Judging Panel - Melbourne University Entrepreneurs' Challenge :: . plan . pitch . pursue. MUEC 2006/7 Final Judging Panel
| Our panels are always made up of independent, well-respected business professionals and entrepreneurs.
If you are interested in contributing by being a judge please contact judging@muec.mbs.edu
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| 2 years
| Name
| Peter Magee
| Professional Background
| Director - Corporate Finance, JT Campbell
Previous corporate finance experience with Merrill Lynch and Deloitte which entailed advising on numerous public and private market takeover transactions.
Have participated in the establishment of a business having co-founded a retail consulting business and serve as a non-executive Director of the company.
| Why interested in MUEC
| - Considering opportunities as a venture capitalist
- A desire to contribute to the competition, having been active in the establishment of the Melbourne Business School Entrepreneur’s Club which founded MUEC
| How many years with MUEC
| - Second year with MUEC as a judge
- Third year with exposure to MUEC
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| Name
| Jordan Green (CPEng, MBA)
| Professional Background
| As an alumnus and sometime guest lecturer at MBS, Jordan Green has been involved with MUEC since its inception as a mentor and judge.
Jordan has led his own consultancy since 1998 and worked as an executive, consultant and contract executive in senior management teams in Australia and overseas. Jordan continues to pursue his interests in Australia and overseas including his role as a founding partner of Melbourne Venture Partners Pty. Ltd., a venture capital fund manager and corporate advisory firm ; Chairman of OOB Pty. Ltd., an intellectual property commercialisation agent; Board Advisor for Websyte Corporation Pty. Ltd., an Internet-based community guide and e-business facilitator; Director of International Representatives Pty. Ltd., an engineering and management services firm; Board Adviser/Public Officer for Sikorski-Green, a specialist provider of professional systems engineering services.
Previously International Vice President of a Silicon Valley software company, CEO of an Australian engineering services firm, Chief Marketing Officer of Australia’s first and largest commercial Internet registrar/registry and General Manager of an Internet technology-focused Business Incubator/Accelerator. Jordan has also been a director and senior executive of other technology and engineering companies in Australia and Europe since starting his career with IBM in 1984.
Jordan has worked in Europe and Asia, leading technology and business projects up to $500,000,000 in value. In Silicon Valley Jordan was Vice President and Director of Coryphaeus Software (now Centric Software), for which company Jordan built a global distribution network and market, as well as being instrumental in the redesign of software for commercialisation. Jordan led Coryphaeus strategic business relationships with suppliers, competitors and partners in the USA, Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Jordan remains an investor in this company having already cashed in 1,000+% in returns from his equity participation.
Jordan has been an invited lecturer at Universities in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. First qualified as an Electronics Engineer Jordan also has an MBA (MBS ’97) and a number of postgraduate qualifications in marketing, product development and managing innovation.
Jordan enjoys new frontiers, bringing to bear his passion, enthusiasm and energy in dynamic situations encompassing a global perspective. Jordan enjoys working across cultural boundaries and using that influence to modify and enhance work place culture to achieve more, faster, better with happier people.
As CEO, engineer, team specialist, project manager, executive, consultant, adviser and investor Jordan has over twenty years experience in the strategic and tactical application of engineering, manufacturing, computing and information technologies to business and industry. Jordan’s exposure to strategic capital has included spin-ins, spin-outs, acquisitions and start-ups in Australia, Europe, Asia and Silicon Valley. Having lived on the bleeding edge since the introduction of the personal computer, Local Area Networks and Computer Aided Engineering in the early 80s then on to advanced graphics and real-time systems in the mid-90s and integrating the Internet into businesses in the 21st century, Jordan has evolved with the industry, management, sales, marketing, revenue, investment and development models that underpin today’s commercial markets.
| Why interested in MUEC
| - MBS Alumnus
- Experienced Australian entrepreneur, manager and investor interested to foster higher quality entrepreneurial opportunities and outcomes
- Venture capitalist seeking investment opportunities
- This is fun!!!!
| How many years with MUEC
| - As a judge – 4 (every year and will continue for as long as I am invited back)
- As a mentor – 1 (first year of challenge)
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| Name
| Andrew Williams (BEc LLB)
| Professional Background
| Investment Director, Information City Australia (ICA), Melbourne based early stage Pre-Seed fund and incubator created under the Federal Government ICTIP initiative. It’s shareholders include Ericsson, Allen & Buckeridge, JTP and Ballarat University
http://www.informationcity.com.au/
Principal Consultant - Metro Pacific Capital,
Corporate Advisory, based in Southbank.
Strategic advice to early stage ventures, sources equity funding, conducts business turnaround.
Drew is well versed in Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Planning, Strategic Market Analysis, Financial Modeling, Capital Raising, Due Diligence & Investment Readiness Reviews.
Formerly a commercial and taxation lawyer and merchant banker, both in London & here in Melbourne.
Member: Panel of Professional Advisers, Business Victoria.
| Why interested in MUEC
| - We’re fascinated by processes used to identify & develop new markets and uses for fresh IP. The more we see, the more we might understand.
- Traditional areas of R & D are going through a state of flux. This is a good place to observe it.
| How many years with MUEC
| - Judge: 5 years
- Mentor: 2002, with a ‘Quinella’, both 1st & 2nd prizes.
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| Name
| John Sabljak
| Professional Background
| Twenty years + experience in finance and accounting role, venture capital and business consulting in the area of information technology.
| Why interested in MUEC
| Interested in MUEC to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. I am also currently consulting with some start up entities.
| How many years with MUEC
| I have been a mentor once at MUEC and judged at MUEC five times and once at Adelaide University's entrepreneurship challenge.
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| Name
| Name
| Doron Ben-Meir
| Professional Background
| Since 1991, Doron Ben-Meir has founded and managed five technology based businesses across a variety of industry sectors including: Gaming & Wagering, Loyalty Marketing, Access Control, Specialised Off-Set Printing, Smart Card Manufacture and Payment Systems. Geographically these businesses have been active in Australia, U.K, Germany, Singapore and the U.S.
An active venture capital manager since late 1999, Doron has led a number of early/expansion stage investments and assisted in the portfolio management of many more.
In partnership with Jagen Pty Ltd (a substantial Melbourne based private equity investor) Doron is currently an investment principal with direct Board level responsibility for 6 Jagen portfolio companies as well as being a member of Jagen’s Management Committee which determines investment recommendations for the group.
Doron holds a Science Degree in Physics & Mathematics and a First Class Honours Degree in Electrical & Computer Systems Engineering, from Monash University. He is a graduate of the 28th Annual Venture Capital Institute (sponsored by the National Venture Capital Association in the US) and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
| Why interested in MUEC
| My interest in MUEC is participation in the training of entrepreneurs to help improve the overall talent pool from which successful venture deals may emerge.
| How many years with MUEC
| I’ve been a Judge for MUEC for the last 5 years.
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| Name
| Tania Bezzobs
| Professional Background
| My current role as Business Development Manager at Deakin University allows me to integrate my business training (MBA) with formal qualifications in science (BSc (Hons), PhD (Sci)). Since August 2001, when I started in this position, I have been working with Deakin researchers from diverse areas as public health and nutrition to materials science, environmental engineering, manufacturing and intelligent systems, to assist them in building better and more productive relationships with industry and government organisations.
My particular focus has been on seeking funding from non-traditional sources to build capabilities for Deakin and Victoria.
As an example, in one of Deakin’s areas of research excellence, we have established VCAMM Limited to provide a one-stop shop interface between researchers and industry. I led and coordinated all legal negotiations, business planning and financial forecasting for this collaborative project (worth ~$20 million total value) including the administrative requirements for the establishment of the company. I was a Director of this company for its first three years of its life.
Other activities include the identification, protection and early-stage commercialisation of intellectual property, primarily in engineering related areas (nanotechnology and electrical engineering).
Prior to my position at Deakin, I spent almost four years in the Victorian Government, with the last year in the Science Technology and Innovation division of the Department of State and Regional Development as a program manager, with responsibility for the coordination and monitoring of program funds. Before this role, I developed statutory policies for the protection of the marine environment at the Environment Protection Authority.
Professionally, my motivation is derived from my desire to make a direct or indirect difference to society, by ensuring that knowledge that others create is disseminated and used, as appropriate, in a commercial or a public good sense. I also enjoy the intellectual stimulation of being exposed to new ideas generated by energetic and enthusiastic people who think that what they do can make a difference.
As part of my personal commitment to ongoing learning and development, I am currently studying my Masters of Intellectual Property Law.
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| Name
| Albert Ip
| Professional Background
| Albert is a highly sought after entrepreneur and has successfully commercialized projects from business plan writing competitions, including his award-winning MUEC business plan in 2003. He has also represented Australia in the Global Entrepreneurs' Challenge 2004 in Singapore. He has been a mentor for MUEC teams since 2004 and is now a judge for MUEC.
Albert was originally a medical doctor for 12 years before his MBA at the Melbourne Business School. He now focuses on commercialization of health, biotechnology and IT projects. His goal is to bridge the scientific community with the commercial world, by speaking science to the commercial people and commerce to the scientific people.
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| Name
| Charles Gillies
| Professional Background
| Charles has a total of 16 years operational management experience in strategic development, investment management, marketing and strategy consulting as well as time as CEO of an internet services business. He managed the re-branding and re-positioning of a financial institution in addition to providing strategy and marketing advice to some of Australia’s largest companies. He has been active in venture capital and private equity investing since 2000 and works closely with, and has served on, the Boards of Redfern Polymer Optics, Redfern Integrated Optics and Plantic Technologies.
Charles has been a guest lecturer in Strategic Management at Deakin University. He also lectured and was a taskforce member for 5 years in the Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment program for the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA). Charles has a Masters of Business Administration from the Melbourne Business School (he was the HJ Heinz Scholar in 1991), is a Senior Fellow of FINSIA and has a Bachelor of Science / Arts from the University of Melbourne.
| Why interested in MUEC
| I think that it is important that a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship is fostered in learning institutions. MUEC helps to meld those at university with strong, innovative ideas with those who have a commercial experience to build and entrepreneurial business. Also, I am an alumni of MBS and am happy to help.
| How many years with MUEC
| Since 2001
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| Name
| Ilmars Draudins
| Background
| Ilmars is one of the two Principals of Collins Advisory, a specialised, independent, Corporate Advisory business, whose focus is to develop the potential of organisations through an active engagement model.
Ilmars founded Collins Advisory with Andrew Brooks in 2004, to fulfil the need for an independent advisory company to assist Australian companies increase their rate of success.
As one of the Principals, Ilmars contributes to the wealth of experience in high growth companies and has many years of successful Investment Banking experience, helping companies to deliver on their business development plans.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Commence IT career as a programmer and Development Manager
- Numerous Sales Positions for major IT companies
- Management positions in the IT industry and IT Education
- Founding Partner in Nextec Corporation
- Over 8 years successful track record in Investment Banking, completing numerous capital raisings, public floats and M & A activities
CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Ilmars is a professional manager and marketer with a very successful track record in the IT industry and investment banking.
Ilmars' career covers many industries including electronics, communications, education, high speed networking and information technology He has over 25 years experience in the IT industry with various technical, management, sales and marketing roles. He has an exceptionally successful track record in sales of hardware and software solutions, high speed networking solutions and also managing an educational delivery company.
Since being a founding partner of Nextec, Ilmars has used his general management, senior project management, marketing and sales skills to head up many of Nextec’s successful project teams. His achievements include a number of public listings, strategic assignments, identifying and realising value for client companies, commercialisation strategies and merger and acquisition project work.
In addition to leading many successful assignments at Nextec, Ilmars has also been performing an overall role as COO managing the day to day operations and coordinating the administration and financial resources of the company.
QUALIFICATIONS
- B.E. (Electrical), University of NSW
- M.B.A., Monash University
- Certificate in Direct Marketing, A.D.M.A
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| Name
| Charlie Day
| Background
| Dr Charlie Day is the Managing Director of Melbourne Ventures Pty Limited. Prior to joining the Ventures Division Charlie spent eight years in engineering research and management consulting.
Charlie joined MUP from The Boston Consulting Group, where he spent three years working on strategic advice for clients in a range of industries throughout Australasia including airlines, banking, and software development. In addition to his client work Charlie was a member of the Corporate Development practice area, which studied issues concerning Corporate Structure and Finance, among others.
Before BCG, Charlie worked for Hagen & Co, an innovative start-up consulting firm focused on performance improvement in manufacturing. His assignments there covered food, industrial goods, and consumer durables.
Charlie has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne, and a DPhil in gas turbine design from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.
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| Name
| Harry Tan
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| Name
| Jason Cotton
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| Name
| Lawrence Bremner
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| Name
| Paul Whitehead
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| Name
| Hun Gan
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