Why Atomo?
Consumers are embracing the power of at-home diagnostics and telehealth. We believe that fast, accurate point of care testing empowers people to enjoy healthier, more informed lives.
Our Story
After ten years as a senior leader in the medical device sector, Atomo’s Founder and CEO John Kelly identified multiple ways in which diagnostics were ripe for transformation. John observed that usability, convenience, and simplicity of use could make a real difference in diagnostics. When people can’t use a product the way it is intended, the performance is undermined.
While John was exploring areas of the market where usability was poorly delivered, his youngest daughter was born and required intensive medical care for the first two years of her life. He watched as doctors struggled to collect blood from her arm. When John found out that the blood test they were doing only required a tiny drop of blood, he had a light bulb moment. John decided to develop a better, less invasive way to collect a blood sample.
The Opportunity
This is a crucial time for healthcare. The growing consumer acceptance of telemedicine has revolutionised how healthcare is delivered, enabling patients to access medical care from the comfort of their homes. This shift has been driven by advancements in technology, increased internet accessibility, and a desire for more convenient and immediate healthcare solutions.
Patients and healthcare providers alike now expect real-time access to diagnostic information, which is critical for timely decision-making and effective treatment planning. This expectation has significantly increased the demand for rapid point-of-care diagnostics.
Point-of-care diagnostics offer the advantage of immediate results, which can be crucial in managing acute conditions, monitoring chronic diseases, and conducting routine health assessments. These diagnostics are particularly valuable in remote or underserved areas where access to traditional laboratory facilities is limited. The ability to conduct tests and obtain results quickly on-site enhances the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery and improves patient outcomes.
Vision & Mission
Values
Impact
Commercialising products that matter to our users
Innovation
Fostering creative thinking and solutions
Integrity
Ensuring honesty and fairness in all that we do
Collaboration
Working as one
global team
Excellence
Being recognised as experts in the field
Executive Team
Chandra Sukumar
Chief Operating Officer
Chandra joined Atomo in 2017 as Director of Programs bringing with her more than 25 years of experience within the medical device industry. She has extensive experience in the development of medical devices from conception to commercialisation. Prior to joining Atomo, she served in a variety of leadership roles within ResMed, including supply chain management, global manufacturing, and APAC marketing. Chandra holds a Bachelors Honours degree in Physics and an executive MBA from AGSM.
Board of Directors
Patrick Cook
Chair
An experienced Non-Executive Director and Chair with Over 35 years of experience as a senior executive in medical devices & point-of-care diagnostics sectors within various multinational, private and listed biotechnology companies. Previously served as Non-Executive Director & Chair at Workplace Drug Testing Australasia Ltd and eWaste Connection Ltd. Currently a Committee Member at the University Animal Ethics Committee, QUT. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds degrees in Applied Science and Marketing.
Dr. Cheri Walker
Executive Director & CEO
Dr. Cheri Walker is a senior life sciences and diagnostics executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning executive leadership, commercialisation, corporate development, financial markets, strategy and mergers and acquisitions. She has worked with public and private companies, management teams, private equity and venture capital firms to develop and execute strategies for business growth, commercial expansion and value creation.
Dr. Walker brings extensive experience across the diagnostics and life sciences sectors, including point-of-care diagnostics, IVD, regulatory and quality systems, commercialisation and international market development. She has successfully led and advised businesses through periods of significant growth and has been involved in more than 45 completed mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.
Prior to joining Atomo's executive leadership, Dr. Walker served as a senior executive and entrepreneur across a range of life science and diagnostics businesses. She was Chief Executive Officer of Zeta Corporation, a recombinant immunohistochemistry antibody company, and President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Rhinostics, an early-stage diagnostics company based on technology initially developed at Harvard University. She has also held senior leadership positions at Abcam, Charles River Laboratories, QIAGEN and Life Technologies, now part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, and earlier in her career worked in the financial markets as a life sciences stock analyst. Additionally, she has strong financial experience serving as Chief Financial Officer of Kailos Genetics and started her career as a stock analyst at Deutsche Bank covering the life science tools sector.
Dr. Walker joined the Atomo Board in 2022 and served as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee before being appointed Executive Director and Interim Chief Executive Officer in August 2026. In this role, she is leading Atomo through its next phase of commercial growth, with a particular focus on expanding the Company's presence in the United States, Europe and other international markets, accelerating commercial execution and building on Atomo's differentiated point-of-care diagnostics platform.
Dr. Walker holds a BA in Biology from Swarthmore College and a PhD in Human and Molecular Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine.
Anthony May
Non-Executive Director
Mr May has held various Director roles across international corporations including Hoechst Germany, Microgenics Corporation USA, Fisher Scientific and Thermo Fisher Scientific. With extensive experience across public and private pathology laboratories, as well as sales and management roles in the IVD supply sector, he has built a strong track record in business leadership and strategic growth. Mr May is a member of the Australasian Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine and holds a bachelor’s degree in science.
Work With Us
Atomo is a fast-growing dynamic company with tremendous opportunities for people interested in revolutionising healthcare through rapid point-of-care diagnostics.
We’re looking for energetic, creative, entrepreneurial people who have a keen interest in using technology to make the world a better place.
