Episode 31 - Tech Transfer in Australia: The battle for talent and resources with Natalie Chapman
Release Date: 02/29/2024
Ep 57 - Science Meets Parliament 2026 - Science Meets the Economy: Opportunity and Risk with Jasmine Chambers and Steve Rodda
Tech Transfer Talk
In our annual podcast leading into Science Meets Parliament, we had the opportunity to discuss innovation, tech transfer and research translation with , President and , Pro-Vice Chancellor (Industry & Innovation) at . With STA building on their bench to boardroom initiatives with their new 'Science Meets the Economy' Program, Jas and Stephen shared their experiences and reflections with the Australian innovation system, and their respective journeys through research and translation. It was interesting to have Jas note that her early forays into translation were catalysed by frustration!...
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Episode 56 - Khaki is the New Green and Resilience is the New Carbon with Jim Lane
Tech Transfer Talk
In our first recorded abroad episode for 2026, I had the opportunity earlier this month to catch up in person with 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! We firstly reflected on some major trends that are emerging, echoed in the title of this podcast. Jim observed how important the biobased economy is becoming in the corporate and national conversations...
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Episode 55 - 2025 National Innovation Policy Forum Review: Coordination and Translation with Jane O'Dwyer
Tech Transfer Talk
Following the (NIPF) in November 2025, I had the opportunity to reflect on the event with from (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, 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 how government and industry shape innovation policy and looking to ways to improve technology...
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Episode 54 - Innovation As Central to Sustainability, Not Just Productivity with Greg Harper
Tech Transfer Talk
In this episode, I had the opportunity to chat with , a longstanding colleague and friend, who has been on the tech transfer and commercialisation journey for many years. In this conversation Greg shares some of his experience and perspectives following his time at , as a board member at , senior leadership roles within the and, most recently, at . Greg shared some of his early journey into technology transfer from his post doc at the , and CSIRO, where he became involved in market orientated science, and the development and delivery of products to market, in a broad collaboration led...
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Episode 53 - The Prequel: National Innovation Policy Forum 2025: 'The economy is the whole innovation system'
Tech Transfer Talk
The fourth (NIPF) hosted by is this coming Monday 3 November 2025 in Canberra— a gathering that brings together leaders across government, business and research to explore how Australia can harness its innovation ecosystem for national advantage. In this special pre-Forum episode of Tech Transfer Talks, NIPF Co-Patrons and share thoughtful and timely reflections on the opportunities before us. Catherine reminds us that 'we have no excuse now not to think deeply and long-term—innovation is not an optional accessory.' David adds, 'Stay the course. Grab the opportunity, make a...
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Episode 52 - Enzymes Have Changed the World with Alex Zanghellini
Tech Transfer Talk
In this episode I had the opportunity to chat with , exploring his journey from AI/computer science to enzymes, and the co-founding of with Nobel Laureate . Alex chose to bypass finance and found proteins as wonderful machines and became motivated by solving problems and finding products for market applications. Alex reflected on how discovery shows that something is possible, but that it is a small part of the journey to a commercial product, and that journey is the fun! We immediately reflected on the role of hope and the roles of hopium and OPM (being other people’s money). The...
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Episode 51 - 65,000 Years of Tech Transfer with Chris Matthews
Tech Transfer Talk
In this episode, I had the chance to explore technology transfer through the lens of one of the world’s most enduring and continuous cultures, Australia’s indigenous peoples, with , Chair of (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance), and Associate Dean (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement) at . Chris set the scene by sharing his journey to mathematics, his embracing of programming and Commodore 64s as a means to getting through school and his childhood. This was a form of escape from the systemic racism that permeated his schooling and early career. While in...
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Episode 50 - Innovation, Productivity and Economic Reform Roundtable with Catherine Livingstone AC
Tech Transfer Talk
In our 50th episode, I had the great privilege of exploring innovation, productivity and the Australian Business Model with . Catherine is a distinguished and extraordinary contributor Australian public and business communities, having held a range of roles including CEO of , chair of , chair of , chair of and currently Chancellor of . In this extended conversation, we set the scene with some discussion around industry and neoliberal policy and explored the role government played in the formative stages of Cochlear. The Australian Business Model, an idea that has been in motion over the...
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Episode 49 - Innovation Ecosystems, Global Policy and Local Politics with Dr John Howard
Tech Transfer Talk
This is a rather timely discussion, as I had the chance to discuss innovation policy, ecosystems and the domestic politics that have influenced the last three decades of innovation in Australia with , founder of the . The timeliness is due to his recent publication Thinking in Public: Australia’s Missing Innovation Policy - Will it Ever Be Found? that is now available at (Paperback) and for the version. We start our conversation around John’s entry into the innovation policy world, which started with an ARC project commissioned on university – business relationships...
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Episode 48 - 'Gaming the System' with Kerstin Oberprieler
Tech Transfer Talk
In this episode we had a chance to discuss the world of startups, gamification and behavioural change with . Kerstin successfully developed, launched and exited , a platform-based behavioural change product and continues to consult into the area of corporate culture, change and behaviour. I started by asking Kerstin about gamification and human-centred behavioural change. Kerstin’s journey into gamification was fascinating, discovering an interest in business and psychology. She came across gamification as an emerging research area as her undergraduate and doctoral studies unfolded. The...
info_outlineIn this episode, we discuss the current challenges in tech transfer capacity, capabilities and resourcing within the Australian innovation system with Natalie Chapman. Natalie found her passion for tech transfer in her time at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) after a short stint in the finance sector. Missing the science, she found a way to combine her interests in science and commercial outcomes, bringing together technology and industry opportunities. In 2012, Natalie established gemaker, who provide tech transfer communications, consulting and advisory services to the Australian research and private sectors.
We explore the absence of the tech transfer community’s voice in current discussions around innovation and research, and the pathways to and interfaces with industry and government policies. We discuss the challenges that are being presented as multiple, arguably uncoordinated innovation programs are initiated from various government departments and statutory corporate entities. These efforts, while arguably well intended, are straining the available Tech Transfer Office (TTO) resources, be it through work volume or through loss of capacity as programs compete for talent to drive innovation and tech transfer. The problem is exacerbated by a lack of pathway and training for entrants to the profession which is compounded by a lack of industrial experience amongst new hires.
Natalie outlines the case for TTO investment, framed around the returns on public monies invested in research and innovation. This is a contrast to a more typical cost-centre framing when looking at organisational and divisional budget allocations. We explore FOMO, a related Australian innovation culture challenge (also related to the reluctance to say “no”), and the importance of managing risk through active portfolio management and market intelligence gathering to underpin decision making.