KiwiNet announces new board appointments

The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) has made several key governance appointments, marking a planned transition in its leadership and a bold new chapter in its mission to accelerate innovation and impact from publicly funded research.

Katherine Sandford, an experienced global business and governance leader, has been appointed chair of the KiwiNet board, succeeding Dr Will Barker, who has completed his maximum tenure on the board after seven years of service, including three as chair.

Sandford, who has served as a director on the KiwiNet Board for the past three years, is joined by new board member Kennie Tsui, chief executive of the New Zealand Geothermal Association and a widely respected leader in engineering, energy, and innovation sectors.

Tsui adds further strategic depth to the board, with a strong track record of advancing science-led solutions to meet complex societal and environmental challenges. She brings deep insight into the ways in which New Zealand can generate growth through innovation.

In a further leadership transition, Debra Hall has completed her time as chair of the KiwiNet Investment Committee (IC) after seven years, with Dr Andrew Kelly, executive director of BioPacific Partners, taking up the role. Kelly has been chair of KiwiNet’s Pipeline Committee for three years and an independent IC member for 13 years. He brings decades of experience in science-based investment and commercialisation across the life sciences, agritech, and biotech sectors. He will also serve on the KiwiNet board in his capacity as IC chair.

Andrew Kelly and Kennie Tsui.

KiwiNet chief executive James Hutchinson acknowledged the important contributions of both Barker and Hall in shaping the growth and direction of KiwiNet and New Zealand’s research commercialisation system. “Will is a tireless advocate for innovation, and his steady leadership has been instrumental in helping us navigate the changes that have taken place in the last couple of years,” says Hutchinson.

“Likewise, Debra’s leadership of the Investment Committee has been pivotal in building KiwiNet’s rigorous and collaborative investment approach, supporting ventures to thrive and lifting capability within the sector. In their time with us KiwiNet has invested $36M in PreSeed Funding, with 65 startups created and over $430M in returns generated for New Zealand.”

Sandford said she was excited to lead KiwiNet at a time when the New Zealand research, science, and innovation sector is undergoing such fundamental change. “KiwiNet’s collaborative model has been invaluable in strengthening expertise, growing entrepreneurship capability, and helping world-class science succeed commercially,” she said.

“With the government reforms under way, there is so much potential for New Zealand to become a leader in science innovation if we get it right. I’m honoured to help guide the organisation as we unlock even more impact from our research system.”

Kelly, a veteran of the life sciences investment sector, said he is energised by the opportunity to support the next generation of research-based ventures through the Investment Committee. “To fully unlock the economic and societal potential of research innovation in New Zealand, further investment is essential. I’m looking forward to supporting great science and bold innovators on the path to global impact.”

Hutchinson said the current sector reforms provide an exciting opportunity for New Zealand.

“We have a unique opportunity to scale New Zealand’s research and innovation to create massive economic impact that will last generations … If we want New Zealand to really thrive from our science system, now is the time to invest further to strengthen the bridge so more world-changing innovations can make a difference.”

This is supplied content and not commissioned or paid for by NBR.