Gary
Waanders
SVP Investor Relations and Communications
"AC Immune is truly a world-class biotech company, with a positive and friendly international culture and numerous opportunities to collaborate with highly experienced colleagues."
I joined AC Immune eager to participate in a company developing medicines for devastating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, among others. My experience of scientific research and the financial markets fitted well with my new role, so for me it was a great opportunity to do something both enjoyable and worthy. Previously, I worked as an equity research analyst for a number of investment banks in London. I am Australian born; after my PhD in Immunology, I moved to Lausanne for the first time in 1990 as a post-doctoral fellow doing research in immunology and cancer. I have since lived and worked in Canada, the UK and Germany. I am happy to be back in Lausanne after these many years. Lausanne is a wonderful location for proximity to the Alps and ease of travel to other parts of Europe. The standard of living in Switzerland generally is very high but this also comes with costs which should not be ignored. Speaking French helps you to engage more in local life and makes some things easier, but English is spoken by many people outside of the company, so settling here is not difficult.