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KiwiNet announces director and board observer appointments

Deep-tech champion Vignesh Kumar joins board as an independent member and Zoe Murphy as an observer.

Thu, 15 Apr 2021

KiwiNet has appointed deep-tech champion Vignesh Kumar to its board of directors as an additional independent board member.  KiwiNet has also appointed Zoe Murphy as a board observer, a newly implemented role designed to foster capability and diversity within New Zealand’s research commercialisation governance and leadership.

The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) is a group of 18 universities, Crown research institutes, an independent research organisation, and a Crown Entity working together to transform scientific discoveries into new products and services.  Together, KiwiNet members represent a total combined research expenditure of more than $800 million and 80% of the publicly funded researchers in New Zealand.

KiwiNet chair Ngaio Merrick said: “Now more than ever, we need to accelerate emerging deep-tech start-up companies and research discoveries that offer new solutions to big global challenges. This ... will help New Zealand build a more diverse and prosperous post-Covid economy. We’re delighted Vignesh is joining the board at this critical time. He has spent the entirety of his career focused on commercialising and scaling science-anchored innovations and brings unique global business experience, a rich engineering and technology background and a passion for deep-tech and commercialisation.”

Engineering and technology professional Kumar has more than 12 years of experience in global technology design, manufacturing, and operations strategy across North America, East Asia, and the Asia-Pacific. Before returning to New Zealand in mid-2018, he worked for Apple Inc at its US headquarters as one of its lead enclosure hardware managers. Prior experiences included business development at BHL Group in Papua New Guinea and product design in neonatal respiratory support at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

Vignesh earned an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, as a Wharton and Kaiser Fellow and a Fulbright Science and Innovation Scholar, and a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degree in biomedical engineering and a Master of Engineering Studies (Hons) in medical device design and technologies from the University of Auckland.

Kumar is deeply involved in the local early-stage ecosystem. He also sits on the Return on Science Investment committee and is an active venture investor in hardware-enabled software, deep tech, and health technology companies, via his role as a partner at venture capital firm Global from Day 1 (GD1).

Zoe Murphy

KiwiNet has also appointed its inaugural board observer, Zoe Murphy, strategic relationships manager at the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Murphy earned a Bachelor of Technology in Biomedical Sciences (Hons) from the University of Auckland and has 20 years of experience in research and innovation across public and commercial environments, including biomedical research laboratories, research management organisations, and research and innovation strategy and policy.

Merrick said: “To help create lasting economic, environmental, community and social value from publicly funded science innovation, we need to prioritise and foster diversity of thought and perspective at all levels, including on boards. We’re delighted to have Zoe around the KiwiNet board table, not just to observe and gain insights but to participate actively and voice her opinions. We’ll benefit from the broad perspective Zoe brings, and she’ll develop valuable governance skills that will fast-track her for future roles.”

Murphy said: “I’m honoured to be KiwiNet’s first board observer. I’m passionate about research and innovation and its potential to create positive and transformative change for Aotearoa New Zealand. KiwiNet plays a key role to help realise this potential, so I feel privileged to be actively contributing to their mahi. It is also a unique opportunity for me to learn from extremely experienced directors and participate in board discussion and processes without the usual barriers to entering governance positions.”

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KiwiNet announces director and board observer appointments
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