MARK CLEAVER

Chief Executive Officer, Massey Ventures Ltd

m.cleaver@masseyventures.co.nz | +64 27 279 2585

Mark is the former Director of Business Development and Commercialisation at Massey University. Prior to joining Massey University in 2008, Mark spent 10 years with Crown Research Institute Landcare Research in a range of roles from Science General Manager to Operations Manager and Chief Operating Officer – Commercialisation. Mark has a particular interest in innovation and the commercialisation of research and has helped establish a number of new companies. In 2005 he co-founded his own business Aero Sports Protection Ltd, a sports equipment manufacturing and distribution business. 

RUSSELL WILSON

Commercialisation and Intellectual Property Manager

R.Wilson@massey.ac.nz | +64 6 356 9099 | extn 83212

Russell is the Commercialisation and IP Manager at Massey University. Prior to joining Massey in 2010, Russell spent 25 years working in the NZ dairy industry in a range of research and development roles ranging from research scientist through to R&D management. Russell has a strong interest in the commercialisation of research, particularly in the food and agritech space, and the financial analysis associated with both the commercialisation and operation of the MVL portfolio.

Rick Gain

Senior Strategic Commercialisation Advisor

R.Gain@massey.ac.nz | +64 6 356 9099 | extn 86324

Rick is an experienced Business Advisor with over 25 years experience in large corporate environments both here in NZ and overseas . His last international corporate role was VP-Commercial Development, Asia Pacific for GSK (GlaxoSmithKline). Recently, Rick has successfully closed two substantial international IP agreements for NZ organisations. Rick brings valuable experience and expertise in business commercialisation, business valuations and contract negotiations.

Sean Mackay

Senior Commercialisation Manager

S.Mackay@massey.ac.nz

Sean is a Senior Commercialisation Manager at Massey University. Prior to Massey he completed a PhD and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Otago developing drug delivery technologies for the treatment of disfiguring strawberry birthmarks and neurological disorders. He has received support from the Kiwinet Emerging Innovator Fund, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, and the Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge. Sean has a strong interest in the commercialisation of research, particularly in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical space, and is an advisor to multiple biotechnology and life science companies.

Marina Rajič

Commercialisation Manager

m.rajic@masseyventures.co.nz |

Marina joined Massey Ventures Ltd in 2018 while doing a PhD at Massey University in Palmerston North. In 2013 Marina graduated from the University of Novi Sad as MEng in Pharmaceutical Engineering after which she worked in the industry as a Technology Engineer. In 2015 Marina moved to New Zealand to do research in bio-nanotechnology for immunotherapy and diagnostics, where she developed a particular interest in biotech ventures and science commercialisation. Marina has been an active member of the Maurice Wilkins Centre ECR Committee, Momentum Investment Committee, and Return On Science Biotech and Pharma Investment Committee. Her roles at MVL include post-disclosure valuation, RoS and KiwiNet engagements, MVL portfolio reviews, relationship management with key stakeholders, and industry engagement. Marina is also involved in establishing the Manawatu Momentum Investment Committee and creating the project pipeline.

Conor McLean

Commercialisation Manager

C.Mclean@massey.ac.nz | +64 6 356 9099 | extn 83213

Conor is a Junior Commercialisation Manager at Massey University and Massey Ventures. His interests include working alongside entrepreneurial students and academics within the University to provide support and opportunity to grow their ideas and increase the impact of their research through commercialisation.

Dan Carlisle

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

D.Carlisle@massey.ac.nz | | +64 6 356 9099 | extn 83974

Dan is postgraduate student at Massey University, studying a PhD in Marketing and manages Massey Ventures' marketing and communications. Prior to joining Massey Ventures, Dan was a research associate Consumer Insights Ltd and has experience in market research, brand performance metrics, and marketing communications.

TERRY ALLEN

Chairman

Terry is currently a Trade Commissioner for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Prior to joining NZTE he was the managing director of Allen Strategic, a company he founded specialising in the provision of governance, strategy and execution services at board and executive level. Terry has 20 years’ experience in the wider ICT industry, during which he has held senior roles in multinational technology companies, including 12 years with Microsoft New Zealand. He also ran the incubation business for Auckland University's Icehouse incubator for two years, focusing on business growth strategy, business start-ups, commercialisation and company governance. Terry holds a number of directorships and is currently on the board of Serato, Theta Systems, Massey Ventures Ltd and MPA Limited.

GISELLE BYRNES

Director

Professor Giselle Byrnes brings to the Board senior management experience in universities in Australia and in New Zealand and a broad knowledge of governance across the higher education and community sectors. Giselle is an internationally recognised historian and joined Massey in early 2016. She brings a particular expertise in academic governance and accountability and in the performing arts boards and governance sector. Professor Byrnes has been Fulbright scholar teaching New Zealand Studies at Georgetown University, Washington DC, and has served as President of the New Zealand Historical Association. She has a commitment to advancing the agenda around equity and access to higher education and is a strong advocate of the critical role played by modern universities in creating social, cultural and intellectual capital for public benefit and economic wellbeing.

ANDREW LEWIS

Director

Andrew is currently lead partner at Auckland based Andrew Lewis Law. Andrew has 15 years' of partner level experience at leading New Zealand and international firms (12 years as a corporate partner at Simpson Grierson in Auckland and three years as a corporate partner at Norton Rose Group in Dubai). He has led major transactions including mergers and acquisitions, investment transactions, capital raisings and funds, joint ventures and supply and distribution arrangements. In many cases these transactions cross international borders with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions.

CATHY MAGIANNIS

Director

Cathy is Assistant Vice-Chancellor Strategy, Finance, IT and Commercial Operations at Massey University. Previously Ms Magiannis was chief executive of Education Payroll Ltd, the company established in 2014 to take over the operations of the education sector payroll. Prior to that she was chief executive of the Gareth Morgan Investments Group from February 2010 to December 2012 and, before that, the Inland Revenue Department's KiwiSaver programme director, leading the implementation of the transformational savings initiative from 2005-09. Earlier management roles included four years in the New Zealand Treasury and six years with Ernst and Young. She has also held professional positions in Athens, Greece, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Born in Greece and raised in Wellington, she has a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University of Wellington, a Certificate of Banking from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (of which she is an Affiliate Member), is a graduate of the Government's Executive Leadership Programme, completed a Senior Executive Programme at the London Business School and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand, the Institute of Directors and the New Zealand Institute of Management.