Otago Innovation People Profiles
Board Profiles
Lindsay Brown - Chair
Lindsay Brown, a Bachelor of Commerce graduate of the University of Otago (majoring in accounting), was a partner in Deloitte for 30 years, including 10 years as Managing Partner of the Dunedin Office. He also was a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. In 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Otago in recognition of his outstanding service to the University.
Since his retirement from chartered accountancy in 2001, he has concentrated on personal appointments both in business and the community. He was a member of the University of Otago Council from 1993 to 2008, including as Pro Chancellor from 1999 to 2003, and as Chancellor from 2004 to 2008. He is a past Chairman of University of Otago Holdings Limited, a former director of Dunedin International Airport Limited, and holds a number of positions as director and trustee, particularly in the health sector.
Professor Harlene Hayne - Deputy Chair 
Harlene is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago. She joined the University in 1992, following three years as a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University. She was awarded a personal chair in psychology at Otago in 2002 and was head of the University’s Department of Psychology until taking up her current position. Harlene has served on the Royal Society’s Academy Council, the Marsden Fund Council and the New Zealand National Science Panel. She is president-elect of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology and is a member of the Society for Research in Child Development, the International Society for Infant Studies and the University of Otago Memory Research Theme. Earlier this year, she was awarded an ONZM for services to scientific and medical research. Harlene has a PhD from Rutgers University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Professor George L. Benwell
George is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce) and Dean of the Business School at the University of Otago. After working as a surveyor, consultant and University of Melbourne academic, he joined Otago’s Department of Information Science as a senior lecturer in 1990. He led the Department from 2001 until 2006 and has also served as the School’s Dean of Research and the University’s Academic Director of Research. In 2007, he was appointed Dean of the School of Business. George’s research and teaching are mainly focused on spatial information processing and analysis, and land and health-related information systems. He has been involved with research internationally and published more than 250 research papers and articles. In 2001, he received the GJ Thornton-Smith Memorial Medal as a distinguished graduate of Melbourne University’s School of Engineering Department of Geomatics. George has a BSurv and PhD from the University of Melbourne and an MPhil from City University, London.
Professor Ian Tucker
Ian was a senior lecturer in Pharmacy at the University of Queensland, before accepting a position at the University of Otago, where he is a past Dean of the School of Pharmacy. Ian has about 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals to his name and is convener of the University’s Formulation and Drug Delivery Research Theme. He is principal investigator for grants from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and industrial grants from veterinary and human pharmaceutical companies. Ian is also a member of the editorial boards of several international pharmaceutical journals. He has acted as a consultant to pharmaceutical companies, served as Governor of the International Controlled Release Society and been President of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association. Ian has a BPharm (Hons) and a PhD from the University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Ginny Radford
Working with Fletcher Challenge and then Fletcher Challenge Forests, Ginny held roles in planning, project work, finance, human resources, and communications; including leading the communications team during the break-up of Fletcher Challenge Group in 2001. Prior to her corporate roles, she was a high school head of science, and served as chairman of a family-run retail business. Ginny runs her own consulting business, and assesses NZQA managerial qualifications in the work-place. Currently she is an International Trustee for AFS Intercultural Programmes, and Vice President of the Olave Baden-Powell Society, a fund-raising organisation for international Girl Guiding. She is also a member of the quality assurance body for NZ's polytechnics: ITPQ. Ginny has a BSc (Hons) in genetics from Victoria University and an MBA from Otago. She is an accredited member of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand, and a member of the NZ Institute of Directors.
Norman Geary
Norman’s corporate experience includes senior management positions in BP, both within New Zealand and overseas. Following six years as Air New Zealand chief executive, he continued to be involved in the aviation and tourism industry, earning a CBE in 1991 for his contributions. Norman has been on the boards of many public and private companies during his career. He is a director of Fisher and Paykel Appliances, ANZ National Bank Limited and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. Norman has a BCom from the University of Otago and attended the Sloan Programme at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and is a Past President of the NZ Institute of Directors.
Previous appointments include:
BP, Regional Coordinator North West Europe, 1980-81 based in London, General Manager/Executive Director, BP (NZ) 1975-79; and other BP senior sales and marketing management positions in New Zealand and overseas. Director BP companies in NW Europe 1980-81 (Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Sweden and Norway) Chief Executive, Air New Zealand, 1982-88; Executive Chairman, Mount Cook Group 1986-1991; World President, International Air Transport Association 1988. Chairman NZ Tourism Board; Television NZ; Auckland Packaging Co Ltd; Rangatira Ltd; Owens Group Ltd; Vita New Zealand Ltd; South Eastern Utilities Ltd; Budget Rent-A-Car; Gough, Gough and Hamer Ltd; Deputy Chairman, Petrocorp and New Zealand Steel; Director of AMP (NZ); ANZCO Foods, AFFCO New Zealand; Alliance Group; Cedenco Foods; Foodland Association Ltd; Kensington Swan; NZ Forest Products; Progressive Enterprises Limited; Southern Petroleum; DB Breweries and Comalco NZ.
NZ 1990 Commendation Medal for contributions to NZ. Awarded CBE in 1991 for contributions to NZ aviation and tourism.
John Patrick
John is the Chief Operating Officer at the University of Otago and has more than a decade of experience in the tertiary education sector. He represents the University on several boards and has served on government working parties – the most notable being the working party which designed the Performance Based Research Fund for the tertiary sector. Prior to his time in the education sector, John worked as a general manager in manufacturing companies, both in New Zealand and Australia. He has a BCom from the University of Otago and is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
John Ward
John Ward is the Chancellor of the University of Otago after having been appointed to that position at the commencement of 2009. He was appointed by the Minister to the University Council in 2003 and was elected Pro-Chancellor in 2007. He is chairman of the University's Foundation Trust, the Finance and Budget Committee and is a member of various other University committees including Capital Expenditure.
He is a Commerce graduate (accounting) from Otago and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Directors. John worked in the United Kingdom and South Africa prior to returning to New Zealand in 1980 and entering partnership. Currently, he is a director of various companies and is a trustee of a number of charitable trusts.
Staff Profiles
Colin Dawson
Chief Executive Officer
As chief executive, Colin brings both commercial experience and a specialist knowledge in the life sciences field to the role.
Following 10 years in veterinary clinical practice, he held several senior executive positions in the public and private healthcare sectors, including general manager of clinical support services at Health Waikato and executive director of strategy with the Calan Group. Immediately prior to joining Otago Innovation in 2002, Colin was managing partner at health consulting investment-banking firm Medicus Capital.
He is a director of NZX-listed BLIS Technologies and Pacific Edge, and an Upstart Incubator trustee.
Colin has a BVSc from Massey University, a MBA from Auckland University and is an alumnus of the Stanford University Senior Executive Programme. He is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, New Zealand Institute of Directors and NZBIO Advisory Council.
Email colin.dawson@otagoinnovation.com
Dr Alexandra Tickle
Commercialisation Manager
Since joining Otago Innovation in 2003, Alex has focused on commercialising therapeutics, diagnostics (biomarkers), and drug discovery screening technologies that have been invented by researchers at the University of Otago. With her PhD in Chemistry and previous roles in product management, marketing and sales with Neuraxpharm, a German pharmaceutical company focused on generic CNS mediation, she brings science and commercial experience to the team. She enjoys business development and actively linking industry with Otago’s innovative research.
Alex is a member of NZBIO, Ausbiotech, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening, NZ Institute for Medical Laboratory Science, Australian Society for Antimicrobials, and ARCS – Professional Development for the Therapeutics Industry.
Email alexandra.tickle@otagoinnovation.com
Hamish Findlay
Commercialisation Manager
Hamish joined the Otago Innovation team in 2004. His background includes extensive experience working in technology commercialisation, intellectual property management and start-up company development.
Hamish has negotiated and finalised licenses with international and local companies and been involved in the formation of three start-up businesses.
Prior to joining Otago Innovation, Hamish worked within the University’s Enterprise Office, where he was responsible for building the University’s applied research effort in the Sciences and Humanities. He has consulted to several well-known Australasian companies, while with Roy Morgan Research Pty Ltd.
Hamish has a MA(Hons) and BCom from the University of Auckland, and a DipGrad (Accounting) from Otago. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and the Licensing Executives Society.
Email hamish.findlay@otagoinnovation.com
David Christensen
Commercialisation Manager
David is an experienced commercialisation manager, having worked in the broad area of University technology commercialisation since 2004; much of his current commercialisation focus is around diagnostic biomarkers.
Prior to joining Otago Innovation in 2007, David spent a period of time as a Business Manager with FRST, and the University of Otago where he was the Acting Director Enterprise. During this latter period his focus was on the early identification of commercially valuable IP, as well as building the University’s applied research focus.
David also has a background in banking and finance, having spent 13 years with the BNZ in the personal and commercial banking environments.
He has a BCom and Masters from the University of Otago.
Email david.christensen@otagoinnovation.com
Diana Davis
Financial Controller
Diana joined the Otago Innovation team in 2004, after gaining admission as a Chartered Accountant through Deloitte.
In her previous role, Diana provided reporting and advisory services to companies across many sectors. Prior to that, she worked for 10 years as a Certified Clinical Perfusionist in open-heart surgery.
Diana has a BCom and LLB from the University of Otago. She is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Email diana.davis@otagoinnovation.com
Dr Garth Hendry
Intellectual Property Manager
Garth was appointed as Otago Innovation Limited’s first Intellectual Property Manager in late 2010 and brings with him extensive patent attorney experience having spent close to ten years in the profession between Australia and New Zealand.
As a patent attorney who is registered to practice before the Australian and New Zealand Patent Offices, Garth has significant experience in patent drafting and prosecution, patent oppositions, as well as in due diligence activity including preparation of validity and infringement/freedom to operate opinions.
Involved in all aspects of patent practice across varied technology fields (with a particular emphasis on Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology), Garth has assisted a number of national and international corporate clients in securing intellectual property rights fundamental to commercialisation activity.
Garth holds a PhD in Biochemistry/Biophysics and is a published author in peer-reviewed journals including Biochemistry and Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Qualifications and Memberships
- Registered Patent Attorney (Australia and New Zealand)
- PhD (Biochemistry/Biophysics), Australian National University
- BSc (Hons I; Biochemistry), University of Otago
- Fellow: New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys
- Fellow: Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia
- Member: Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc.
- Member: NZBio
- Member: Ausbiotech
Email garth.hendry@otagoinnovation.com
Gina Clouston-Cain
Executive Assistant to Colin Dawson
Gina joined Otago Innovation early in 2008 and, in addition to providing executive support to the chief executive, also provides general office assistance to the commercialisation team.
Previous roles include five years as a business advisor with the Dunedin City Council’s Economic Development Unit, Otago Chamber of Commerce office manager and University of Otago Language Centre/Foundation Studies examinations manager.
Together with her partner, Gina has also been managing director of their own company during the past 10 years – undertaking various local contracts.
She has a BCom from Otago and is partway through a postgraduate programme in Commerce.