Our Team
At KiwiNet, we recognise the unsung heroes: researchers, commercialisation professionals, and investors – the driving forces behind groundbreaking ideas that transform into global success stories.
Behind every innovation that shapes the future, there is a passionate, science-driven team, and we are honoured to be a part of this collective endeavour.
Today’s innovation landscape is fiercely competitive, and securing grant funding is an uphill battle. Many brilliant researchers find their transformative ideas overlooked, their potential untapped.
This is where we come in. We provide guidance, support, and expertise to help you commercialise your groundbreaking ideas effectively. Through our collective knowledge and unwavering enthusiasm, we empower you to make a genuine impact on the world and advance your career.
Let us be your champions on this exciting journey of innovation and discovery.
The KiwiNet Team
A collaborative effort from a range of awesome individuals
James Hutchinson
May Low
Glen Beattie
Seumas McCroskery
Kate Webby
Lindsay Clark
Dylan Watson
Alan Hucks
Mindy Wu
Matt McKevitt
James Hutchinson
CEO
James is passionate about the important role that science and the scientific community have to play in growing our economy into new high-tech and knowledge-based sectors, informing public policy and in changing our world for the better.
James has experience in supporting research & innovation in the UK and internationally with a particular focus on the life sciences and global societal challenges. He led a team of highly-knowledgeable programme specialists to develop and implement a programme of science policy, advocacy, networking, conferences, workshops and other initiatives, working in close partnership with the international chemical science community. He is an experienced project leader who has a strong track record of working with government, industry and academia at senior levels.
James is a Junior Policy Fellow of the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) at the University of Cambridge, UK, having authored over 20 pieces of science policy covering strategic reports, government consultation responses and position statements. He led a successful campaign to the UK Government in 2013, on behalf of the broader chemical science community, to protect public investment in science, and has participated in several advisory groups and expert panels to government bodies and NGOs.
May Low
Chief Operating Officer
May helps manage the Investment Committee and Board meetings as well as assisting New Zealand publicly funded research organisations to assess the commercial potential of their technologies and expertise. May also helps maintain KiwiNet’s financial obligations.
May has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law and a Bachelor of Science majoring in Logic and Computation. Prior to starting at KiwiNet, May worked for BDO and PwC with experience in auditing, financial reporting, management accounting and tax compliance.
Glen Beattie
Commercialisation & Investment Advisor
glen@kiwinet.org.nz
LinkedIn
+64 21 340 096
Glen Beattie provides KiwiNet with commercialisation management services. Glen has a background in a number of sectors, which including consulting, M&A and investment services. Glen was also the founding director of a company that helps start up and early stage companies develop growth strategies, become investment ready, and raise capital. Glen holds a MSc in Earth Science from the University of Waikato.
Seumas McCroskery
Stakeholder Relations Lead
seumas@kiwinet.org.nz
LinkedIn
As Stakeholder Relations Lead, Seumas works to build and maintain strong relationships with tech transfer offices and commercialisation teams, ensuring they receive the support they need from KiwiNet. He also leads KiwiNet’s Emerging Innovator Programme, helping entrepreneurial researchers find pathways for their science to make a difference. With a PhD in Molecular Pathology, Seumas brings extensive experience in business opportunity assessment, deep tech commercialisation, and environmental impact assessment. His background includes senior advisory roles in government and academia, where he developed a deep understanding of translating research into real-world impact.
Kate Webby
Marketing and Communications Manager
kwebby@kiwinet.org.nz
LinkedIn
+64 21 0845 2975
Kate is a dynamic marketing and PR professional dedicated to elevating brands globally. With a passion for storytelling, she crafts compelling narratives for diverse organizations, from tech startups to multinational corporations. Kate excels in executing strategic PR campaigns across major markets. Her expertise spans communications strategy, reputation management, corporate communications, and content development. Having worked across the UK, US, NZ, Australia, Germany, France, and Singapore, Kate brings a wealth of experience in channelling brand narratives with personality and precision, ensuring impactful and resonant communication strategies.
Lindsay Clark
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Lindsay.Clark@kiwinet.org.nz
+64 21 0300 455
Lindsay brings over a decade of experience in communications ranging from public relations to copywriting, events and corporate communications. Passionate about storytelling, she excels in crafting and executing impactful strategies, creating content for diverse channels and audiences, and nurturing community connections. Having once left communications for different pastures, she quickly realised there's no place she'd rather be than telling great stories and connecting people through her work.
Dylan Watson
Pipeline & Portfolio Lead
Dylan plays a key role in managing the PreSeed Accelerator Fund, serving as KiwiNet’s go-to expert on applications, eligibility, reporting, and the funding process. With a legal background and a keen interest in research commercialisation and intellectual property law, he brings a strong regulatory and compliance perspective to KiwiNet's operations.
Dylan also coordinates KiwiNet’s Investment and Pipeline Committees and supports projects as they progress through commercialisation stages, connecting them with the Spin-out Programme and talent grid when needed. His expertise in data tracking and analysis provides valuable insights that help refine strategy and demonstrate KiwiNet’s impact.
Alan Hucks
Ecosystem & Commercialisation Development Lead
alan@kiwinet.org.nz
LinkedIn
+64 27 221 8883
A firm believer in the transformative power of innovation, Alan works across the commercialisation ecosystem to identify and advance opportunities with real-world impact. An experienced entrepreneur and business development leader, he has successfully founded and exited three startups and helped navigate early-stage innovations to market.
Before joining KiwiNet, Alan led business development and the incubator growth programme at Creative HQ and collaborated with UniServices on projects like HaloIPT, later acquired by Qualcomm. As Ecosystem & Commercialisation Development Lead, he works with commercialisation teams, industry and ecosystem partners to build a strong pipeline of projects, provide expert commercialisation advice and align opportunities with market needs.
Mindy Wu
Finance Manager
Mindy, a seasoned auditor and group accountant, boasts a robust history in both public and private sectors. Proficient in International Accounting Standards, auditing, and financial accounting, she passionately offers independent consultancy services. Dedicated to the success of small to medium businesses, Mindy excels in financial planning, strategic direction setting, costing reviews, and process improvements. A proud graduate of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, she remains committed to driving financial excellence and fostering business growth.
Matt McKevitt
Venture Lead
Matt is a seasoned strategy consultant, operations executive, entrepreneur and mentor with a rich background in founding and growing businesses across diverse industries in New Zealand and abroad. After training as a doctor, Matt traded his stethoscope for strategy and consultancy, holding senior roles with L.E.K. Consulting, NZTE and Polis. Matt’s deep tech expertise includes co-leading a UK-based medical device and pharmaceutical company with operations in the US and EU to a nine-figure valuation. Before joining KiwiNet as Venture Lead, he mentored participants in the Emerging Innovator and Spin-out Programmes and is an active angel investor. His strategic mindset, analytical prowess and strong stakeholder engagement skills make him the ideal fit for this role.