Commercialisation team
Amanda Davies - innovation manager
Amanda's role is all about turning big ideas into real-world solutions. With a strong background in business and science, she works to connect the research community with industry, helping to identify the commercial potential of new technologies. Her expertise spans technology transfer, investment, governance and entrepreneurship, with a focus on bridging the gap between research and the private sector.
Amanda holds a Master of Science (Forensic Science) and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology from the University of Auckland. She’s also completed commercialisation training through Kiwinet and Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia, along with governance training through New Zealand’s Institute of Directors.
A notable aspect of Amanda’s career is her role as a director on the KiwiNet board, where she works to support the transformation of publicly funded research into products and services that benefit New Zealand. This role has enhanced her understanding of governance and innovation and has helped her build strong connections across the sector.
At Scion, Amanda works closely with portfolio leaders to keep projects on track, reviewing progress regularly and ensuring they’re ready for market success. She is committed to making a meaningful impact through her work, helping to ensure valuable research reaches its full potential. Her combination of scientific knowledge, business skills and governance experience allows her to play a key role in developing new technologies and fostering collaborations within the industry.
Anton Steiner - commercialisation advisor
Anton leads projects by providing strategic direction and assessing the readiness of IP for investment. He oversees the project pipeline, evaluating technologies to determine whether they should advance in commercialisation or return for further scientific development. Anton engages with investors and partner organisations, evaluates IP protection, and identifies market demand, offering recommendations to Scion’s investment committees on the viability of projects.
With expertise in commercial and IP strategy, business insight, and problem-solving, Anton ensures innovations are properly safeguarded through the IP and patent processes. He bridges the gap between complex research and business strategy, aligning scientific outputs with market needs.
Anton holds a Master’s in Bioscience Enterprise, a Master’s in Digital Business, and a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biotechnology. His career includes roles at Plant & Food Research, Victoria University of Wellington, Waikato University, and KiwiNet, specialising in technology transfer.
Anton’s journey into commercialisation was somewhat unanticipated. After completing his first master’s degree with aspirations for a consulting career, an opportunity in e-commerce and digital business shifted his path. Internships at Victoria University and KiwiNet sparked his passion for connecting science with industry, ultimately shaping his career in commercialisation.
A standout achievement for Anton was the Gastoprotein initiative, a complex collaboration between an iwi partner, Scion, and the University of Canterbury. He successfully navigated challenges to create solutions that satisfied all stakeholders. For Anton, commercialisation is about creating impactful solutions—transforming research into practical, real-world applications that benefit society.
Doug Hillyer - commercialisation associate
Doug leads and supports commercialisation projects by working closely with researchers to develop compelling narratives around emerging technologies. His role centres on answering the critical question: "Who cares about this technology and why?" Doug helps researchers identify the core value of their work, stress-test market assumptions, and find creative paths to maximise impact.
Doug’s key strengths include building relationships, simplifying complex ideas, and adaptability. He focuses on creating trust and fostering open communication with stakeholders. His ability to break down complex concepts helps researchers see the practical applications of their work. With experience in technical and non-technical roles, Doug brings fresh perspectives to problem-solving and storytelling.
Doug holds a Master's in Marketing, Innovation, and Enterprise from the University of Auckland. His previous experience includes five years at the University of Waikato, where he collaborated with researchers on projects in AI, robotics, and environmental science, including the commercialisation of a remote water sampling device. He also worked at Chronoptics, a 3D camera technology startup, where he handled sales, marketing, customer engagement, and business development.
Doug is driven by the excitement of transforming scientific discoveries into real-world solutions, creating long-term societal and economic impact through commercialisation. “I love diving into the potential of an idea, uncovering its value, and figuring out how to package it for maximum impact,” he says.
“To me, commercialisation is about creating sustainable impact. While financial viability is crucial, the goal isn’t merely to generate profit but to identify pathways that make the most sense for a given technology. This ensures the technology survives and thrives, enabling long-term societal and economic benefits.”
Krishna Patel - commercialisation analyst
Krishna has a background in science and a passion for bridging research with industry. Before this role, Krishna worked in a medical device start-up, where she gained valuable experience in quality assurance and regulatory affairs, helping transition devices from design to manufacturing.
Krishna's key strengths include problem-solving, strategic thinking, and a cross-disciplinary perspective that connects scientific discoveries with industry needs. With a Master's in Forensic Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Auckland, Krishna began her career as a lab technician before transitioning to the business, legal and marketing aspects of science.
Krishna enjoys the challenge of tailoring strategies for different technologies and is drawn to the diversity and creativity of commercialisation. In her current role, she collects data to evaluate new technologies, works with researchers to explore market applications and defines the problems technologies can solve.
A proud achievement in Krishna's career is successfully transitioning into commercialisation, leveraging a multidisciplinary background to connect science with broader societal and economic impacts. She believes commercialisation is essential for ensuring scientific discoveries move beyond the lab and into the market, creating practical solutions that benefit society and drive innovation across industries.