Our Staff
Dr Brent Jenkins - Chief Executive Officer
Dr Jenkins has a PhD from Oxford University and an MBA from INSEAD, France. He has worked in corporate planning and operational roles and was a senior consultant with an advisory firm specialising in commercialisation of new technology. Since joining Newcastle Innovation as CEO in February 2007, he has led a complete overhaul of the company's brand and the development of a renewed drive to serve our business partners and support the University's researchers.
brent.jenkins@newcastle.edu.au
David Fleming - Senior Business Development Manager
David Fleming is responsible for identifying, assessing and exploiting intellectual property generated by the University of Newcastle. He combines business development of the University's IP with financial management responsibility for companies controlled by Newcastle Innovation.
David holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree. After holding management roles in multinational companies, he joined Newcastle Innovation in 2002.
david.fleming@newcastle.edu.au
Chris Kelleher - Senior Business Development Manager
Chris has 17 years experience in commercial management roles in the building, manufacturing and health industries. Since joining Newcastle Innovation in 2001 he has established three start-up companies and initiated licence deals. Chris' role is to identify, assess and exploit intellectual property generated by the University of Newcastle.
chris.kelleher@newcastle.edu.au
Dr Nagaraj Gopisetty
Nagaraj is the newest member of the Newcastle Innovation team. In his new role, he will be mainly responsible for engaging with the various academics and researchers within the Faculties of Health and Science and Information Technology. He aims to foster strategic relationships with industry, commercial partners and research institutes.
nagaraj.gopisetty@newcastle.edu.au
Kim Turner - Executive Assistant
Kim provides administrative support to the CEO and the Business Development Managers. She assists them in the management of IP and Consultancy research agreements as well as commercial projects.
She is also responsible for coordinating the Newcastle Innovation Commercialisation Boot Camps and other events.
Kay Caban - Accounts Manager
Kay is responsible for the daily management of Newcastle Innovation's financial functions. She controls the accounts and investments at Newcastle Innovation, supervises payroll and provides financial information and assistance to Newcastle Innovation research divisions and spin-off companies.
Joanne Pigott- Accounts Assistant
Joanne is Newcastle Innovation's payroll officer. She also provides administrative support to the Accounts Manager.
joanne.pigott@newcastle.edu.au
Renee Butcher - Administrative Assistant
Renee manages the reception, handles all enquiries and provides administrative support to the business team. She assists in the coordination of the OH&S management across our Divisions as well as providing support to the event's management team.
renee.butcher@newcastle.edu.au
Our Clean Energy Innovation Centre Staff
Dr David Nicolson - Manager Clean Energy Technologies
David's role is to lead the provision technical services to SME's operating in the clean energy space through the Clean Energy Innovation Centre. Dr Nicolson has a PhD (Chemistry) in catalysis and synthetic fuels from Monash University and an MBA (Technology Management) from Deakin University. David has held senior executive roles in chemical engineering, biotech, pharmaceutical and agro-production companies. David has spearheaded the development and international launches of products ranging from natural products and drug discovery tools to e-commerce sites and software; he joined Newcastle Innovation in 2008.
david.nicolson@newcastle.edu.au
Dr Andre Urfer (Ph.D. Chem. from University of Basel, MEBM from University of Newcastle) - Consultant
Since gaining his academic qualifications, André has acquired a proven track record as a technical specialist with strong analytical skills from over eleven years experience in the global resources industry, following over six years of academic R&D. He joined Newcastle Innovation in July 2009 in the role of Clean Energy Technology Consultant to provide technical advice and support to Enterprise Connect's Clean Energy Innovation Centre (an Australian Government initiative in the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) as well as small and medium-sized enterprises in the clean energy domain.
Dr Hadi Zulfiqar - Consultant
Dr Hadi is a Clean Energy Technology Consultant at Newcastle Innovation. Hadi's role is to provide technical services to SME's operating in the clean energy space through the Clean Energy Innovation Centre. He holds a PhD (Chemical Engineering) in coal and biomass combustion at the University of Newcastle. Prior to Newcastle Innovation, Hadi has held process engineering roles in an industrial process plant and a multinational engineering consulting firm. He was involved in the design and commissioning of wastewater treatment plants and a pilot carbon capture plant, as well as designing a solar powered hydrogen producing plant. Hadi is also a volunteer at the Engineers Without Borders.
