Director, Partnerships, Networks and Sponsors

Russell Nicholls is Associate Director, Commercialisation at The University of Western Australia where he leads a team of professionals that identifies opportunities emerging from research and translates them into commercial outcomes. He also has oversight for the portfolio of spinout companies. Russell joined the KCA Board in September 2022, taking on the role of Director, Partnerships, Networks and Sponsors.

Russell has extensive experience in start-ups, IP strategy, innovation management, licensing, securing investment and grant funding and has specialist knowledge of biopharma, med-tech and agri-food sectors. He has founded a technology commercialisation consultancy and was Deputy Director, Commercialisation at Curtin University for 10 years. Previously he worked in university technology transfer and innovation management in the pharmaceutical industry in the UK.

Russell is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). He holds a Graduate Certificate in IP Law, MSc in Management of IP (London) and a BSc with Honours in Applied Neuroscience (Manchester).