Sunil believes a thoughtful business plan underpins a platform of common understanding between all interested parties in a venture. This enables the establishment of shared goals and improved teamwork between technologists, the staff, and business partners. In particular, he works towards converting complex science and business concepts into simple and understandable language.
Sunil has over 30 years’ experience in transforming innovation into business success. His first commercial project in 1987 saved his employer $3 million per annum and helped introduce an enhanced product range. After emigrating to New Zealand in 1993, he managed the intellectual property portfolio of 120 patents for Industrial Research Limited (now Callaghan Innovation). He sold and licensed the intellectual property in New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the USA.
In 2000 he was appointed General Manager of Science at Industrial Research Limited with 250 direct reports and a budget of $30 million. In 2005 he was appointed CEO of the Building Research Association and in 2008 he began his own entrepreneurial activity. In recent years he has assisted over 20 innovative concepts to progress to start-up companies or commercialization.
Sunil has held numerous governance positions including at MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) and Damping Systems Limited (joint venture with Oiles Corporation, Japan). He currently holds positions in Edpotential Ltd, Westmedic Ltd, Ablex Ltd and is an advisor to Toku Eyes Ltd and Cetogenix Ltd.
Sunil holds a doctorate degree from the University of Oxford (UK, on scholarship), MBA from University of Witwatersrand (South Africa, on scholarship) and has received executive training from the Darden Business School (USA).
