Dr James Hutchinson

CEO at Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet)

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CEO, KiwiNet
Policy Fellow Alumnus, Centre for Science and Policy

James is CEO at the Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet), a consortium of Universities, Crown Research Institutes and other publicly-funded research organisations who are powering-up research commercialisation to build a globally-competitive high-tech sector in New Zealand. He leads a team that is empowering people who are involved in research commercialisation to access the tools, connections, investment and support they need.

James has experience in supporting research & innovation in the UK and internationally with a particular focus on the life sciences and global societal challenges. He led a team of highly-knowledgeable programme specialists to develop and implement a programme of science policy, advocacy, networking, conferences, workshops and other initiatives, working in close partnership with the international chemical science community. He is an experienced project leader who has a strong track record of working with government, industry and academia at senior levels.

James was a Junior Policy Fellow of the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) at the University of Cambridge, UK, while at the Royal Society of Chemistry, having authored over 20 pieces of science policy covering strategic reports, government consultation responses and position statements. He led a successful campaign to the UK Government in 2013, on behalf of the broader chemical science community, to protect public investment in science, and has participated in several advisory groups and expert panels to government bodies and NGOs.

James has provided expert comment in print, online, radio and television news media across a range of science, policy and public-interest areas, from research funding to the science of wine.

James holds a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Cambridge (2009) and a BSc in Biological Sciences (specialising in medicinal chemistry) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand (2004).