KiwiNet Announces New Board Appointments, Set To Advance Research Commercialisation In New Zealand

HAMILTON, New Zealand, 23 September 2025 — The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) has today announced several key governance appointments, marking a planned transition in its leadership and a bold new chapter in its mission to accelerate innovation and impact from publicly-funded research.

Katherine Sandford, an experienced global business and governance leader, has been appointed Chair of the KiwiNet Board, succeeding Dr Will Barker, who has completed his maximum tenure on the Board after seven years of service, including three as Chair.

Sandford, who has served as a director on the KiwiNet Board for the last 3 years, is joined by new Board member Kennie Tsui, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Geothermal Association and a widely respected leader in engineering, energy and innovation sectors.

In a further leadership transition, Debra Hall has completed her time as Chair of the KiwiNet Investment Committee (IC) after seven years, with Dr Andrew Kelly, Executive Director of BioPacific Partners, taking up the role. Dr Kelly has been Chair of KiwiNet’s Pipeline Committee for 3 years, and an independent IC member for 13 years. He brings decades of experience in science-based investment and commercialisation across the life sciences, agritech and biotech sectors. He will also serve on the KiwiNet Board in his capacity as IC Chair.

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KiwiNet CEO James Hutchinson acknowledged the important contributions of both Will Barker and Debra Hall in shaping the growth and direction of KiwiNet and New Zealand’s research commercialisation system.

“Will is a tireless advocate for innovation, and his steady leadership has been instrumental in helping us navigate the changes that have taken place in the last couple of years,” says Hutchinson.

“Likewise, Debra’s leadership of the Investment Committee has been pivotal in building KiwiNet’s rigorous and collaborative investment approach, supporting ventures to thrive and lifting capability within the sector. In their time with us KiwiNet has invested $36M in PreSeed Funding, with 65 start-ups created and over $430M in returns generated for New Zealand.”

Katherine Sandford says she’s excited to lead KiwiNet at a time when the New Zealand research, science and innovation sector is undergoing such fundamental change.

“KiwiNet’s collaborative model has been invaluable in strengthening expertise, growing entrepreneurship capability, and helping world-class science succeed commercially,” says Sandford.

“With the government reforms underway, there is so much potential for New Zealand to become a leader in science innovation if we get it right. I’m honoured to help guide the organisation as we unlock even more impact from our research system.”

New Board member Kennie Tsui adds further strategic depth to the Board, with a strong track record of advancing science-led solutions to meet complex societal and environmental challenges. She brings deep insight into the ways in which New Zealand can generate growth through innovation.

Dr Andrew Kelly, a veteran of the life sciences investment sector, says he is energised by the opportunity to support the next generation of research-based ventures through the Investment Committee.

“To fully unlock the economic and societal potential of research innovation in New Zealand, further investment is essential. I’m looking forward to supporting great science and bold innovators on the path to global impact,” says Kelly.

KiwiNet plays a central role in bringing New Zealand’s commercialisation sector together to accelerate high-impact science to market. By supporting commercial pathways for research, KiwiNet helps deliver powerful returns to New Zealand – tackling real-world challenges and growing the economy.

Hutchinson says the current sector reforms provide an exciting opportunity for New Zealand.

“We have a unique opportunity to scale New Zealand’s research and innovation to create massive economic impact that will last generations. Currently, less than 1% of public science, innovation and technology funding supports this critical capability – the critical bridge that helps these innovations into market. If we want New Zealand to really thrive from our science system, now is the time to invest further to strengthen the bridge so more world-changing innovations can make a difference.”

About the Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) 

KiwiNet brings New Zealand’s commercialisation sector together to accelerate public research to market, driving breakthrough innovation, investment, and proven impact for New Zealand.KiwiNet is currently made up of 15 of New Zealand’s universities and public research organisations, representing 80% of New Zealand’s publicly funded research.

Through PreSeed Accelerator funding from MBIE, training and development, expert guidance, and industry connections, KiwiNet empowers commercialisation teams and researchers to drive impact from science. To date, KiwiNet has invested $74.2M in PreSeed Accelerator Funding with 102 start-up companies established, and 864 employment opportunities generated or sustained in NZ. Our PreSeed projects since 2003 have created over $746M in known revenue to NZ. 

For more information, see https://kiwinet.org.nz

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