Investment Interns
Current Interns
Melbourne
Ina Sambor PhD GCCRS
Ina has extensive national and international experience in both the information technology and natural sciences research sectors. Ina completed a PhD in free radical chemistry from The University of Melbourne and Graduate Certificate of Commercialization (GCCRS) from the Melbourne Business School. Prior to undertaking her PhD Ina worked in the USA and Israel providing performance improvement automation solutions for healthcare and not-for-profit organizations. Ina was involved in the Young Achievement Australia Biotechnology Entrepreneur Program as both, a PR Director of Yabbipharm, in which she achieved a nation-wide exposure for the company through a creative PR campaign, and as a mentor to a team from Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, which under her mentorship won the Bio21 BEP™ Innovative Product Award and the Mentors Marketing Initiative Award.
Elena Toh PhD GCCRS
Elena completed a PhD in Peptide Biochemistry from the Oral Health CRC/University of Melbourne and a Graduate Certificate in Commercialisation for Research Students (GCCRS) from the Melbourne Business School. Elena was awarded numerous awards and scholarships throughout her PhD and GCCRS years, including the Victorian Division 2009 GSK-Student Excellence Awards, the ANZ Division 2009 IADR Colgate Travel Awards and received the Dean’s Commendation for a subject in GCCRS. She was involved in the Young Achievement Australia Biotechnology Entrepreneur Program, in which her team was awarded the Bio21 BEP™ Innovative Product Award and Mentors Marketing Initiative Award for their company Scyagenics Ltd. She is also a member of AusBiotech.
Katrina Sorocos BBiotech(Hons) MBus(S&T)
Katrina holds a Bachelor of Biotechnology with Honours (1st Class) from Monash University, specialising in Immunology and Developmental Biology, and received the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology top Honours student prize for 2009. Katrina has also completed a Masters of Business (Science and Technology) from Monash University, earning an inclusion on the Dean's Commendation List for 2010 for her overall results and was awarded 2nd place in the National Australia Bank Science in Business Awards for her commercialisation project on Nexpep Pty. Ltd., an early stage biotechnology company. Katrina is also a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and AusBiotech.
Adelaide
Antoine Larchez PhD M.Eng
Antoine completed a PhD involving adaptive predictive control, signal processing and mechatronics from the University of Wollongong. He has expertise in power systems and has been working as a consultant on major engineering projects for international engineering consultancies. He has additional background in micro-electronics, microprocessor design, communications, computer science and takes a hands-on approach to all forms of electrical and IT work. In 2005, Antoine was involved in the Young Achievement Australia Entrepreneur Program as Sales Director. He received several awards including winner for the Trailblazer invention competition after inventing and pitching a water saving device in 2007. He also received the Judge’s choice Award in the Innovation Idol competition for 2007. He has a competent communicator and competent leader award from Toastmasters international and received several awards for his technical presentations.
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Past Interns
Melbourne
Louise Wong BSc
Louise has managed human clinical drug trials for the last three years at Quintiles East Asia. Prior to her role at Quintiles, Louise worked in commercialisation at Exploit Technologies (Singapore), the commercialisation arm of A*STAR (Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research), where she steered the development of a brain imaging technology towards stroke diagnosis and care. Louise has a BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (University of Melbourne). Louise is currently employed at Syngenta in Singpore and is pursuing a Law Degree at Monash University.
Kristian Jones PhD MBus(S&T) - (Melbourne)
Kristian has 10 years experience in life Science research. This includes 3 years at Cancer Research UK as an NH&MRC CJ Martin Postdoctoral Fellow working on the regulation of immune cells and 2 years on adult tissue stem cells in immune disease models at Monash University. Kristian holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours - First Class), a PhD in inflammatory Pathways and a Masters of Business (Science & Technology) from Monash University. Kristian is now a Medical Science Laision Officer with Boheringer Ingelheim in Sydney.
Lily Chisholm BSc(Hons) MBus(S&T) - (Melbourne)
Lily joined the TTCF team in April 2009. Lily holds a Bachelors of Science degree with Honours (1st Class) from the Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne and also recently completed a Masters of Business (Commercialising Science & Technology) from the Monash University Graduate School of Business. Lily finished as the top student in her business studies class making the Dean’s ‘Honour List’ and was a recipient of the NAB Capital Science in Business award for her business development role in the commercialisation of technology originating from Monash University. Lily is now a Project Officer with the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Research Infrastructure) at Monash University. Part of her role is Business Development in the coordination of the establishment of the new Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute (modi) led by VESKI fellow, Professor Michael Cowley.
Nada Abubakr ME, Btech(Hons) - (Melbourne)
Nada joined TTCF in April 2009. Nada holds a Bachelor of Biotechnology (1st Class) from the University of Auckland. Nada also completed a Masters of Chemical Engineering with a Graduate Certificate Scholarship in Commercialisation Research from Monash University. Nada has previously worked as an intern with the Industry, Engagement & Commercialisation office at Monash University and as a patent examiner in the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand where she developed strong patent searching skills in addition to an in depth understanding of patent law in Australia and New Zealand. Nada is a Business Development Associate at UoM Commercial Ltd. (Melbourne Ventures), the commercialisation company of the University of Melbourne.
Adelaide
Victoria Kopetz BHlthSc(Hons), GCertSc&TComm
Victoria holds a Bachelor of Health Science with Honours (1st Class) from the University of Adelaide, specialising in Microbiology, Immunology and Human Physiology and was the top ranked Honours graduate in the Discipline of Medicine for 2005. While completing her PhD in Cardiovascular Medicine, Victoria completed a Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Commercialisation at the University of Adelaide. In addition, Victoria gained hands on experience at ITEK performing early due diligence work on potential commercial projects. Victoria is a member of the South Australian Branch of the AusBiotech Committee. Victoria is now a member of the R&D tax advisory team at PWC.
Ben Longstaff B.E(Mecht), M.Sc&TComm
Ben holds a Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering with Honours (1st Class) and a Master of Science and Technology Commercialisation from Adelaide University. In 2006, Ben's team won Adelaide University's Entrepreneur's Challenge and was first runner up in the John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge. In the same year Ben co-founded a start-up to develop a vine pruning robot. In 2007 he was awarded the Premiers Enterprise Scholarship. In 2008 he co-founded and raised seed capital from Angel investors to build Facebook Applications. In 2010 he worked on a video game engine as a Software Engineer at the start-up Run With Robots. Later in 2010, Ben took a role as lead Software Engineer on a Capability and Technology Demonstrator project for an image search engine at the Australian Centre for Visual Technologies. He is now a programmer with Venture backed start-up company 'Chirpme' in San Francisco.
Ty Yengi MBA M.Sc&TComm - (Adelaide)
Prior to joining TTCF, Ty worked as an entrepreneur acting in management roles of several start-up companies as well as consulting to SME’s. His responsibilities ranged from Managing Director to leading the finance and operations, business development and client engagement/management with these enterprises. Ty holds an MBA (University of South Australia) and a Master of Science and Technology Commercialisation (University of Adelaide) where he graduated at the top of his class, and in 2008 won Australia’s National John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge. Ty was appointed as an Investment Manager at TTCF in Adelaide.
Masako Amemyia BCom BSc - (Adelaide)
Masako joined TTCF's Adelaide team in May 2009 following the completion of a Bachelor of Commerce (Management) & Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry, Chemistry) at the University of Adelaide in 2008. Masako also completed Research Scholarships in Oenology and Reproductive Health at the University of Adelaide where she developed research and analytical skills and an attention to detail, whilst gaining valuable commercial insights into the applications of research activities. Masako is now a Commercialisation Analyst at ITEK.
Ashlee Van der Heyden BSc, MBioEnt - (Auckland)
Ashlee holds a Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences and Pharmacology) and a Masters of Bioscience Enterprise (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland. Prior to her role with the TTCF, Ashlee gained experience in university technology transfer at Auckland UniServices Ltd, most recently as their Technology Development Intern. Ashlee was amember of the advisory board for the Bioscience Enterprise programme. Ashlee is currently based in London working with Cancer Research UK.
