Brian has been involved in the innovation sector for over 30 years across Australia, Asia, Africa and the Pacific. He founded Impact Innovation Group in 2006 which has grown to a 20 person team providing R&D management, innovation, commercialisation and collaboration services for large multinationals, SME’s, startups, Rural Research and Development Corporations, Cooperative Research Centres, universities, CSIRO and government agencies. With a diverse team of R&D management consultants, the company helps clients across all sectors navigate the complexity of turning R&D into solutions that deliver value and impact.

Brian sits on several boards, advisory boards and committees. This includes his role as Chair of the Innovation Management Standards committee (MB-279) for Standards Australia where he is working with innovation specialists from 55 other countries to develop international innovation management standards.

B.App.Sc. Hons (Rural Management), M.Ec., Dip. Export Management, GAICD

Technical specialties: R&D design, monitoring and evaluation, R&D management, innovation systems, start-up governance & management, business modelling

Sector specialties: Agriculture, Environment, Water, Health & Medical Devices, Construction

Karin is an accomplished biotechnology and innovation professional with over 15 years of experience spanning research commercialisation, early-stage product development, and strategic partnerships across life sciences (Agricultural and medical), and environmental technologies. Her diverse background includes managing multi-stakeholder projects, translating research into market-ready innovations, and securing high-value funding to support strategic growth.

With a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and experience across industry and academia, Karin brings deep technical insight combined with strong commercial acumen. She has led development programs from concept through clinical phases, managed commercial contracts and IP portfolios, and initiated a business-wide operational excellence framework. Karin is known for her collaborative leadership style, ability to translate complex information across disciplines, and commitment to delivering impactful, data-driven strategies.

Throughout her career, she has supported commercial and early-stage product development across a range of regulated sectors, working closely with national and international partners, research institutions, and government stakeholders. She has managed high-value grants and commercial agreements and has a proven track record in aligning technical, regulatory, and financial elements to advance innovation from concept to commercial reality.

B.Sc. Hons (Genetics), Grad. Cert. (Business), PhD (Biomedical Engineering)

Technical specialities:B.Sc. Hons (Genetics), Grad. Cert. (Business), PhD (Biomedical Engineering)

Sector specialities:Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Biomedical Development, Agricultural & Environmental Technologies, Research Commercialisation & Innovation Ecosystems

Nathan’s talent lies in his adaptive approach to problem solving which allows him overcome challenges whilst also building enduring relationships with clients. Nathan has a background in the analysis and development of business information systems which enables him to advise on organisational information requirements and related strategy. He also has comprehensive knowledge of the molecular events explored through the scientific disciplines of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Prior to joining Impact Innovation Group, Nathan spent several years within a global organisation and the Australian telecommunications sector. The experience he’s gained during these years have imbued him with strong operational and client relationship management skills. Using these skills in tandem with his diverse training background, Nathan is pursuing his passion for seeing science and technology in action, driving innovation and positive change within business and the community.

B.Bus. Mgt (Business Information Systems), B.Sc. (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)

Technical specialities: Biochemistry, Information Systems, Business Process Management and Data Handling

Sector specialities: Information Technology, Telecommunications and Industrial Science

Leanne is the founder and lead trainer of Presence Communications, a specialist corporate training consultancy for the innovation and technology transfer sector as well as government and SME clients. Her training programs focus on helping teams work effectively through better communication. Leanne supports Impact Innovation Group’s marketing of commercialisation services, innovation programs, and client ventures. Her expertise in this sector was honed whilst working for UniQuest, The University of Queensland’s main research commercialisation company. She still works with the University’s researchers in various schools, faculties, centres and institutes to promote their scientific discoveries, many of which have commercial applications. Leanne is a member of Firestation 101, the Ipswich innovation hub, and the board of the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce. Leanne is the lead facilitator and mentor for Impact Innovation’s Ideas to Outcomes Cert IV in Small Business Management, delivered with TAFE Queensland’s Small Business Solutions.

B.A. (Hons), Grad.Dip Communication, Cert IV Small Business Management, Cert IV Training & Assessment, ATCL, Certified True Colors Facilitator

Technical specialities: Communication, Learning & Development, Event Management

Sector specialities: Small Business, Research Centres, Arts, Education, Health

Lewe is a unique innovation and design-thinking professional and international Strategic Management facilitator. He has 30 years’ experience in knowledge production and transfers through both commercial and public-good innovation pathways to market. He started his boundary-spanning career in FMCG operations, planning and research with Unifoods Australia. In 1993 he became Research and Information Services Manager for Australian Meat Technology Pty Ltd, a CSIRO technology start-up and management consulting company. He joined a team that started a new industry-owned innovation and marketing services company – Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd – where he has held several senior executive positions over the past 16 years. Lewe’s solid technical and financial grounding, combined with a strong creative side, enables him to see patterns, pathways, and solutions that others often miss. He works with clients all over Australia providing Strategic Planning & Management, Innovation Consulting, Cross-boundary Collaboration and Research Leadership Development.

B.Sc. (Health & Biological Sciences), Chartered Engineer, Chartered Chemist

Technical specialities: Innovation Systems, Product Development

Sector specialities: Meat & Livestock, Agribusiness, Profit-for-Purpose & Community Organisations

Angus is passionate about supporting Australian business’ to thrive by implementing the best innovation and commercialisation practices. Beginning his career as an academic at the University of Sydney, Angus quickly realised he was most interested in how R&D efforts could be practically applied and commercialised.

With experience leading the Australian egg industry’s R&D program and driving Australia’s food innovation initiatives while working with Food Innovation Australia (FIAL), Angus excels at developing leading-edge strategies that align with business objectives. He also is highly skilled at leveraging investments, stakeholder management and encouraging best practice design-led thinking in external organisations.

Angus has also co-founded six start-up ventures in the biotechnology, services and digital space. His expertise and ability to influence has led to his appointment to a number of government and university economic development and innovation advisory committees and he has become a commercial advisor to a new digital medical platform start-up. He has won a Federal Government Science and Innovation Award for Young Scientists in 2007 and an International Specialised Skills Fellowship in 2011.

B.Sc. (Hons), PhD, MAICD

Technical specialities: Business modelling, Entrepreneurship, Start-up Venture Building, Strategy, Program Management, and Commercialisation of R&D.

Sector specialities: Food and Agriculture, Chemistry, Environment, Biotechnology, Research Sector, and Digital.