Benitec Limited (ASX:BLT) Appoints Mr Iain Ross As Director

Melbourne, June 1, 2010 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Benitec Limited (ASX:BLT) (PINK:BNIKF) are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Iain Ross to the Board.

Iain Ross is an experienced business entrepreneur with 30 years experience in the international life sciences sector. Following a career with Sandoz, Fisons, Hoffman La Roche and Celltech, he undertook and provided input to a number of company turnarounds and start-ups as a board member on behalf of banks and private equity groups. He has led and participated in 4 IPOs and has direct experience of life science mergers and acquisitions both in the UK and USA. From 2004 until recently, he was Chairman of Silence Therapeutics plc (LON:SLN) and was responsible for the acquisition of Atugen in 2005 and Intradigm earlier this year. He resigned from Silence Therapeutics plc in February 2010. Iain is a Qualified Chartered Director and brings a wealth of experience not only in the life sciences sector but specifically in the field of RNAi.

"I have known and worked with the team at Benitec for a number of years. I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Board and to be making a significant contribution to the development of the company in a sector in which I have contacts and experience" said Mr Ross.

"Iain's appointment will deepen the strength of the Board generally and add particularly to our transactional and capitalisation skills and experience in RNAi" said Peter Francis Chairman, Benitec Limited.

The appointment is effective from 1 June 2010.

Contact

Sue MacLeman Benitec Limited Chief Executive Officer Tel: +61-437-211-200