seem surprising, to Therese, the through line is innovation. “The core of my career has always been about bringing people together to solve hard problems. That’s what I love most.”

The power and potential of biotech

Therese’s early career in biotech saw her contribute to the development of monoclonal antibody treatments – work she believes helped extend her father’s life after a cancer diagnosis.

“Standing on the shoulders of giants in biotech was a privilege. Seeing our work make a difference to real people – my own family included – is something I’ll always be proud of.”

She views the rapid vaccine development during COVID-19 as one of biotech’s most profound impacts and sees exciting frontiers ahead, particularly at the intersection of biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

“AI will be transformative,” she says. “Just like the internet changed everything, AI will accelerate science, discovery and personalised medicine. Scientists will be able to ask better questions, analyse data faster and collaborate in new ways.”

UQ, AI, and the future of education

Therese believes UQ is uniquely positioned to lead in AI-integrated biotech education. “AI should be a core skill across every program,” she says. “If students can say, ‘I did my PhD in biotech and I’m also a leader in applying AI to accelerate research,’ that’s a competitive edge.”

She challenges universities to embed AI across disciplines, not as a standalone topic, but as a foundational tool. “It’s an experimental moment. We’ll probably be bad at it together at first – but that’s how learning happens.”

Advice for aspiring scientists

Therese encourages biotech students to remain open-minded about career paths. “Science isn’t a fixed track like medicine or law. It’s full of twists and turns. Some of the smartest people I know left the lab to become educators, venture capitalists, or strategists. That’s not a failure – it’s part of the journey.”

She also urges students to be honest about what they want from life and work. “There’s no one-size-fits-all career. Maybe you don’t want to lead a lab or run a company. Maybe you want to be a phenomenal technician or work part-time. That’s valid.”

Therese herself had no scientists to look up to growing up.

“Universities helped me imagine what was possible. Internships and guest lectures showed the diversity of what a science career could be.”

Leading with integrity and vision

At Glowforge, Therese is proud of how the company aligns talent with mission. “We pay competitively. We offer purpose and ownership. It’s challenging work and a fantastic workplace for people who want to work on a great mission.”

She credits her time at UQ, especially lectures on innovation from Tim Kastelle, as formative. “Those were some of my best memories – world-class teaching that laid the foundation for how I lead today.”

From sepsis diagnostics to consumer tech, Therese has built a career on purpose, adaptability, and people-first leadership. “Whatever the sector, it’s about bringing incredible people together, solving real problems, and doing it in a way you can be proud of.”