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Innovation Futures has recruited four Industry Innovation Leads (IIL) to drive external connections, research translation and commercialisation targeted to strategic industry sectors and aligned to University’s teaching and research strengths. These four key areas include MedTech, Advanced Manufacturing, AgriTech and Sustainability and Circular Economy.
In their role with Western, the IILs are striving to:
- Act as catalyst and enabler for industry collaborations;
- Drive external partnerships supporting research translation and commercialisation; and
- Bring exposure and profile to Western through real-world problem-solving with industry.
Together they’re moving Western forward, building strong relationships with industry and raising the profile of our research and the people behind it.
Meet the Industry Innovation Leads
Dr Anders Hallgren, Advanced Manufacturing IIL
Anders is a seasoned executive with decades of experience in leadership roles in innovation, commercialisation and cross-sector partnerships with major research institutes, industry and governments globally.
As one of Western Sydney University’s Industry Innovation Leads, Anders is responsible for fostering collaboration and knowledge transfer between the University and industry organisations to drive innovation, impact and economic growth.
He has broad experience in business development including leading global networks with public and private stakeholders fostering cooperation between public sector, industry, and academic research.
"I hope to be able to act as a catalyst and enabler for industry collaborations, build shared vision impactful partnerships with industry, assist in research translation and commercialisation and bring exposure and profile to WSU."
Ben Wright, Medtech IIL
Ben is an agent for change. He has worked with leading clinicians, academic researchers, and emerging entrepreneurs to educate them on what it takes to commercialise innovation, and nurture entrepreneurial traits in a holistic approach to research translation.
As Medtech Industry Innovation Lead, Ben is tasked with identifying commercial opportunities within the research portfolio, working with the academic leads to understand their technology application and establish a commercialisation pathway through intellectual property licence, spin-out or commercial research engagement with an industry partner.
Outside of Western Sydney University, Ben is the Managing Director of Ballistic Ventures, a Venture Studio designed to cofound medical technology start-ups alongside clinicians and clinical researchers.
Olivia Tyler, Sustainability & Circular Economy IIL
Whether it’s leading a team of 70+ hungry sustainability and impact consultants or working for some of Australia’s largest corporates in the financial services, retail and manufacturing sectors, Olivia’s 20+ year career has always taken a slightly obscure path in creating new ways of doing business and challenging the accepted norms surrounding profit and purpose.
She's held a range of senior leadership, sustainability and risk positions at a number of large corporates including the Westpac Group, Woolworths Supermarkets, Treasury Wine Estates and Goodman Fielder, and is also a recipient of the 2022 Chief Executive Women’s ANZ Sustainability Scholarship.
With degrees in Marine Science (USyd) and Environmental Engineering (UNSW), and an MBA from the Melbourne Business, Olivia’s expertise is diverse and reflective of the many lenses of sustainability.
She brings deep subject matter expertise with clear insight into the practical challenges facing organisations as they embark on strengthening their internal response and external narrative across the broad brush of environmental, social and governance matters in a world where doing the minimum is not enough.
How can I learn more?
If you would like to learn more or are interested in getting involved please reach out to our Transformation Program team via our Feedback Form or email at enterprise@westernsydney.edu.au.
