New GM for UniQuest's Consulting & Research division

UniQuest Pty Limited, The University of Queensland’s (UQ) main commercialisation company, has appointed Joe McLean as General Manager of its Consulting & Research (C&R) Division.

The $14 million revenue-generating division works closely with university researchers to facilitate around 500 consulting and research projects each year, responding to industry and government demand for high quality expert opinion and consultancy services.

Mr McLean joined UniQuest’s Technology Commercialisation division in 2002 as the Manager for Innovation and Commercial Development in UQ’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (SBS). He was appointed Group Manager for the Social Science and Humanities discipline group in 2008.

He  was instrumental in establishing the UQ Cultural Heritage Unit within the School of Social Science, which is a UniQuest business providing archaeological and anthropological services to industry, government and NGOs.  Business growth has seen the Unit’s billings exceed $1 million in research revenue a year.

Mr McLean also initiated the relationship between the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) and UniQuest C&R. The ISSR is involved in a number of Commonwealth Government panels via UniQuest, and recently secured a major project through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs panel evaluating the ‘Dad and Partner Pay’ program.

“With Joe’s business acumen and intimate knowledge of how UniQuest and the University work together, the transition to his new position will be virtually seamless,” said UniQuest Managing Director, David Henderson.

“The networks and expertise Joe developed in previous roles with the Queensland government and Co-operative Research Centres (CRCs) will also add value to the Division, which is currently experiencing 21 per cent growth,” Mr Henderson said.

Focusing on intellectual property policy and licensing, information management and innovation policy, Mr McLean led negotiations on behalf of combined state governments on the first whole of government copyright licence agreement with Copyright Agency Limited.

Prior to joining UniQuest Mr McLean was engaged as a consultant to UQ on the development of IT policy and management. While based in the SBS faculty, Mr McLean was engaged in research matters at a university-wide level as a member of the UQ Research Committee.  He has also participated in the Latin American Strategy Group and helped UQ build relations with universities and governments in South America.

Mr McLean’s other global interactions have introduced new business opportunities to UniQuest and UQ. He has managed the licence for the globally successful Triple P Positive Parenting Program and was a founding director of the SBS faculty’s first research-based start-up company, Leximancer Pty Ltd. Recently, Mr McLean negotiated international licences for the Latch-On multimedia literacy program for young adults with an intellectual disability, and BRAVE Online, a ground-breaking approach to treating childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders.

Mr McLean said he was looking forward to transferring his focus from commercialising novel technologies and programs to marketing innovative expertise and resources.

“Working with the C&R division on various projects involving academics from the SBS faculty, I have seen the Division prosper substantially over the past few years, and I believe the prospects for further growth are exciting,” Mr McLean said.

“High profile successes such as the recent $1.3 million contract awarded to UQ’s Centre for Online Health and facilitated by C&R, are testament to the abilities within C&R to engage successfully with both the university community and a range of clients. I am keen to add my experience and expertise to the Division’s capabilities and future directions,” Mr McLean said.