Innovation Centre Board of Directors


Professor Mike Hefferan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement), University of the Sunshine Coast (Chairman)

Professor Mike Hefferan brings a strong background in property and business precinct development and while working for the Queensland Government was responsible for much of the 'Smart State' initiative which included the establishment of the Australian Institute for Commercialisation - where he was the interim CEO - the establishment of Aviation Australia and the i.lab Incubator at Toowong.


Professor Evan Douglas, Dean Faculty of Business, University of the Sunshine Coast
Professor Evan Douglas is Dean of the Faculty of Business at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Initially, he taught economics and, then, entrepreneurship in more than a dozen business schools in the USA, Canada, England, Australia, China, India and Thailand.
Evan's current research interests include entrepreneurial attitudes and abilities, the self-employment decision, new venture risk analysis, and issues relating to new venture funding and new venture strategy.
Before undertaking the Deanship at USC, Evan was Head of the Brisbane Graduate School of Business at Queensland University of Technology, and prior to that was Associate Dean of Business at Bond University.


Mr Mike Schwartz, Regional General Manager, Commercial Banking, QLD Metro North, Westpac

Mike Schwartz has extensive global experience in banking, finance, IT and communications, has valuable direct experience with IT start-up companies and is passionate about the Innovation Centre and its drive to create new jobs on the Sunshine Coast. Mike was also previously a General Manager at Telstra, VP at Goldman Sachs and a Management Consultant with the Boston Consulting Group.


Mr Andrew Fern, Director of Operations, The Australian Institute for Commercialisation 
Andrew Fern is responsible for internal operations within the AIC including systems and processes. His efforts are substantially directed towards internal best practise, strategy, delivery support, and ensuring efficient use of AIC resources.

Andrew’s experience includes P&L management of Australian businesses, an executive role across Australia and New Zealand in a large international software vendor, and a CIO role in a then ASX 200. He has experience defining commercial and go-to-market strategy, managing intellectual property and negotiating partner agreements in differing industry sectors nationally and internationally.

With first hand start-up company experience, Andrew is a contributor to our programs aimed at early stage entrepreneurs. He is passionate about early stage companies and the AIC programs aimed at assisting these companies through the commercialisation process.

He holds a Bachelor of Business from Monash University, and is undertaking a Masters by Research in sustainable energy technology diffusion through QUT.


Ms Julie-Anne Mee, BBus C.Qld., MAdmin Griff., FCPA, JP (Qual)
Julie-Anne is a member of the University Council, Chair of USC's Audit & Risk Management Committee, and has been involved in Innovation Centre activities in the past. Julie-Anne is a qualified accountant who has held senior operational positions in commerce, the public sector and the university sector over the last 30 years. In 2006, Julie-Anne commenced working with the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (CPNS) on a part-time basis in the rollout of the Standard Chart of Accounts project, initially in Queensland and subsequently throughout other jurisdictions within Australia. Other work has included writing and presentation of accounting related units for CPA Australia, teaching and unit development of financial accounting standards at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Julie-Anne is also an Accounting Sessional at QUT in the work placement arena.  Julie-Anne is involved in her local Stanley River/Mt Mee community through as well as being the Parish Secretary for the Stanley River Catholic Parish (Kilcoy and Woodford).