Investment Committee
TTCF operates with a collaborative structure, whereby all member universities play an active role and are closely involved in the funds activities.
The TTCF Investment Committee comprises representatives from the commercial arms of each of the TTCF member universities, combining an array of sophisticated technical and commercial skills with experience in identifying and developing technologies that will create value.
| IC Member | Commercialisation Office (University) | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Will Charles | UniServices Ltd. (The University of Auckland) | Director Commercialisation |
| Dr. Alastair Hick | Monash University | Director Commercialisation |
| Professor Rod Hill | Monash University | Pro Vice Chancellor- Industry Engagement & Commercialisation |
| Dr. Pat Kelly | Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty. Ltd. (The University of Adelaide) | Deputy Director |
| Mr. Peter Lee | UniServices Ltd. (The University of Auckland) | CEO |
| Dr. Sinead O'Connell | Flinders Partners Pty. Ltd. (Flinders University) | Principal |
| Dr. Stephen Rodda | ITEK Pty. Ltd. (The University of South Australia) | CEO |
| Mr. Paul Cheever | Commercial Observer |
Mr. Will Charles
Will Charles is the Director of Commercialisation at Auckland Uniservices. He brings to the TTCF extensive commercial experience in life science businesses in Europe, Asia and New Zealand where he has held executive positions at GlaxoSmithKline, Roche and Celltech. Most recently, Will was the Head of Business Unit, Primary Care for Novartis Korea.
Dr Alastair Hick
Alastair Hick is Director Commercialisation in the Industry Engagement and Commercialisation group at Monash University. Following ten years as a research scientist in the UK he has spent ten years involved in commercialisation of technologies from Universities and Research Institutes around the world. He spent three years at Plant Bioscience Ltd, an independent technology transfer company managing technologies in plant and microbial science and then four years at Cambridge Enterprise at the University of Cambridge. There he was Head of Life Sciences, responsible for commercialisation of all technologies in the life and medical science areas. Since arriving in Australia he has worked at Monash University where he has a played a key role in building the Industry Engagement and Commercialisation Group. He had considerable deal making and negotiating experience, and has lectured on aspects of technology transfer for UnicoPraxis in the UK and Australia. In 2009 he was elected as a Vice Chair of Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia. Dr Hick has a BSc in Chemistry with Biochemistry from the University of Southampton, a PhD in Chemical Ecology from the Open University and an MBA from the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge.
Professor Rod Hill
Rod Hill is the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Industry Engagement and Commercialisation, at Monash University. Rod oversees the University’s business development, technology transfer, and intellectual property management and commercialisation activities. Prior to this role, Professor Hill was the Group Executive for CSIRO’s Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals (MMM) Group of Divisions. The MMM Group contains the core of CSIRO’s research focus in the materials, manufacturing, minerals, mining, chemicals and health sectors. Professor Hill held previous roles at CSIRO overseeing its Corporate Business Development function. He has published more than 100 papers in the scientific literature and the mineral Hillite was named after him in 2003. Rod was awarded a Doctor of Science from the University of Adelaide for his contributions to crystal chemistry (1991) and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr. Pat Kelly
Dr Kelly is a physicist with over 20 years of experience in research, development and commercialisation. Pat graduated from the University of Dublin (Trinity College) with a B.A. (Mod.) in Experimental Physics and a Ph.D. in Surface Physics using Nonlinear Optical Techniques. He has directed research in the area of photonics and authored more than 10 patents and 60 publications. He was a co-founder of two spin-out companies, Optical Metrology Innovations Ltd. (OMI), and Nanocomms Ltd. (now Biosensia Ltd.). During his time with OMI, Pat's skills were applied to the roles of Chief Technology Officer, Chief Scientist, sales and marketing executive and Director of the company. He was responsible for the introduction of new technology from the universities, new product development and new applications development. He is also experienced in the financial aspects of business planning and company formation for start-ups, and has an in depth understanding of the management of technical relationships with multinational companies worldwide.
Dr. Peter Lee
Peter Lee was appointed CEO of Auckland UniServices in 2003. Prior to joining UniServices Peter had spent the majority of his career in the United States where he held executive positions with the $US30 billion International Paper Company. His roles included Global Director of New Product and Process Development (1988) and Vice President, Corporate Research and Product Development (1995). Peter has a PhD in Chemical and Materials Engineering from The University of Auckland.
Dr. Sinead O'Connell
Sinead is a Principal at Flinders Partners Pty Ltd, where she heads up their Faculty of Health Sciences team. Following nine years as a research scientist, four of those in the US, Sinead’s previous role was as Head of Agricultural Research at the University of Oxford spin-out company, Oxitec Ltd. There she was responsible for the research and development of the company’s agricultural programs, with a strong focus on the application of Oxitec’s novel technology in the field and with end users. Sinead has a BSc with Honours in Genetics and a PhD in Developmental Genetics from the University of Adelaide.
Dr. Stephen Rodda
Stephen is Chief Executive of ITEK. He previously held dual roles as Business Development Director at Bio Innovation SA and Senior Investment Manager at venture capital firm Terra Rossa Capital Pty Ltd. He was educated at the University of Adelaide gaining a first class honours degree, a PhD in Biochemistry and was awarded the University Medal. Subsequently he was awarded the prestigious CJ Martin and Arthritis Foundation fellowships for a post doctorial position at Harvard University. Stephen has a successful track record in attracting grant funding, numerous publications in high-impact peer reviewed journals and has generated patentable innovations for commercialisation. He has been actively involved in technology commercialisation at every stage of the process including implementation of technology development and intellectual property (IP) strategies, capital raisings and has performed executive management roles in early stage companies.
Mr. Paul Cheever
Paul Cheever has worked in the finance and investment industries for over 37 years. During the 1970s, he was involved with many of the innovative developments in Australia’s financial markets, including the development of the bill market, new underwriting techniques for semi-government authorities, the introduction of promissory notes and currency swaps and the transition to de-regulated markets for government securities. During the 1980’s he held senior finance roles with two top twenty Australian listed companies. For the past 18 years Paul has had a high profile in the superannuation and investment industry, first as a Director of IPAC Securities Limited, then as Director of Consulting and Managing Director of Frank Russell Australia and followed by the establishment in 1996 of his own business, PlanPerform, a business planning and project management company. In 2000 he joined Access Capital Advisers in order to return to the investment business, where he has dealt with portfolio strategy, risk management, private equity and hedge funds. Paul previously served as Chair of ASFA’s Best Practice Committee. Paul has been heavily involved in venture capital on behalf of Access Capital Advisers’ clients over the past 8 years, evaluating venture managers, designing and executing a venture co-investment program and building commercialisation relationships. He is recognised as the designer of today’s new Commercialisation Funds. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington & Lee University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and is a Fellow of FINSA.
