{"id":2229,"date":"2023-10-31T02:06:07","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T02:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.cre8ive.co.nz\/wordpress\/?page_id=2229"},"modified":"2026-08-05T02:59:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T02:59:44","slug":"judging-panel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/","title":{"rendered":"Judging Panel"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

Meet the Expert Judging Panel<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Each year, Otago Innovation brings together expert innovators in the technology transfer space. Over the two days of judging, we will have an expert panel that represents precisely what makes the experience of commericalising University technologies so unique. Representing a cross section of University Commercialisation, Investment, Intellectual Property Management, Government and the Private Sector the panel comes from across New Zealand to meet with you and hear about your innovations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your application is short-listed you will have a chance to pitch face-to-face to the panel and get expert feedback on your technology. It\u2019s unusual to find such a panel of experts all in the same room, so we hope
it is of great benefit to you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

2026 Judging Panel<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"Otago-Innovation<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Dr Elliott Dunn<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brandon Capital Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to joining Brandon Capital Partners, Elliott project managed the research team at Blis Technologies Ltd. Previously, Elliott was a Commercialisation Analyst for Otago Innovation Ltd and a Scientific Officer in pharmacology at the University of Otago. After completing his PhD in 2018, Elliott chaired the Return On Science Biotech & Pharma and Otago Momentum Investment Committees, established two Government funded student-led investment committees in New Zealand, and conducted research for Upside Biotechnologies Ltd, which focused on developing a bioengineered solution for burns victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elliott is a board observer of Amaroq Therapeutics, and a director of Cadmus Animal Health and TamoRx.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elliott has a PhD in Stem Cell Biology from the University of Auckland, and a Bachelor and Masters in Immunology from the University of Otago. He is currently an active committee member of the Return on Science Biotech & Pharma and Otago Momentum Investment Committees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Dr Martin Gagnon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Director, Research and Enterprise University of Otago <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

John Mansell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Director, Catalyst Intellectual Property<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John has over 15 years\u2019 experience advising Australasian innovators on all aspects of intellectual property law, and working with overseas clients to protect and enforce their IP rights in New Zealand and Australia. John is an intellectual property lawyer as well as a patent attorney registered to practice in both New Zealand and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bJohn\u2019s focus is on innovation in the life sciences, with particular interest in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, biologicals, genomics and proteomics, agriculture, and food technology. He also has experience with other technologies. John works comfortably with researchers, commercialisation managers, and corporate leaders to deliver business-focused intellectual property strategies and IP portfolios that are properly aligned with their commercial goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bJohn practices across all aspects of intellectual property law, including IP strategy, patent drafting, prosecution, litigation and enforcement, portfolio management and due diligence, as well as providing validity and infringement advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bPrior to becoming a patent attorney, John was a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital.\u00a0 John has a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Otago. He worked for three of New\u00a0Zealand\u2019s largest IP firms before joining Catalyst Intellectual Property.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Otago<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Brian Russell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brian is a tech entrepreneur with over 25 years in product design and commercialisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He started his career with large global corporates (Nokia-UK, Analog Devices-USA) then founded and ran Zephyr Technology Corp a US based medical device company for 14 years, raising capital in the US then successfully exiting to Covidien (now Medtronic).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has 22 patents in silicon chip design and physiological monitoring. He is now involved with various projects and on several boards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Hanie Yee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanie has\u00a0more than 25 years\u2019 experience across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices commercialisation across US, Asia and NZ. She has held senior executive roles at Genentech, Roche, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Alimetry, leading clinical strategy, commercialisation, operations and global market expansion. Hanie is the Principal of STR Consulting, where she advises founders, boards and investors on commercialisation and growth strategy. She is Chair of the Return on Science MedTech Investment Committee, Executive Chair of RespirAq, Board Member of Te T\u012btoki Mataora, and serves on the Auckland Momentum Committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanie holds a Masters Degree in Medical Science from University of Auckland, a Business Degree from Darden Business School, University of Virginia and has completed her executive education at Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Otago<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Melissa Yiannoutsos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chair of PoC Judging,<\/strong> Booster Financial Services<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melissa has a twenty-year career in science commercialisation and investment. During which she has helped establish the first angel networks in NZ, managed pre-seed funds, grown start-ups within and for industry, CRIs and Universities, and lead investment and business incubation programmes. Melissa has been involved in every aspect of taking an idea from research into product concepts and markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to joining Booster Financial Services in 2021, as its Innovations
Fund manager, she has progress inventions discovered at Universities into ambitious NZ companies in many areas from vaccine development to biosensors to acne skincare.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Investors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Otago Innovation may invite experienced investors to take a look at new ideas early in their development. Investors (from NZ and Australia) may be in attendance during the two days of judging, they have all signed Confidentiality Agreements, so your ideas are safe with us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2000,"menu_order":16,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2229","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"static_banner":{"banner_headline":"Proof of Concept Competition","banner_subhead":"Judging Panel","banner_image":2667,"image_vertical_placement":50,"image_horizontal_placement_":50}},"yoast_head":"\nJudging Panel - Otago Innovation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Default Page Meta Description\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Judging Panel - Otago Innovation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Default Page Meta Description\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Otago Innovation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-05T02:59:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Otago-Innovation-Judging-Panel-2023-Dr-Elliott-Dunn.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/judging-panel\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/judging-panel\\\/\",\"name\":\"Judging Panel - Otago Innovation\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/judging-panel\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/judging-panel\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/Otago-Innovation-Judging-Panel-2023-Dr-Elliott-Dunn.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-10-31T02:06:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-05T02:59:44+00:00\",\"description\":\"Default Page Meta Description\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/judging-panel\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/judging-panel\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/judging-panel\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/Otago-Innovation-Judging-Panel-2023-Dr-Elliott-Dunn.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/Otago-Innovation-Judging-Panel-2023-Dr-Elliott-Dunn.jpg\",\"width\":300,\"height\":395,\"caption\":\"Otago-Innovation -Judging Panel 2023 -Dr Elliott Dunn\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/judging-panel\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Funding\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Proof of Concept Competition\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/funding\\\/proof-of-concept-competition\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Judging Panel\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"Otago Innovation\",\"description\":\"A University of Otago Company\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/otagoinnovation.com\\\/wordpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Judging Panel - Otago Innovation","description":"Default Page Meta Description","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Judging Panel - Otago Innovation","og_description":"Default Page Meta Description","og_url":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/","og_site_name":"Otago Innovation","article_modified_time":"2026-08-05T02:59:44+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Otago-Innovation-Judging-Panel-2023-Dr-Elliott-Dunn.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/","url":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/","name":"Judging Panel - Otago Innovation","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Otago-Innovation-Judging-Panel-2023-Dr-Elliott-Dunn.jpg","datePublished":"2023-10-31T02:06:07+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-05T02:59:44+00:00","description":"Default Page Meta Description","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Otago-Innovation-Judging-Panel-2023-Dr-Elliott-Dunn.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Otago-Innovation-Judging-Panel-2023-Dr-Elliott-Dunn.jpg","width":300,"height":395,"caption":"Otago-Innovation -Judging Panel 2023 -Dr Elliott Dunn"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/judging-panel\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Funding","item":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Proof of Concept Competition","item":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/funding\/proof-of-concept-competition\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Judging Panel"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/","name":"Otago Innovation","description":"A University of Otago Company","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2229"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3964,"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2229\/revisions\/3964"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/otagoinnovation.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}