QUT Commercialisation Club: Built to Last - The Partnerships Behind Innovation
Description
📢Speakers Announced!
Successful partnerships don't start with funding—they start with people.
This QUT Commercialisation Club brings together research and industry leaders for a conversation about collaboration, opportunity and the relationships that underpin successful innovation.
Through real-world partnership stories and an interactive panel discussion, speakers will share lessons from working across industry and academia, offering insights into how strong collaborations are built and sustained over time.
Whether you're a researcher, industry professional, entrepreneur, student or innovation leader, join us for an honest conversation about building partnerships that thrive in a changing innovation landscape.
Hosted by:
Kate Taylor - QUT Acting Chief Commercialisation and Development Officer
QUT Commercialisation Club events are free to attend and open to the QUT community as well as external partners and guests.
Please invite your network to join you at this event.
Registration and welcome drinks from 3:45pm, the Welcome address will commence at 4:30pm.
Hosts
Kate Taylor - QUT Acting Chief Commercialisation and Development Officer
Kate Taylor is Acting Chief Commercialisation and Development Officer at QUT, and substantively serves as Director, Industry Engagement – Health and Social Impact. Kate leads teams dedicated to building high-impact research partnerships, securing funding and accelerating the translation of research and innovation into practice. With more than 15 years' experience across technology transfer, business development and entrepreneurship, she is a recognised leader in Australia's commercialisation sector. Kate serves as Chair of Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA) and the Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC); and was part of the leadership team behind QUT's recognition as the 2025 Global Entrepreneurial Leadership Team of the Year.
Speakers
Professor Alexander Paz - Transport and Main Roads Chair, QUT
Using data, technology and analytics to build safer, smarter and more efficient transport systems. Alex is a leading transport engineer whose work spans road safety, transport planning, intelligent transport systems and infrastructure management. His research combines advanced analytics, modelling and technology to solve real-world transport challenges, with several innovations adopted by industry and commercialised internationally. Over his career, he has secured more than $22 million in research funding and collaborated with government and industry partners including TMR, Brisbane City Council and Verizon. Alex is particularly interested in how emerging transport technologies can improve safety, accessibility and mobility, helping create transport systems that better serve diverse communities.
Professor Dennis Walsh PSM - Chief Engineer, Department of Transport and Main Roads
Driving innovation and emerging technologies to shape safer, smarter transport systems for Queensland. Dennis is a QUT engineering alumnus and one of Queensland's most respected transport and infrastructure leaders. With more than 30 years' experience spanning civil engineering, transport planning, intelligent transport systems and road safety, he has helped shape the technologies and infrastructure that support communities across the state. He is a member of several Boards including Austroads, Queensland Director of ANCAP, Vice President of ITS Australia, and Interim Chair of Transmax. Dennis is passionate about fostering innovation and bringing together expertise across industry, government and research. His contributions have been recognised with the Public Service Medal and the Engineers Australia Transport Medal.
Professor Markus Rittenbruch - Professor in Interaction Design, QUT
Designing technologies that put people at the centre of innovation. With more than 25 years' experience in interaction design, user experience and human-computer interaction, Markus specialises in bridging the gap between emerging technologies and the people who use them. His research combines expertise in design, technology and end-user engagement to create innovative solutions that are intuitive, useful and responsive to human needs. Spanning fields such as human-robot collaboration, collaborative systems and interactive technologies, Markus has led major research initiatives and industry partnerships that translate cutting-edge research into practical, real-world outcomes.
Gareth Keen – Senior Manager Engineering, Cook Medical
Bridging engineering, manufacturing and innovation to bring life-changing medical technologies to market. With a background in mechanical engineering and broad experience spanning engineering, operations and advanced manufacturing, Gareth has built a career delivering innovative products in complex and highly regulated industries. At Cook Medical, he leads engineering teams focused on quality, continuous improvement and operational excellence. A strong advocate for Australian manufacturing, Gareth works closely with research, industry and technology partners to translate innovation into impactful healthcare solutions, helping strengthen sovereign capability while improving outcomes for patients around the world.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
Register
This event has passedRegister
This event has passed