bluebox home | About bluebox | bluebox team
Colin Kinner - General Manager
Colin has over 10 years experience working with technology-based businesses in Australia and the UK. His experience includes strategy development, business planning, raising equity capital and providing training and mentoring to entrepreneurs.
His career has included roles in consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers, corporate finance/capital raising with Millhouse IAG, and early stage investment as Head of Funds Management at Imperial College Innovations in London, where he managed a seed fund with a portfolio of 36 early stage investments.
Colin has been a director of a number of technology-based start-up companies, including UK-based laser imaging company Holoscan Limited and Brisbane-based hydrogen storage company Hydrexia Pty Ltd.
Colin holds a BSc(Hons) from The University of Queensland and an MBA from Deakin University, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
At bluebox Colin is responsible for managing the physical sciences commercialisation team, which provides commercialisation support for technologies developed in the physical sciences.
Dr Nirdosh Puri - General Manager
Nirdosh has over 20 years of academic, industry research and development, management and business experience in the USA and Australia. His background includes biotechnology, therapeutic proteins, vaccines, drug development, strategic technology and market assessment, in-licensing and patent and IP issues with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals (US), Smithkline Beecham AH (US), Bunge (Aust) P/L and the Universities of Melbourne and Queensland (UniQuest P/L).
Before coming to bluebox, Nirdosh was a Senior Executive at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, with national responsibilities for general management relating to all research and development and business development matters across the organization, change management, and driving a significant national cultural and operational change agenda within the research function. He was also responsible for external revenue generation, horizon scanning, and strategic evaluation of emerging technologies and new business opportunities.
Nirdosh holds a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and a PhD in Biochemistry and Immunology, both from the University of Melbourne.
At bluebox Nirdosh is responsible for managing the life sciences commercialisation team, which provides commercialisation support for technologies developed in the life sciences.
Brent Watts - Commercialisation Manager
Brent has over a decade of experience spanning across industry, government and research sectors. Prior to joining bluebox, he consulted to a portfolio of technology based companies on strategic planning and capital raising. Brent also held positions with the Australian Government's AusIndustry division, where he managed the delivery of a range of innovation funding programs, and with the Global Private Equity division of Queensland Investment Corporation.
Brent's career has also included engineering roles in research and development with RWTH in Europe, design and planning with Burchill Partners VDM and John Wilson & Partners (now WorleyParsons), and construction and project management with Golding Contractors. He holds a BEng with first class honours from Central Queensland University, a MEngSc and MBA from Queensland University of Technology, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
At bluebox Brent is the commercialisation manager in the physical sciences team, which provides commercialisation support for technologies developed in the physical sciences.
Dr Samantha South - Commercialisation Manager
Samantha has a background in basic medical research and preclinical drug development. After completing her PhD, she held a fellowship at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York. Samantha was awarded a prestigious fellowship from The University of New South Wales (The Vice-Chancellors / NewSouth Global postdoctoral fellowship) to return to Australia, before becoming a manager with the Efficacy section of a preclinical contract research organisation. In this role, Samantha was involved in patent enablement and the pre-IND process, and gained many years exposure to the commercialisation processes within the pharmaceutical and biotech environments.
Samantha received her PhD from the University of Queensland, for which she was placed on the Deans List for Excellence. She is currently acquiring an MBA from the Australian Business School.
Nagaraj Gopisetty – Commercialisation Analyst
Nagaraj holds a BPharm from Bangalore University, India and an MSc (Hons) in biotechnology from Griffith University, Australia. In addition, he is currently completing his PhD at the University of Queensland, specialising in the field of breast cancer research. Nagaraj has a background in pharmaceutical sales, having previously worked with major pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Unichem laboratories in India, and more recently has developed a keen interest in the areas of life science research and commercialisation. He has served as the chair for Queensland branch of the Ausbiotech students association, and is currently a member of the Ausbiotech Queensland state committee. He has also been involved in the organisation of various educational and networking events promoting the importance of commercialisation and assisting student linkages with the Australian biotechnology industry.
At bluebox, Nagaraj will provide commercialisation support for technologies developed in the life sciences sector.
Sarah Goodman - Marketing and IP Coordinator
Sarah holds a BCI (Media Communication and Film and Television) from QUT and has studied law previously. Before coming to bluebox, Sarah worked as a film and entertainment publicity coordinator for The PR Company, and prior to that as Creative and Administrative Manager for digital signage firm 4UTV (formerly Ferry TV). She also has experience in corporate training and quality assurance from a range of employers, including international IT outsourcing firm EDS, GE and Hutchison Telecoms.
Sarah has a keen interest in research in the fields of intellectual property and copyright, including a collaboration with Creative Commons Australia on the topic 'Revitalising the Australian film industry through Creative Commons'. Sarah also has a passion for film and has worked as a film and DVD critic for numerous outlets over the past nine years, including community radio station Planet Radio and Australian DVD portal DVD Bits.
At bluebox, Sarah is responsible for all marketing and communications activities, as well as the coordination of intellectual property and patents. Sarah also administers bluebox's extensive database used to track the commercialisation process and the IP generated by the University.
