Anna Grocholsky brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role of Director, Commercialisation and Innovation.
We asked Anna a number of questions about her professional background and expertise, aspirations for the role, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
What’s the elevator pitch / layman’s version of your professional background and expertise?
Always a creative thinker, and as a new graduate working in industry as a product development scientist, I started asking questions about protecting our innovations. Also, I began examining emerging intellectual property of similar institutions. My curiosity and passion were rewarded when I was asked to join the in-house IP team. I had found my natural vocation and I have not looked back. My horizons were widened at the University of Sydney and the University of Western Sydney. Most recently I established my own thriving IP and commercialisation business. Along this path I gained credentials as a Trade Mark Attorney and Master of Intellectual Property (University of Technology Sydney).
Why did you choose your career path?
I enjoy a lot of things: science, maths, music, art, and driving and working on my vintage car. At school I was best at maths and science. This led to a science degree and work in materials testing and development. Novel uses of materials directed me toward IP and commercialisation. The opportunity to work with researchers directly at the University of Sydney gave me a vital appreciation of the necessary cooperative partnership between academia and industry.
What attracted you to Macquarie?
The vision and strategic direction of Macquarie inspired me. The campus is vibrant and innovative. The benefits of innovation must be maximised, for both the University and the researchers, by a dynamic IP and commercialisation department.
What do you hope to achieve in the new role?
I welcome the opportunity to promote innovations within the Macquarie research community and to foster commercialisation partnerships by engaging, in an entrepreneurial spirit, with the wider community. An expanded IP portfolio brings kudos (and sometimes money) to both researchers and the University.
What do you see as the opportunities and challenges for research commercialisation and innovation in the next five to 10 years?
My responsibility is to foster trusting relationships with all faculties. The challenge is to encourage both students and staff to more actively seek the commercialisation of their discoveries, and to raise the awareness of the benefits of doing so. There are obvious benefits to the Australian community in commercialising local innovations.
Reach out to Anna about your work: anna.grocholsky@mq.edu.au