Power of Networks
Innovation often arises when diverse partners combine their unique ideas and capabilities. We recognise that networks are essential.
Innovation often arises when diverse partners combine their unique ideas and capabilities. We recognise that networks are essential to the successful commercialisation of innovation, however it is not always clear how these complex systems can best be harnessed by managers and entrepreneurs. Research has shown business relationships and networks to both enable and constrain innovation and commercialisation, highlighting the need to better understand their nature.
This panel discussion seeks to draw on network science research and the experiences of our three accomplished panellists who have successfully navigated commercialisation pathways across their various domains. The discussion will frame their insights against a backdrop of network proximity, which includes geographic, social, cognitive, institutional and organizational domains. The discussion will explore practical examples of how they work with close and distant partners to achieve outcomes that support commercialisation.
Daniel Schepis, Samantha Tough, Peter Rossdeutscher, Brodie McCulloch
The panel will examine:
How Perth’s geographic position facilitates or constrains the ability to engage with commercialisation partners, and how physical distance may be a determinant of possible outcomes.
How the extent of social factors affect commercialisation, such as referrals, trust and reputation that come about through personal friendships influencing the commercialisation process.
How to best bridge knowledge gaps in commercialisation relationships given partners often come from very different technical or industry backgrounds.
How company cultures and structures influence commercialisation.
How different laws, regulations, value and norms influence commercialisation internationally.
Panel Facilitator
Daniel Schepis is a Senior Lecturer at UWA specialising in business-to-business marketing and qualitative research. His research expertise focuses on the role of networks in supporting innovation, start-up–corporate relations and start-up internationalisation. In addition, he has been involved in industry projects relating to internal innovation and the use of design thinking approaches, conducting fieldwork across five continents. He has also worked in community capacity building in the resources sector and is currently faculty advisor for the Enactus UWA team launching social impact initiatives.
Panel Members
Samantha Tough has had a distinguished and varied career in the energy and resources industries in Western Australia, with a 20 year career serving on boards. She has also been involved in the commercialisation of technology and startups for over 20years.
She was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor Engagement for The University of Western Australia (UWA) on 1 July 2019 and currently serves as Chair of Horizon Power, Director for Clean Energy Finance Corp and Director for Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited.
Samantha has previously been Director of Synergy Board, Chair of Retail Energy Market Company Ltd, Structerre Pty Ltd, Molopo Energy Ltd, Aerison Pty Ltd and Southern Cross Goldfields Ltd, and Deputy Chair of the WA Academy of Performing Arts. She is also a former director of Cape plc, Strike Resources Ltd and Murchison Metals Ltd. Her executive roles include General Manager North West Shelf at Woodside Energy Ltd; Director Strategy for Hardman Resources Ltd; Senior Vice President Natural Resources at the Commonwealth Bank and Project Director for the Pilbara Power Project.
She completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Jurisprudence at UWA and worked as a barrister and solicitor before progressing to the commercial sector. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Peter Rossdeutscher is an experienced Non-Executive Director and experienced leader with a deep background in METS, commercialisation, technology, and Board roles. He is a former multinational technology company Managing Director, multiple entrepreneur, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, INSEAD Certified International Director and Adjunct Professor at UWA.
Chair of the SmartSAT CRC Mining & Energy Advisory Board, StartUp WA Advisory Board, Board Director of MinEx CRC and Chair of the Transition and IP Committee, Board Director of CRC ORE and Chair of the Commercialisation Committee. Principal of Atomic Sky and AgriStart, Founder of the QuantumTX cross-sector technology exchange.
Brodie McCulloch is the Founder and Managing Director of Spacecubed and passionate about building ecosystems that support people and organisations who are interested in building the future of work.
Spacecubed enables positive change through the community through its spaces, programs and platform. Spacecubed has grown by 300% over the past three years and continues to work with its members to create new opportunities for them and their businesses.
With over 3,000 members, Spacecubed has built a range of spaces that support different industries and technologies. These spaces provide both facilities and networks to help connect members with new opportunities.
Programs including SheCodes and Plus Eight Accelerator have been supporting women to learn to code and investing in a range of startups in WA.
In order to better enable its community to both collaborate and access spaces, Spacecubed has developed a platform to turn any office into a smart office using augmented reality. This is being developed with members and is used to manage both Spacecubed owned spaces and partner space.
Brodie completed a Churchill Fellowship to explore global models for supporting Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the US, Canada, UK, China and Singapore.