2021 Awards Programme

AWARDS FINALIST'S PRESENTATIONS DAY

Tuesday 30th November 2021

9:20 am

Registration

9:30 am

Mihi whakatau - Te Aroha Grace, Figure Group - Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

9:35 am

Opening Address — James Hutchinson, CEO, KiwiNet
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 focus on the life sciences and global societal challenges.

9:40 am

Master of Ceremonies: Professor Cather Simpson
Cather is a physics/chemistry academic and entrepreneur. She is currently a professor at the University of Auckland, a joint appointment between the physics and chemistry departments. Cather is the founder of the Photon Factory laser lab at the University of Auckland and the chief science officer for two spin-off companies, Engender Technologies and Orbis Diagnostics. She is an Associate Investigator for the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies and an Emeritus Investigator for the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. She was awarded the Royal Society Te Apārangi Pickering Medal in 2019. In 2016 she won the KiwiNet Researcher Entrepreneur and Supreme Awards. Cather has a strong focus on teaching, mentoring and public outreach and is an outspoken advocate for issues of gender equality and ethics in science.

9:45 am

Momentum Student Entrepreneur Award — Finalists' Presentations
This award recognises a highly motivated university student who looks beyond the science and sees the prize - how their idea can change the world. The student is making outstanding contributions to business innovation or has created innovative businesses in New Zealand through technology licencing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support business innovation.

• Jeanette Rapson – Early Habits freeze-dried vegetable baby food - Massey University
• Luke Campbell – Millions of calls made smarter with Vxt - University of Canterbury

10:30 am

Judges evaluate this category

10:40 am

Breakthrough Innovator Award — Finalists' Presentations
This award recognises an upcoming entrepreneurial researcher who is making outstanding contributions to business innovation or is creating innovative businesses in New Zealand through technology licencing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support business innovation.

• Christopher Smith, The Mushroom Smith - Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
• Dr Shalini Divya, TasmanIon - Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington
• Dr Matheus Vargas, Orbis Diagnostics - University of Auckland
• Ged Finch,  XFrame™ PTY Limited -  Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington

11:25 am

Judges evaluate this category

11:35 am

Commercialisation Professional Award — Finalists' Presentations
This award recognises a commercialisation professional working within a New Zealand research organisation who has made a significant contribution to the commercialisation of publicly funded research.

• Alexandra Tickle – Otago Innovation Ltd
• Hamish Findlay - Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington
• Darja Pavlovic-Nelson – Plant & Food Research

12:20 pm

Judges evaluate this category

12:20 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm

Researcher Entrepreneur Award — Finalists' Presentations
This award recognises an entrepreneurial researcher who has made outstanding contributions to business innovation or has created innovative businesses in New Zealand through technology licencing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support business innovation.

• Andrea Bubendorfer – MicroMaker, Callaghan Innovation
• Prof Ian Woodhead - Lincoln Agritech
• Prof Johan Potgieter - Massey University

2:15 pm

Judges evaluate this category

2:25 pm

Commercial Impact Award - Finalists Presentations
The commercial impact award celebrates excellence in research commercialisation delivering outstanding innovation performance and the potential for generating significant economic impact for New Zealand.

• ActivLayr – Plant & Food Research and NanoLayr
• First Watch – WaikatoLink and CTEK
• Aureo®Gold - Plant & Food Research, Zespri and UPL

3:15 pm

Close of the day event - Free time until 6pm, if you’re attending the evening

AWARDS EVENING RECEPTION

Tuesday 30th November 2021

The KiwiNet Awards bring together the innovation community to celebrate today's heroes in research commercialisation and inspire more science that underpins economic growth. These awards recognise that innovation is as much about clever people and an entrepreneurial culture as it is about exciting new technologies.

6:00 pm

Mihi - Te Aroha Grace, Figure Group - Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

Opening of Event by Master of Ceremonies - Madeleine Sami
Madeleine is one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed character actors. She won an AFTA for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Comedy script at SWANZ. She also wrote and starred in the US’ ABC comedy presentation of 'Super City', then co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred in The Breaker Upperers. Madeleine has starred in a multitude of television and film productions including Taika Waititi’s Shadows, Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake, The Jaquie Brown Diaries, Sione's Wedding 1 & 2, Outrageous Fortune, Bro Town, The Insider Guide to Happiness, and Ice House.

Invited: Hon Dr Megan Woods, Minister of Research, Science and Innovation
Hon Megan Woods is a Christchurch local, and has been the Member of Parliament for Wigram since 2011. Following the 2017 election, Megan was sworn in as a Minister of the Crown with portfolio responsibilities including the Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Energy and Resources, and Research, Science and Innovation. In the 2020 Labour Government, Megan was appointed Minister of Housing, Minister of Energy and Resources, and Minister of Research, Science and Innovation, alongside Associate Minister of Finance. Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Megan worked as a Business Manager at Plant & Food Research. She holds a PhD in New Zealand history from the University of Canterbury.

Presentation of the Breakthrough Innovator Award
This award recognises an upcoming entrepreneurial researcher who is making outstanding contributions to research commercialisation in New Zealand through technology licencing, start-up creation or commercial partnerships leading to the creation of new products and/or services from publicly-funded research.

Welcome – Ngaio Merrick, Chair KiwiNet Board
Ngaio is Co-Founder of Nuance Connected Capital early stage companies provide solutions that improve the world or the way people live to go global. She also manages Sir David Levene's investment portfolio and represents the invested funds on the boards of several high tech, early stage start-ups. Ngaio had an early career in science, sales and management of technologically advanced organisations combined with later leadership and development roles provides a wide perspective on success in its many forms. She has a real passion for relationship management and her key strengths lie in relationships, strategic thinking and innovation.

Presentation of the Commercialisation Professional Award
This award recognises a commercialisation professional working within a New Zealand research organisation who has made a significant contribution to the commercialisation of publicly funded research.

Guest presentation – Shamubeel Equab
Shamubeel Eaqub is an experienced economist who makes economics easy. He is also an author, media commentator and a thought leading public speaker. He has over a decade of experience as an economist in Wellington, Melbourne and Auckland in leading international banks and consultancy. He is on various boards of charities and commercial firms. He writes books in his own time on issues that matter to New Zealand and gives voice to the unheard.

Presentation of the Researcher Entrepreneur Award
This award recognises an entrepreneurial researcher who has made outstanding contributions to business innovation or has created innovative businesses in New Zealand through technology licencing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support business innovation.

Graham Scown, Programme & Commercialisation Director, Return On Science at Auckland UniServices Limited
Graham is programme director for Return On Science, which focuses on bringing new research to market from universities, research institutions, and private companies. Return on Science services include:

• a full commercialisation programme
• investors and entrepreneurs
• industry connectivity and engagement and top-tier expert panel advice

Presentation of the Momentum Student Entrepreneur Award
The award recognises a highly motivated New Zealand university student who has made significant progress developing an idea that can change the world. This student is making outstanding contributions to commercialisation and innovation or has created an innovative business in New Zealand through technology licensing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support innovation.

Presentation of the Commercial Impact Award
The Commercial Impact award celebrates excellence in research commercialisation delivering outstanding innovation performance and the potential for generating significant economic impact for New Zealand.

James Hutchinson, CEO, KiwiNet
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 focus on the life sciences and global societal challenges.

Presentation of the Commercialisation Icon Award
This is KiwiNet’s highest honour given to a quintessential champion of New Zealand’s research commercialisation community. This individual has a high level of aspiration for research commercialisation as a catalyst to deliver prosperity for all. This is demonstrated by their unwavering commitment to substantially advancing the cause and activity of commercialisation of publicly funded research within New Zealand. Their body of work has made an outstanding impact on the research commercialisation ecosystem.

7:30 pm

Close of formalities