Commercialisation Podcasts

Episode 64 – Able Weiss: Insights On How to Get Deals Done with Steve Weiss

Episode 64 – Able Weiss: Insights On How to Get Deals Done with Steve Weiss

Aug 27, 2026 | , , ,

I had the great privilege to have Steve Weiss join me on the podcast this month. Steve Weiss, CEO and co-founder of Grey Heron, and a member of Jim Lane’s notorious ‘Due Diligence Wolfpack’, shares key lessons in building commercial traction, securing investors and more. Building on themes that we have explored previously with Paul Bryan, Roger Wyse, Andy Shafer and Jim Lane, Steve also shares insights into how to get deals done.

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Episode 59 – The C is for more than Commercialisation with Jane Fitzpatrick

Episode 59 – The C is for more than Commercialisation with Jane Fitzpatrick

Apr 30, 2026 | , , , ,

I had the chance to follow up with Jane Fitzpatrick on her powerful closing remarks at a panel session at the National Innovation Policy Forum last year. Jane is CEO of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, and her organisation sits at the intersection of science, innovation, translation and market pull. Given the challenges we’ve been highlighting on the podcast around the industry pull, and the recent Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD) report, Ambitious Australia, it seemed a great time to build on her comments last year.

We opened a little unusually, in that we started where we left off from Podcast 55 (2025 National Innovation Policy Forum Review: Coordination and Translation) with Jane O’Dwyer, revisiting Jane’s compelling observations around skills and experiences for tech transfer, and how these contrast with the training and, at times, interests of researchers. It was interesting to hear how ANFF had sought to build on the engagement with its client base and ecosystem, seeking to provide tech transfer support.

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Episode 56 – Khaki is the New Green and Resilience is the New Carbon with Jim Lane

Episode 56 – Khaki is the New Green and Resilience is the New Carbon with Jim Lane

Feb 26, 2026 | , , , , ,

In our first recorded abroad episode for 2026, I had the opportunity earlier this month to catch up in person with Jim Lane in Digestville, located in Key Biscayne, Florida. I hope that many of you recall that we catch up with Jim intermittently and since our last chat with him in November 2024, much has changed in the world of the biobased economy, and yet many themes remain the same!

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Episode 55 – 2025 National Innovation Policy Forum Review: Coordination and Translation with Jane O’Dwyer

Episode 55 – 2025 National Innovation Policy Forum Review: Coordination and Translation with Jane O’Dwyer

Jan 29, 2026 | , , , , ,

Following the National Innovation Policy Forum (NIPF) in November 2025, I had the opportunity to reflect on the event with Jane O’Dwyer from Cooperative Research Australia (CRA) in mid-December.

We started with the raison d’être of the NIPF to increase the linkages between industry, the innovation system and policymakers. To this end, as patrons of NIPF, David Thodey and Catherine Livingstone have been catalysing the thinking over the past few years as the conversations and ambitions of NIPF evolved. The NIPF to date has moved from describing the problems to seeking government and industry-shaping innovation policy and looking to ways to improve technology transfer, commercialisation and translation. When we recorded, there was great anticipation that SERD would offer insights in to how the federal government will respond to these opportunities.

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Episode 45 – Wyse Counsel: Reflections on venture and biobased economy with Roger Wyse

Episode 45 – Wyse Counsel: Reflections on venture and biobased economy with Roger Wyse

Mar 27, 2025 | , , ,

In this episode, I had the great pleasure of catching up with Roger Wyse, Founder and Managing Partner at Spruce Capital Partners. I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Roger over the past decade (or more) and have always found his insights of great value and was delighted to have the chance to discuss his experiences and learnings.

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Episode 22 – Leadership and Relationships with Paul Wood

Episode 22 – Leadership and Relationships with Paul Wood

Jun 29, 2023 | , , ,

In this episode, we were pleased to have a wide-ranging discussion with Paul Wood. We talk about his start at CSIRO and the pathway to his breakthrough in TB tests for cattle in the Northern Territory, and how it opened a pathway into animal and human health research leadership. We discuss a few ‘sliding door’ moments with Paul around Qiagen, Cellestis, CSL and Pfizer, and how he ended up with the ‘keys to the lolly shop’ with Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis) in North America.

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Episode 17 – From Start-up to Scale-up: Reflections on Australia’s Innovation System with Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO

Episode 17 – From Start-up to Scale-up: Reflections on Australia’s Innovation System with Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO

Jan 26, 2023 | , , ,

In this episode, Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO joins us to explore the challenges of moving from start-up to scale-up. From addressing foundational tech transfer challenges such as articulating product benefits and identifying market needs, we discuss tech transfer as being the first step on a journey of technology commercialisation and business establishment.

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Episode 16 – Spinning It Out: The Research to Venture Journey with Dr Victor Pantano – Part 2 Highs and Lows of a Deeptech Start-up

Episode 16 – Spinning It Out: The Research to Venture Journey with Dr Victor Pantano – Part 2 Highs and Lows of a Deeptech Start-up

Dec 21, 2022 | , , ,

In Part 2 of our discussions with Dr Victor Pantano, we hear about the highs and lows of taking a deep tech start up along the journey from establishment, through market engagement, team building, growth and financing rounds to exit success.

 A must listen episode for anyone contemplating or indeed engaged in a tech start-up.

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Episode 16 – Spinning It Out: The Research to Venture Journey with Dr Victor Pantano – Part 2 Highs and Lows of a Deeptech Start-up

Episode 15 – Spinning It Out: The Research to Venture Journey with Dr Victor Pantano – Part 1 Bringing It Together

Nov 24, 2022 | , , ,

In the first of two discussions with Dr Victor Pantano, we hear about the first phase of transitioning research into a commercial spin-out including the importance of due diligence and building a comprehensive understanding of IP assets and their role in value creation. Our conversation with Victor really highlights the importance of people and balancing risk in tech transfer and new venture success.

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