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The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast Pty Ltd is a company of the University of the Sunshine Coast.
The mission of the company is to support the start-up and growth of knowledge economy and technology based businesses on the Sunshine Coast and to promote beneficial interaction between these businesses and the University.
Board of Directors
- Prof Paul Thomas AM, Vice-chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast (Chairman)
- Dr Karen Woolley, CEO, Proscribe
- Dr Jim Clark, Chairman and CEO, Cloverworxs
Management team
CEO
Colin Graham
Colin is the founding CEO of the Innovation Centre. He is responsible for the Business Accelerator and building connections between businesses at the Innovation Centre and the University as well as supporting the Student Enterprise and Business Incubator Programs.
Colin has a degree in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde and a Masters in Entrepreneurship from Glasgow Caledonian University. He is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
His first job after graduating was with ICI Paints near London, quickly becoming International Product Manager for Dulux – ranked number 57 in the world’s top 500 brands in the recent Superbrand listings.
After three years, he left Dulux to be the co-founder and CEO of Yellowbrick, a niche consulting firm delivering graduate recruitment, training and retention services to corporate clients in the UK and North America.
Colin was a Project Leader with the Career Innovation Company and is the author of 'ePeople - engaging talent in the entrepreneurial age', the Times newspaper review said “All CEOs should read it and heed it.”
Before relocating to Australia in 2002, Colin established an award-winning Business Incubator for the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and ran the MBA Entrepreneurship class.
Manager, Business Incubator
Nigel Hall
Nigel manages the Innovation Centre’s Business Incubator, attracting and developing growth oriented start-up companies.
Nigel began his career at Ernst & Young in Germany and then joined Biosym Technologies, a Molecular Design software company.
He left Biosym to start Xpedite Systems Germany, a data and telecommunications services company. Following the trade sale of Xpedite in 1997, Nigel started HighwayOne Germany and became CEO of the European network operator and data service provider. HighwayOne was sold to Telefonica, the Spanish incumbent, in 2001. During this period Nigel worked closely with several Venture Capital companies, advising them on investments in the telecommunications, wireless and IT sectors.
Prior to joining Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast, Nigel was Managing Director of Equator Investments Pty Ltd, a VC advisory and seed capital provider in Cape Town, South Africa. Nigel has been involved in raising over A$160 million in funding for various businesses since 1994.
Nigel is a Bachelor of Arts graduate of Leeds Metropolitan University, England and Betriebswirt (Business Economics) graduate of Fachhochschule Bremen, Germany and received his MBA in International Business from Clemson University, South Carolina, USA.
Operations Manager
Alison Glen
Alison manages the Innovation Centre facility and office systems, and is responsible for customer service - ensuring a smooth path for new businesses entering the building and supporting their needs as they grow.
Alison is originally from Scotland and moved to Australia in 1990, living in Victoria for a few years before settling on the Sunshine Coast. She has worked in local government and the banking sector - working for St George Bank and Westpac - and has extensive administrative and customer service experience.
Marketing & Events Coordinator
Emma Boyle
Emma organises and promotes all of the events and functions held by the Innovation Centre as well as looking after all of the marketing activities. Emma manages the extensive database of business contacts, organises public relations campaigns, manages the website, and organises advertising material.
Emma is a marketing graduate from the University of the Sunshine Coast and as part of her degree conducted market research projects for a wine region and an art gallery.
Receptionist / Events & Marketing Assistant
Hayley Passmore
Hayley runs the Innovation Centre reception, greets visitors and handles customer enquiries. She is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the facility and maintains great relationships with all client companies. On the marketing and events side, Hayley is responsible for the production of the Innovation Centre's regular newsletters, assisting with promoting and organising all events, and maintaining the extensive database of business contacts.
Hayley graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2005 with a Marketing and Management degree, and has past experience in the Real Estate industry.
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