Rajiv Cabraal

Rajiv is focussed on developing and driving CSIRO's enterprise-wide commercialisation strategy and leading a team of passionate people working to translate science & technology from the lab into products & services that are available in the market and deliver real world benefits. Rajiv has over 24 years of commercial, legal, and leadership experience, working with researchers, investors, and other partners to create opportunities for new start-ups, licenses, and other collaborative ventures. Rajiv has been recognised as one of Australia’s leading technology lawyers, and regularly speaks and mentors others on innovation, commercialisation, and digital disruption.

Will Charles

Will Charles has been Executive Director Investment since 2005. In the last six years alone UniServices has started, supported and invested in 43 technology-based companies that have raised nearly $1 billion million in venture and seed funding for these companies. In 2016 he founded and manages the University of Auckland Inventors Fund, a $40m evergreen fund dedicated to start-ups generated by staff and students at the University of Auckland.

Quin Chang RTTP

Quin is the current Chair of Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia Ltd and has been a Director on KCA’s board since 2018. Quin is also the Director of Enterprise Development function at La Trobe University which is responsible for the development of strategic partnerships and enterprise opportunities. Over his 20 year career, Quin has held various industry engagement and business development positions in the higher education sector as well as research and development roles in the automotive industry.Quin is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Registered Technology Transfer Professional, holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree from RMIT University and a Diploma of Project Management.

Mark Cleaver

Throughout a career in resource management, research management and commercialisation, Mark has always had a strong interest in business and in particular the role that science based business can play in supporting wider societal goals. After roles at Landcare Research and Massey University, Mark is currently the CEO of Massey Ventures Ltd, a subsidiary of the University that operates as an early stage commercialisation and venture investment business. Mark is a director of 7 portfolio companies, a founder and an active investor in technology start-ups and primary sector assets.

Stephen Flint

Stephen joined UniServices, the commercialisation company of the University of Auckland, in 2009 as Commercialisation Manager for Physical Sciences and Digital Technologies. Currently as a Director of Investments his focus is on the utilisation and management of the University of Auckland Inventors’ Fund which was established in 2016 as a pre-seed and seed stage investment fund investing in new ventures from staff and students of the University of Auckland. Previous to UniServices, Stephen was a Business Manager at the Foundation for Research Science and Technology working with New Zealand businesses seeking R&D funding support from the government. Other roles have included Finance Analyst for NZ Post’s Auckland Mail Centres as well as 4 years working in various financial roles in London. Stephen has a Masters in Science and Technology majoring in Earth Science and Oceanography for the University of Waikato.

Dr Nancy Garrity

Dr Nancy Garrity works to provide strategic leadership at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research for engagement and business growth with iwi, hapū and the Māori sector. With an interest in developing sustainable partnership practices to draw out solutions that give effect to Māori aspirations and priorities for the betterment of all Aotearoa. Previous mahi has included leading novel programmes that align scientists to work with multiple iwi and hapū entities. With a background in science leadership her interests stem from integrating mātauranga Māori based on how traditional uses might gain contemporary application.

Alan Hucks

Alan, a seasoned innovator with 20 years of experience, excels in the entrepreneurial realm. He founded and successfully exited three startups and serves as a mentor, guiding entrepreneurs in innovation methodology.

Leading business development and the incubator growth program at Creative HQ, New Zealand's top innovation training provider, he collaborated with UniServices on projects like HalolPT, acquired by Qualcomm. Alan is a dedicated advocate for science commercialisation and champions creative technologies and digital innovation, emphasising their crucial roles in New Zealand's future success.

Jimmy McLauchlan

Jimmy is responsible for the scaling-up of evidence-based social and education programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand. Jimmy’s work includes; leading the scaling of the ENGAGE self-regulation programme (funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Education to reach 2,200 early learning services), the ENRICH oral language programme for early childhood education, the Tawhaki Tātai Reo VR education programme for prison-based learners, and transitional youth housing services for teenagers who would otherwise be homeless. Jimmy works closely with university-based subject matter experts, politicians, policymakers, cultural capability partners and frontline workers to translate evidence-based intellectual property into effective social services at scale.

Tori McNoe

Tori's work centers on Māori/Indigenous pathways, focusing on indigenising Commercialisation and Investment to empower Indigenous IP and ideation. With a background in Criminal Justice and Arts (Sociology & Psychology) from the University of Canterbury, Tori is a young Māori leader passionate about integrating Indigenous youth into the innovation ecosystem. She brings experience in youth engagement and has held leadership roles, including Chair of the Canterbury Momentum Investment Committee and the first Māori Chair/President of the University of Canterbury Students Association. Tori also Chairs the Arowhenua Māori School Board, serves on the Soul Capital Board, and as a Trustee of the Science Alive! Board, fostering youth pathways in STEAM.

Ella Moffat

Ella Moffat is a Commercialisation Manager at Massey Ventures. She is three years into her career, having been an intern and Massey Ventures Student Board Observer before joining the team full-time in 2021. Ella is responsible for setting up and managing the Massey Ventures Student Investment Fund and a portfolio of projects spanning animal welfare, human health, and agritech. Recently, Ella completed a 2-month knowledge exchange based at Louisiana State University under AUTM Chair Andy Maas and Spencer Rogers, where she learned about different models and approaches to commercialisation utilized by both public and private universities across the US.

Danielle Neale

Danielle Neale is the Director of Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise at the University of Newcastle, leading collaboration between industry, government, and academia in the Hunter region. With over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital transformation, she specialises in research commercialisation. Danielle holds an MBA from UNSW AGSM and studied a Bachelor's in Biotechnology Innovation at Queensland University of Technology. As a former startup founder, board member, and coach, she has raised millions for research, driven significant cultural change, and implemented award-winning programs.

Dr Erin Rayment RTTP

Dr Erin Rayment is Vice-President (Business Development) at QUT and has over 15 years’ experience in academic research, industry engagement and commercialisation. She also holds leadership roles in organisations that support the development and growth of the Australian innovation ecosystem, including as Director at the Translational Research Institute Australia, Director at Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia, Chairperson of QUT Bluebox, and as a Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program board member. An interdisciplinary biologist with expertise in regenerative medicine, cell therapy and bioprocessing, Erin is also a Superstar of STEM, a program that aims to increase the visibility and diversity of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Her mission is to foster collaboration, innovation, and impact across disciplines and sectors.

Marc Sedam

As vice president of Technology Opportunities & Ventures, Marc Sedam is responsible for commercializing the intellectual assets across the three campuses of New York University, including its #2 ranked medical school, for one of the top performing tech transfer offices in the United States. Marc previously served on the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) board of directors from 2015 to 2016 as the vice president for professional development, responsible for AUTM’s education and training activities, and was the chair of AUTM in 2020.