David Claridge Email & Phone Number

Auckland, New Zealand

Innovation Advisor within the Regional Business Partner Network, working with Auckland business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to build capability in business management and innovation. Actively identifying and assisting those with the aspiration, commitment and opportunity to innovate and grow, thus creating and sustaining quality jobs.

Central Auckland

• Working with emerging technology companies to access resources (including: grant and investment funding; training; and specialist expertise) in partnership with Callaghan Innovation, NZ Trade and Enterprise, Auckland.
• Presenting funding applications to Callaghan Innovation Investment Committees (won over $10M R&D funding for 80+ ventures in CY20). Sitting as Observer on Return on Science Investment Committee meetings.
• Being Judge and Mentor for university entrepreneurship programs (undergrads, postgrads and academics) -currently engaged with 8 university spinout companies (plus others, indirectly). Guest lecturer on innovation.
• Working with early-stage inventors, scientists and engineers to navigate Auckland’s outwardly-daunting innovation ecosystem and connect them with peers, innovation events, places and experts. Help them rapidly progress.
• Contributing to internal Auckland Unlimited and Callaghan Innovation business improvement programs (retaining focus on Customer Experience) as well as contributing to external policy documents (e.g. recent submission.

Central Auckland

Activate Tāmaki Makaurau was the delivery programme for $50M of the Auckland business support package announced by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Small Business on 22 October 2021. This programme was created in 6 weeks (usual delivery 6+ months), resourced by 14 partner organisations (including Whāriki, Pacific Business Trust, EMA, Auckland.

Auckland, New Zealand

Swiftsure Innovation offered workshops and advisory services to assist ventures in commercialising ideas and technologies into sustainable, shareholder-value creating businesses, via: - Opportunity assessment -an early view of viability and potential value; - Market validation, value proposition creation and business model design; - Addressing funding.

Auckland, New Zealand

Fixed Term Contract: progressed stakeholders' commercialisation projects through KiwiNet's commercialisation process, including preparing presentations to Investment Committee for funding.

Auckland

At University of Auckland's Business School, enrolled for Master of Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (MCE). Achieved A- average grade in papers, qualifying for Post-Graduate Certificate in Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship. Simultaneously performed contract Technology Commercialisation work for an Engineering Services client introducing a.

Worked with Senior Management Team on analysing Comworth’s current business (environment, market sectors, products, channels and end-user analyses) then deciding market sector and channel opportunities to pursue further.

A fixed term contract where I was responsible for implementing, on time, a company-wide operational review, seeking to streamline delivery of GFG’s consumer electronic payments software to its customer-base of banks and Mobile Network Operators (MNO’s). Included introducing standard management practises (e.g. measuring throughput, inspecting deliverables).

Cecam supplied live Dispatch and Management fleet management software and associated GPRS-based data comms to the New Zealand Taxi Industry. Cecam manufactured the in-car equipment as well as the software/hardware at base (controlling a fleet's bookings and payments). I was responsible for all commercial functions (e.g. sales, accounts, operations) and.

Developed and supplied new wholesale telecommunications services to TelstraClear

Commenced CE certification of manufactured inflatable boats plus obtained Industry New Zealand funding for exporting.

Frankfurt Am Main Area, Germany

Expanded Telstra's London-based wholesale business into Europe by establishing start-up operation in Frankfurt. Revenue peaked at NZD 3M per month.

Established and managed the business relationships, and all commercial aspects, of the international telecommunications network between CLEAR and overseas telecommunications companies. Managed business casing and subsequent build of new international infrastructure.

International Postings

Supervised computer processing of seismic exploration data for international gold and oil clients. Worked in Wellington, London, Venezuela, Nigeria, South Africa and Dubai.

Pgcert, Commercialisation And Entrepreneurship, A- Average

Completed papers for Masters, qualifying for Post Graduate Certificate, but left before Masters project to focus on Swiftsure Innovation.

Mba, Finance

Msc Hons, Geophysics, Geology

Education record