Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
At the Bioeconomy Science Institute, our efforts in bioproducts and biomanufacturing are not only advancing the circular bioeconomy but also stimulating economic growth and creating high-value exports. We are enabling substantial infrastructure investments, including biorefineries, and drive sustainable GDP growth. Our technology is also underpinning significant reduction in CO2 emissions, aligning with New Zealand's environmental goals. As an Honorary Professor, I contribute to shaping future leaders in engineering and science, reinforcing Scion's vision for a robust and sustainable future. Our mission involves not just harnessing our natural resources but also nurturing the talent that will sustain our industry's evolution.
General Manager | Bioeconomy Science Institute | Leading the shift from petrochemicals to sustainable, bio-based products As General Manager at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, I provide strategic leadership across portfolios that accelerate the transition from petrochemicals and non‑sustainable materials/energy to sustainable, bio‑based products and business opportunities. My focus is turning New Zealand’s natural competitive advantage—sustainably grown biomass—into biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and bioenergy business opportunities that deliver measurable impact. I build partnerships and lead portfolios that: ---Accelerate economic growth, productivity, and high‑value jobs, while expanding high‑value exports ---Enable investment in new infrastructure, including biorefineries or biomanufacturing businesses ---Drive sustainable GDP growth across both established and emerging companies ---Deploy technology solutions that significantly reduce CO₂ emissions ---Substitute fossil feedstocks with sustainable alternatives for energy and materials ---Create new regional and high value jobs that power an advanced bioeconomy in New Zealand and globally If you’re exploring collaboration, investment, or commercialization in biotech, biomanufacturing, bioenergy, or biorefineries, let’s connect.
School of Engineering within the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science.
Executive leadership for Scion’s impact areas to accelerate science, technology and innovation for a productive, prosperous and resilient low-carbon economy, supporting highvalue jobs and exports. Leading our dynamic teams in driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of innovation, strategic growth and efficiency during a challenging transition time.
Executive leadership for Scion’s portfolios and impact delivery around replacing petrochemicals and non-sustainable materials/energy with sustainable products. Success will result in turning New Zealand’s natural competitive advantage - growing sustainable biomass – into biotechnology, biomanufacturing and bioenergy driven business opportunities. Our partnerships will accelerate economic growth, productivity, high value jobs and new high value export products. --Enabling investment in new infrastructure, including 3 biorefineries, one of which is Maori owned --$20 billion sustainable GDP growth driven through existing and new companies --Reduce CO2-eq emissions by 10 MT --Substituting 300 million litres of fossil feedstock with alternatives for the production of sustainable energy and materials --Generate 2,500 new regional jobs which support the circular bioeconomy
---Executive leadership for and management of Scion’s Science Services group in collaboration with the Impact Area General Managers. ---To ensure that Scion employs and/or develops the required Science and Engineering capabilities and capacity, supported by the required resources and collaborations, to meet current operational equirements and develop future Science and Engineering capabilities to meet strategic objectives including achieving this through national and international partnerships. ---To ensure good research quality in any field including engineering, scientific and kaupapa Māori mahi.
At VITO I worked at the interface of interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial science development, facilitating the transfer of our innovative technology to industry. Co-Initiator/founder of “Biorizon” – Shared Research Centre for Bioaromatics (together with TNO) which includes: o Drafting and negotiation of the collaboration contract o Marketing and Communication – webpage, brandname, and corporate identity o Acquisition of partners/customers – establishing a global network in the area of biobased chemicals and polymers o Research and funding strategy setting Development, communication and implementation of science vision and strategy for the business unit (together with research leaders - within the VITO context – specifically for biobased products, CO2 to chemicals and algae) Aligning the delivery of financial goals within the business unit with the need for high quality science Identification of new interdisciplinary/intersectorial science opportunities and alignment of required teams within VITO Representing VITO on regional, European and global level on the topic of “bioeconomy” – specifically biotechnology, bioaromatics and biobased products Development of a long term (5 years) IP strategy for the VITO IP cluster “Electrodes and Electrode application” – collaborative with VITO’s IP manager Development and implementation of portfolio management within the business unit – prioritization of research areas and resource allocations General business development and commercial responsibility for five research areas within VITO which includes: o Market analysis – advise on research strategy o Monitoring the delivery of agreed upon tasks (quality, time and budget) o Acquisition of customers and research partners o Identifying, enabling and negotiating contracts/research funding (bilateral and Flemish/EU consortia - total volume 800k/pa) o Identification and protection of potential IP
Responsibilities: Line and project manager for research staff (leading teams of organic chemists in multidisciplinary projects, resource allocation, science direction setting, annual performance evaluations, career planning and career development). CMSE Postdoc coordinator (implementation and development of a postdoc “Learning and Development” program). Development of new technologies in interdisciplinary research projects and science consultation during technology transfer of early stage R&D to commercial partners. Development of intellectual property and IP strategies; drafting of patents (co-inventor/author of 12 PCT applications over the last six years). Market analysis, development of commercialization strategies and liaising with customers and collaborators (contributions to secure AUD$ 3.1 M of initial funding for a start-up company). Drafting of internal and external research proposals, securing of research capital through various funding sources. Drafting of several commercial, due diligence and client reports to introduced newly developed technology to Asian, European and US companies. Drafting of scientific publications and scientific presentations at national and international conferences (Asia and North America). Projects: Commercialisation of a novel drug-polymer conjugate technology through the formation of a start-up company (Securing of ARC and NHMRC grants – Australian research funds). Scientific consultations to secure venture capitalists and international collaborators to fully capitalize a start-up company. Development of new technologies for the production of chemicals and polymers from sustainably produced biomass. Development of novel light weight material for ballistic protection and self-healing materials. Development of continuous flow processes for the production of block-copolymers. Consultancy for the Australian government to develop a value chain for sustainably manufactured chemicals and polymers.
Projects: Development of new technologies for the production of chemicals and polymers from plant oils (modifiers for the most common bio-derived polymers: PLA, PHB and Nylon). Development and optimisation of large-scale syntheses, with emphasis on the balance between environmentally friendly and cost-effective processes. Development of strategies for the combined chemical and biocatalytic synthesis of novel molecules (monomers). Leader of an organic/medicinal chemistry team responsible for the development of a novel drug–polymer conjugate technology (a method for achieving high loadings of releasable drugs using a degradable polymer carrier).
Responsibilities: Coordination of interdisciplinary research projects (organic chemistry, polymer science, biocatalysis, genetic engineering, surface science). Creating of intellectual property and drafting of patents in collaboration with patent lawyers. Presentations at national and international conferences (Asia and North America). Projects: Development of suitable and scalable synthetic pathways and purification techniques for the production of saturated saturated and unsaturated 2-hydroxy acids, symmetric cyclic di-ester (lactides) of 2-hydroxy fatty acids, asymmetric or mixed cyclic di-ester (mixed-lactides) of 2-hydroxy fatty acids, oligolactones (cyclic ester) of ricinoleic acid and lactones of omega-hydroxy acids. Development of suitable and scalable synthetic pathways and purification techniques for diol capped saturated and unsaturated 2-hydroxy acids. 2-hydroxy acids and alcohol capped 2- hydroxy acids as useful monomers and modifiers for polyurethanes. Development of two novel classes of 2-hydroxylated polyacetylenic fatty acids. The first class of novel compounds - diyne substituted 2-hydroxy-acids - can be used in the development of radiation detectors, biosensors time/temperature indicators. The second class of novel fatty acids - polyacetylene substituted 2-hydroxy acids – displays activity against microbes of clinical importance.