A Team Dedicated to Transforming Lives Through Science and Compassion

At Vermillion Health, our team brings together passionate clinicians, engineers, and innovators with a shared mission: to create safe, effective, clinically validated solutions that reduce suffering and help people live fuller lives.

Our Belief

Everyone deserves access to drug-free, affordable, meaningful pain relief.

Our Journey

With extensive experience in rehabilitation technology, our team has led the development of products that improve quality of life and expand human potential.

Our Expertise

Our founders and clinical specialists have deep experience in designing, validating, and commercialising medical technologies used across rehabilitation and pain management.

Our Vision

We’re redefining how the world manages chronic pain and other neurological challenges – unlocking possibilities that were once out of reach.

The Exsurgo Team

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Jiva Muthu

Chief Executive Officer

Duncan clement

Chief Operating Officer

fAISAL ALMESfER

Chief Technology Officer

ROBERT IRVING

Production Manager

John Emson

Chief Financial Officer

Robert is an award-winning medical device engineer; he was Richard’s cofounder on the Rex project and has a solid background of transforming medical device engineering concepts into volume manufactured products. Robert’s production engineering background includes medical device quality and regulatory certification and compliance of production facilities.

John has spent over 30 years in finance and M&A across the technology, manufacturing, health and education sectors. In his CFO role, John’s focus will be on ensuring Exsurgo has the operational and financial systems to handle its anticipated rapid growth, including compliance with regulatory obligations in a range of key overseas target markets. John has an MBA from the University of Birmingham and moved to New Zealand from the UK in 2015.

Jiva has extensive experience encompassing the complete product lifecycle from product development through to manufacturing and market approvals.  He has 18 years experience in the medical devices industry with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Rex Bionics and Dynamic Controls (an Invacare subsidiary).  He has held roles in engineering, R&D management, marketing, global product management, quality and regulatory management. He has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Engineering Studies in Medical Devices and Technologies from Auckland University.

Joining the Exsurgo team in 2020, I drive transformative initiatives, overseeing clinical trials and navigating capital endeavours in the UAE, and advancing product innovation in the UK and UAE markets. With a passion to lead the future of HealthTech, I am committed to translating scientific advancements into impactful solutions in the Chronic Pain space. I envision reshaping the landscape of neurological well-being. Together, we’re dedicated to curing the world, one session at a time.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DAvID ROSS

Chairman

fAISAL ALMESfER

Chief Technology Officer

Mike Wombwell

Independent Director

yALMAN A kHAN

Independent Director

Yalman is a managing partner in MPACTUM Capital who are active investors in Exsurgo and advisors on capital raising, investor relations and business strategy. Yalman has a background as an entrepreneur and 30 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. MPACTUM invests in transformational business globally that have a compelling social impact.
David’s many corporate directorships give him a broad involvement over a wide range of industries. David has operated a consultancy practice as a chartered account for many years and has been actively involved in the corporate world as well as acting as an investor and board member in a significant number of start-up high technology projects and has also been involved with cinemas, film distribution and television. David also chairs Auckland-based biotechnology company, Kode Biotech.

CLINICAL and science ADVISORS

JON GRAHAM

Clinical Advisor

Christine website headshot 2

CHRISTINE OZOLINS

Science Advisor

Nick is a consultant spinal specialist with expertise in diagnosing and treating complex pain and neurological disorders associated with the spine, including the sequelae of spinal cord injury. He is nationally and internationally recognised as an expert in the fields of central pain sensitisation associated with spinal conditions and bone stress injuries in the spine. He holds the post of Medical Director, Real Health Pain Management in Rugby, Warwickshire, a centre offering high intensity, residential combined physical and psychological programs for people with persistent severe pain. Nick is the Spine Editor for the Bone and Joint Journal and he a director of several med-tech companies.
Jon is a Consultant Neurological Physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience of treating individuals with complex Neurological conditions and Polytrauma using manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and technology. He is recognised as an expert in Neurological Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Technology including Exoskeletons and FES and is the Clinical Director of PhysioFunction, one of the UK’s leading independent providers of private out-patient and community neurological rehabilitation. He also acts as an Expert Witness producing medico-legal reports for solicitors, case managers and other health professionals. Jon has published articles in physiotherapy and neurological nursing journals, and co-authored articles in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

Christine believes we are only just beginning to understand the amazing power and adaptability of the human brain. A Psychologist and Cognitive Neuroscientist specialising in neuroimaging and brain modulation techniques, Christine has conducted academic research into the effects of neurofeedback on creativity, attention, memory and perception.  She has also worked on research projects and clinical trials involving learning, memory, attention and dementia, involving paediatric, geriatric and clinical populations.

Christine first encountered neurofeedback in 2015 in London where she was inspired by how neurofeedback could combine behavioural psychology with neuroscientific principles to help people self-regulate their brain activity.

Since joining Exsurgo in 2019, Christine designed and ran the UK proof of concept study during the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting participants throughout the trial. Christine is overseeing several upcoming trials, including the world’s largest clinical trial of Electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback for chronic pain, and studies using the Axon system to treat anxiety, trauma and the detection, prediction and treatment of concussion.

The Exsurgo Team

EXSURGO TEAM

Jiva Muthu

Chief Executive

Duncan Clement

Chief Operating Officer

fAISAL ALMESfER

Chief Technology Officer

ROBERT IRvING

Production Engineering

Robert is an award-winning medical device engineer; he was Richard’s cofounder on the Rex project and has a solid background of transforming medical device engineering concepts into volume manufactured products. Robert’s production engineering background includes medical device quality and regulatory certification and compliance of production facilities.

JOHN EMSON

Chief Financial Officer

John has spent over 30 years in finance and M&A across the technology, manufacturing, health and education sectors. In his CFO role, John’s focus will be on ensuring Exsurgo has the operational and financial systems to handle its anticipated rapid growth, including compliance with regulatory obligations in a range of key overseas target markets. John has an MBA from the University of Birmingham and moved to New Zealand from the UK in 2015.

Joining the Exsurgo team in 2020, I drive transformative initiatives, overseeing clinical trials and navigating capital endeavours in the UAE, and advancing product innovation in the UK and UAE markets. With a passion to lead the future of HealthTech, I am committed to translating scientific advancements into impactful solutions in the Chronic Pain space. I envision reshaping the landscape of neurological well-being. Together, we’re dedicated to curing the world, one session at a time.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DAvID ROSS

Chairman

fAISAL ALMESfER

Chief Technology Officer

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MIKE WOMBWELL

Independent Director

Richard is a multi-award-winning inventor and engineer with numerous patents to his name, in the past Richard has held a range of Directorships, C level and other senior positions in a range of engineering, military and medical businesses. Richard’s previous enterprise Rex Bionics was listed in an IPO in 2014 on the UK AIM stock exchange.
Yalman is a managing partner in MPACTUM Capital who are active investors in Exsurgo and advisors on capital raising, investor relations and business strategy. Yalman has a background as an entrepreneur and 30 years in the venture capital and private equity industry. MPACTUM invests in transformational business globally that have a compelling social impact.
David’s many corporate directorships give him a broad involvement over a wide range of industries. David has operated a consultancy practice as a chartered account for many years and has been actively involved in the corporate world as well as acting as an investor and board member in a significant number of start-up high technology projects and has also been involved with cinemas, film distribution and television. David also chairs Auckland-based biotechnology company, Kode Biotech.
Ferris is a founding partners and directors of Zino Ventures New Zealand and is playing an active role in the management of its growth fund. Ferris is a part-time partner of a Chinese private equity fund with an AUM of more than US$1bn. Ferris is also an active angel investor in China. He is helping tech start-ups, to build an ecosystem within which the core technology solutions are available and sustainable, and members can give support to one another. Ferris travels back and forth between New Zealand and China, connecting the resources from both countries to create value.

Clinical and Science Advisors

JON GRAHAM

Clinical Advisor

Christine Ozolins

Science Advisor

Jon is a Consultant Neurological Physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience of treating individuals with complex Neurological conditions and Polytrauma using manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and technology. He is recognised as an expert in Neurological Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Technology including Exoskeletons and FES and is the Clinical Director of PhysioFunction, one of the UK’s leading independent providers of private out-patient and community neurological rehabilitation. He also acts as an Expert Witness producing medico-legal reports for solicitors, case managers and other health professionals. Jon has published articles in physiotherapy and neurological nursing journals, and co-authored articles in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

Christine believes we are only just beginning to understand the amazing power and adaptability of the human brain. A Psychologist and Cognitive Neuroscientist specialising in neuroimaging and brain modulation techniques, Christine has conducted academic research into the effects of neurofeedback on creativity, attention, memory and perception.  She has also worked on research projects and clinical trials involving learning, memory, attention and dementia, involving paediatric, geriatric and clinical populations.

Christine first encountered neurofeedback in 2015 in London where she was inspired by how neurofeedback could combine behavioural psychology with neuroscientific principles to help people self-regulate their brain activity.

Since joining Exsurgo in 2019, Christine designed and ran the UK proof of concept study during the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting participants throughout the trial. Christine is overseeing several upcoming trials, including the world’s largest clinical trial of Electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback for chronic pain, and studies using the Axon system to treat anxiety, trauma and the detection, prediction and treatment of concussion.

Keep up to date with the latest Exsurgo progress

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