Investment Committee

Debra Hall

Investment Committee Chair

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Debra, the Chair of the Investment Committee, draws on 15 years of strategic leadership in the innovation sector. With a commitment to fostering excellence, she challenges organisations to reach their potential. Her engineering background forms the foundation for her approach to complex problems, offering innovative solutions. Her dedication to evidence-based decision-making, coupled with strategic and analytical skills, has been pivotal in supporting game-changing technologies in New Zealand. Recognised for her significant contributions, she received the Arch Angel Award in 2017, acknowledging her impact on early-stage investors and entrepreneurs through governance skill development and capital-raising support. Debra also plays a key role on KiwiNet's board.

Andrew Kelly

(Independent)

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Andrew has crafted a unique career spanning research, commercialisation, and investment. Beginning with a veterinary science degree, he progressed through leadership roles in research institutes and R&D organisations. In 2005, he co-founded BioPacific Partners, a pioneering venture fund in food, agriculture, and health. Andrew's strategic pivot in 2014 expanded the fund's reach globally. His expertise extends to various advisory roles, reflecting his influence in agricultural biotechnology, innovation, and national research networks. A seasoned speaker and educator, Andrew passionately shares his knowledge, fostering collaborations, and advancing impactful innovations.

Brigitte Smith

Co-Founder, GBS Ventures

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Brigitte Smith, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at GBS Ventures, brings two decades of venture capital, business strategy, and startup operations experience. Managing GBS's life science specialised venture capital funds since 1998, Brigitte has steered investments totalling $450 million. Her academic journey includes a B. Chem Eng (Honours) from the University of Melbourne, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a MALD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Brigitte's venture capital perspective offers valuable insights into the life science sector, witnessing technologies' full venture capital investment cycle, from conception to commercial adoption.

Nick Willis

(Independent)

nhwillis@gmail.com
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Nick is an executive with extensive experience in IT, telecommunications, security, and electronics. Managing large, complex systems globally, he has defined and implemented company strategies across multiple industries. Nick's deep engagement with the World Wide Web led him to spearhead strategies for various organisations to meet their objectives. His adept management style combines internal teams and external vendors to implement visionary approaches. Nick's multi-industry expertise positions him as an invaluable asset in strategic, operational, financial, and project management disciplines.

Alexandra Tickle

Commercialisation Manager, Otago Innovation

Alex, Commercialisation Manager at Otago Innovation, is a seasoned professional in the biotechnology and technology transfer sectors. With expertise in patent law, R&D, business development, licensing, and venture capital, she passionately contributes to health and animal welfare. Serving on KiwiNet's Emerging Innovator Committee, Pipeline Committee, and Investment Committee, Alexandra's commitment to science and innovation is evident. Her caring nature extends to her dedication to people and animals, reflecting her passion for improving health and wellbeing through impactful science and innovation initiatives.

Amanda Davies

Innovation Manager, Scion

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Amanda is a fierce advocate for commercialisation within the private investment sector. Leading Scion’s Innovation Team, she facilitates the commercialisation of new products and technologies, ensuring impactful outcomes. With a diverse background in applied science across forestry, engineering, and coatings industries, Amanda's governance skills and business acumen contribute to Scion’s innovation and commercialisation planning. Passionate about seeing science reach its true commercial and social potential, Amanda also serves on KiwiNet’s board, showing her dedication to realising the broader societal benefits of research commercialisation.

Travis Glare

Director, Lincoln University

Travis, Director of the Research Management Office at Lincoln University, is a trailblazer in commercialising advancements in plant pest control. Prioritising biopesticide production scaling and navigating New Zealand's startup landscape, Travis seamlessly bridges research with market-ready solutions. A Council member of Better Border Security, he actively advances plant-based border biosecurity. With a track record of successful collaborations and commercialisation endeavours, Travis's unique expertise positions him as a strategic leader in driving innovation and pragmatic applications in the field of plant pest control.

Pierre Malou

CEO, Wellington UniVentures

Pierre, with a rich background in leadership, growth, and culture management, specialises in delivering and protecting disruptive technologies. Over 20 years, he has efficiently managed teams to bring innovative products, services, and technologies to market, resulting in paradigm shifts. Pierre's expertise spans SaaS, marketplaces, smart cities, data analysis, biotechnology, healthcare, animal health, renewables, and sustainable development. His diverse skill set and leadership roles, from board positions to CEO and COO, make him an asset in managing and advancing innovative and disruptive technologies within startups and larger organisations.

Eric Swale

Commercial Development Manager, Cawthron Institute

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Eric, Commercial Development Manager at Cawthron Institute, is instrumental in amplifying Cawthron's scientific impact. Leading initiatives for strategy, innovation, and commercialisation, he supports organisational strategy refinement and drives culture change. Eric manages the commercialisation pipeline, identifies opportunities, and develops customer management, playing a vital role in creating high-impact industry partnerships. His technical skills and extensive experience contribute to the development of frameworks for intellectual property commercialisation, making him a key figure in advancing scientific research impact and industry partnerships at the Cawthron Institute.

Mark Ottaway

General Manager – Business Services, ESR

Mark, General Manager of Business Services at ESR, has extensive company management experience, brings a strong background in sales, marketing, operations, and project management across diverse industries. Specialising in company management, strategic planning, and large project management, Mark's expertise ensures the successful delivery of technology from academia to the market. His unconventional journey into research commercialisation, co-founding a business, and roles in research organisations enriches his approach. Mark emphasises negotiated deals that benefit all parties involved, fostering a positive and collaborative environment within the Investment Committee.

Rebecca Warr

IP & Commercialisation Manager, University of Canterbury

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Rebecca, IP and Commercialisation Manager at the University of Canterbury, has a passion for supporting entrepreneurial researchers to transform innovative science into global impact. Leveraging 12+ years of experience in commercialisation, product development, and leadership, she draws on her scientific research background. Rebecca's journey from academia to an early-stage startup, Ison Science, provided insights into the challenges and rewards of taking Kiwi innovation to the world. Her unique understanding of both academic and startup drivers enables her to connect researchers and entrepreneurs, contributing to Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse deep tech sector.

Rosanne Ellis

Director of Innovation & Impact, University of Waikato

Rosanne, Director of Innovation & Impact at the University of Waikato, excels in steering strategic initiatives, leading change, and driving commercialisation efforts. With leadership roles at Auckland University of Technology, Auckland UniServices Ltd, Industrial Research Ltd, and URS NZ Ltd, she has a passion for the synergy between research and the commercial sector. Rosanne's commitment is evident in her open and innovative approach to current ideas and partnerships, fostering genuine collaboration. Her impact is marked by shaping strategic directions and successfully spearheading commercialisation initiatives, making her a driving force in the field.

Dougal Ferguson

Commercialisation Manager, AgResearch

Dougal, Commercialisation Manager at AgResearch, brings over 20 years of experience in working with and managing New Zealand companies. His expertise in strategic consultation, international commercialisation, human-centred design thinking, and collaboration with NZ Inc reflects his commitment to co-innovation in the food, fibre, and agritech sectors. With a background in private and public sectors, Dougal's leadership extends to foreign direct investment, trade, and economic development. His roles in-market, capturing market trends and networks, highlight his dedication to integrating design thinking approaches for successful market needs

Dr Peter Cook

General Manager – Business Development, Plant & Food Research

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Collaborating closely with scientists, Peter Cook, a former scientist himself, shares their passion for impact. As a seasoned commercialisation professional at Plant & Food Research, he excels in aligning viable business models with scientists' missions to expedite impactful pathways for innovations. With a diverse career, including a postdoc at the University of Oxford, Peter gained insights into the research policy space in Australia and contributed to global projects like the World Mosquito Program at Monash University. His commitment to advancing technologies for sustainability in the food and fibre industries is evident in his journey within Aotearoa New Zealand's research ecosystem.

Greg Sitters

(Independent)

With over 40 years in business, Greg offers a wealth of experience spanning venture investment, executive management, corporate governance and deep tech startups. As Managing Partner at investment fund Matū Group Limited, he channels his passion for investing in disruptive technologies that address some of the world’s major technical and scientific challenges. Greg is also a co-founder of innovative startups Amaea, which specialises in molecular filtration solutions, and Mekonos, a medical device company out of research from the University of Canterbury.

Brian Ryan

(Independent)

Brian is an accomplished senior executive with over 30 years of experience in innovation, corporate venture capital, and leadership. He has a proven track record of driving disruptive technologies to real-world impact, with extensive experience in the energy sector and a focus on accelerating net-zero solutions. A 2022 graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, Brian combines cutting-edge global thought leadership with hands-on expertise in leading high- performing teams and driving transformational change. He is also a dedicated non-profit board member.

Chris Hill

Venture Director, AUT Ventures

Head of the commercialisation team at AUT Ventures, Chris is passionate about helping researchers find commercial applications for their discoveries. He brings a strong commercial mindset, shaped by years of leading global teams in product engineering, design, innovation, systems engineering and sustainability.

With a background in mechanical engineering, Chris has worked in New Zealand, Europe and the US leading product development teams across automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, and marine technology.

Sean Mackay

Senior Commercialisation Manager, Massey Ventures

With a background in developing drug delivery technologies, Sean knows what it takes to bring research from the lab to the commercial market. With a PhD and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the University of Otago, he draws on his experience as a scientist, inventor and founder in his current role as Senior Commercialisation Manager at Massey Ventures. This unique perspective fuels his strong interest in the commercialisation of research, particularly in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

Sheena Thomas

Head of Commercial & Business Partnerships, GNS Science

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Sheena believes New Zealand science has the power to create zero carbon, resilient and thriving communities in Aotearoa and beyond. As Commercial and Business Partnerships Manager at GNS Science, she leads teams commercialising research and building industry partnerships to advance innovations in enewable energy, climate resilience and natural hazard risk. Before joining GNS, she led the development of Z Energy’s low-carbon fuel strategy, driving progress in hydrogen, biofuels and synthetic fuels.