2022 Awards Judges

Andrew Turnbull - Director, Advisor and Business Owner

2022 KiwiNet Awards judging panel convenor

As a former Director of KiwiNet and Chairman of the KiwiNet Investment Committee for nearly 11 years, Andrew has a deep understanding of the challenges inherent in research commercialisation and the tremendous impacts it can deliver.

Having trained as a Chemical and Process Engineer and spending 12 years in Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industries in the UK, Andrew's experience spans manufacturing, engineering, business development and R&D. He has been actively involved in early-stage technology businesses as an investor, advisor and entrepreneur. Andrew is a director and shareholder in Kayasand (A company with novel technology for the manufacture of sand from quarry waste streams), APD (New Zealand's leading plastic fabrication company). He is also Executive Chairman for NanoLayr, a deep tech nano-fibre development and manufacturing company.

Imche Fourie – CEO, Outset Ventures

Imche works on the intersection of deep technology and venture capital and is passionate about backing inquisitive people with visions of impact. As the founding CEO, she is building Outset Ventures to be the largest science and engineering venture hub in Aotearoa.

She aims to build our deep technology sector with long-term goals and inclusivity in mind, and does so through her work at BioTechNZ, on the EMA board, and on a Callaghan Innovation board subcommittee. She is also a founding member of several organisations aimed at getting young people involved with investment and governance. Curiosity and community sit at the heart of everything she does.

Katherine Sandford – Executive Chair, UBCO Utility Electric Vehicles

Katherine is a scale and growth specialist, having learnt her craft at global industrial technology company Trimble, working her way up the organisation and assisting to take the company to $2.3B in revenue. Having worked in the US and Europe she now chooses NZ as her base. Katherine has been involved in the NZ tech scene as an investor, an executive, mentor and a Director. She’s passionate about the environment and the role of technology in making the world a better place.

Tori McNoe - Programme Manager | Return On Science - Momentum

Te Arawa / Ngāti Tahu - Ngāti Whaoa

Tori is based in Ōtautahi Christchurch and works in the Momentum & Return On Science Programme as a Programme Manager. She has a background in Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice & Governance.

Tori is passionate about how young people fit into the innovation ecosystem, with experience bringing rangatahi to this space. She serves on MBIE’s Canterbury Regional Skills Leadership Group, was the first Wahine Māori Chair/President of the University of Canterbury Students’ Association, Chairs the Canterbury Momentum Investment Committee, was the COO of Entre at the University of Canterbury, and helps to create pathways for youth in STEM as a Trustee of the Science Alive! Board. Tori has been named on the founding ‘Top Diverse Directors List’ established by the Ministry for Ethnic Communities and Superdiversity Institute and was a finalist in the Women of Influence Awards - Young Leader in 2020.

Through everything she does, and with her whānau and whakapapa in mind, she aims to serve her vested interest in rangatahi, governance, and how the two spaces merge in the innovation ecosystem intergenerationally.