IT stalwart and finance advisor appointed to UniQuest board

Two new directors have been appointed to the Board of UniQuest, the commercialisation company of The University of Queensland (UQ), and Australia’s leading research commercialisation entity.

“UniQuest Chairman Dr Jay Hetzel said UQ Holdings had appointed IT stalwart and highly-regarded businessman and sporting administrator John Grant and digital start-up advisor Richard Moore to the UniQuest Board.

“John Grant brings a lifetime of achievement as a pioneering leader in the Australian information technology industry,” Dr Hetzel said.

“He was a partner and subsequently Managing Director of IT company Data#3 Limited and led it from its ASX listing in 1997 to revenues approaching $1 billion.

“In 2008 he was inducted into the Australian IT industry’s Hall of Fame, and in 2010 was awarded the industry’s top accolade, the Pearcey Medal for distinguished lifetime achievement and contribution to the information and communications technology industry.”

Mr Grant recently stepped down as the inaugural Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission. Previously he was Chair of the Australian Information Industry Association, the Australian Government’s IT Industry Innovation Council and the Queensland Government’s IT Industry Advisory Board.

Dr Hetzel said Mr Moore brought an unusual combination of skills in mathematics, corporate finance and computer science.

“Over the past 20 years, Richard has built a strong track record in the finance and IT sectors and is now actively involved with Brisbane digital start-ups, currently working as an early-stage internet company advisor,” he said.

“He previously held senior positions at Citigroup in Equity Capital Markets and at Bankers Trust in Funds Management. In addition, he was CEO and a director of the highly-successful internet start-up Dark Blue Sea.

“Richard and John will strengthen the Board’s IT and finance industry knowledge-base and networks.

“Our goal over the coming years is to accelerate UniQuest’s translation of research discoveries into valuable technologies and to build on the current impressive list of industry partnerships.”

UQ owns UniQuest through UQ Holdings Pty Ltd.