The UniQuest Venture Executive Program
Some of Australia’s most promising innovations originate at The University of Queensland. Realising their potential requires not only exceptional research, but experienced commercial leaders who can help translate discovery into impact.
The UniQuest Venture Executive Program (VEP) connects senior executives with emerging UQ ventures in active leadership roles. More than advisors or board members, Venture Executives work alongside researchers and founders to shape commercial strategy, engage customers and investors, and help build ventures capable of delivering meaningful outcomes.
For experienced leaders seeking to apply their expertise to world-class innovation, the program offers an opportunity to contribute to the next generation of research-led ventures and create lasting impact. For those looking to take a more active role, successful engagement may also create pathways into ongoing executive leadership positions as ventures mature and grow.
Work closely with research founders to translate world-class research into products, services and ventures with real-world impact.
Work closely with research founders to translate world-class research into products, services and ventures with real-world impact.
Supporting UQ’s research ecosystem
What the program is
UniQuest is the commercialisation company of The University of Queensland. Since 1984, UniQuest has formed more than 130 companies from UQ intellectual property, raised more than A$1 billion to advance those technologies towards market, and generated over A$97.5 billion in global product sales from licensed UQ technologies.
The ventures supported through the Venture Executive Program reflect the breadth and depth of UQ’s research ecosystem. Opportunities emerge across a diverse range of disciplines, from health, life sciences and biotechnology to engineering, digital technologies, resources, agriculture, sustainability and beyond. While each venture is unique, they share a common foundation: world-class research, strong intellectual property and a clearly defined pathway towards impact.
The Venture Executive Program provides a structured pathway for experienced executives to become involved in these ventures. Executives are initially engaged on a consulting basis with clearly defined commercial milestones, typically focused on activities such as market validation, business development, venture formation and capital raising. Where there is strong alignment between the executive and the opportunity, and key milestones are achieved, this engagement may evolve into a formal C-suite leadership role within the venture as it progresses towards growth and investment.
This is a hands-on leadership opportunity, designed for experienced executives who want to play an active role in building a venture rather than providing advice from the sidelines.
This is a hands-on leadership opportunity, designed for experienced executives who want to play an active role in building a venture rather than providing advice from the sidelines.
What you’ll do
As a Venture Executive, you will work alongside researchers and founders to help guide a venture through its earliest stages of commercial development.
Depending on the needs of the opportunity and your experience, you may:
- Shape the commercial strategy and path to market.
- Lead customer, partner and investor engagement activities.
- Drive capital raising and venture development milestones.
- Build the foundations for growth, including commercial capability, networks and strategic partnerships.
Venture Executives are typically engaged on a consulting basis with clearly defined commercial objectives and milestones. Successful delivery may create an opportunity to transition into a formal executive leadership role within the venture, supporting its next phase of growth.
Throughout the engagement, UniQuest provides access to commercialisation expertise, intellectual property, legal and investment support, allowing Venture Executives to focus on what they do best: providing the leadership, commercial insight and execution capability needed to bring innovation to market.
Roles and opportunities change as new ventures progress through the pipeline. Registering your interest ensures you are considered as relevant opportunities arise.
Who is this for?
The Venture Executive Program is designed for experienced leaders who are motivated by the opportunity to help translate world-class research into ventures capable of creating meaningful impact.
It is particularly well suited to individuals who enjoy working in emerging environments, navigating ambiguity and building organisations from the ground up.
This may include:
- Current or former CEOs and senior executives seeking a new leadership challenge.
- Commercialisation, business development and growth leaders with experience bringing new products, technologies or services to market.
- Entrepreneurs and founders who have built and scaled ventures and are looking to apply that experience to a new opportunity.
- Industry leaders with deep sector expertise and a passion for innovation.
- Executives with experience in strategy, operations, capital raising, partnerships or venture growth.
While the technologies and opportunities span the breadth of research disciplines across The University of Queensland, the qualities we value most are commercial judgement, curiosity and a collaborative mindset.
Successful Venture Executives are those who can partner effectively with researchers and founders, bring diverse perspectives together, and help build high-performing teams around a shared vision. A research background is not required; the ability to translate opportunity into action and work alongside technical experts is.
Successful Venture Executives are those who can partner effectively with researchers and founders, bring diverse perspectives together, and help build high-performing teams around a shared vision. A research background is not required; the ability to translate opportunity into action and work alongside technical experts is.
A unique opportunity
How is this different to joining an established business?
Joining a UQ spinout is fundamentally different from joining an established business. These ventures are built on world-class research and intellectual property developed at The University of Queensland, one of Australia’s leading research institutions. The scientific foundation is already in place; the opportunity lies in translating that foundation into a sustainable and impactful business.
The ventures within the program emerge from a diverse pipeline of research and innovation opportunities. While their technology and markets may differ, they share a common challenge: navigating the path from promising innovation to commercial success. This is where experienced commercial leadership plays a critical role.
As a Venture Executive, you are not building in isolation. Participants gain access to UniQuest’s established commercialisation ecosystem, including networks of investors, industry partners, experienced founders and fellow Venture Executives. Alongside specialist support in areas such as intellectual property, legal and venture development, this community provides valuable connections, insights and opportunities to accelerate venture growth.
For many executives, the program offers a unique opportunity to combine commercial leadership with purpose, working alongside researchers to help bring innovations with significant economic and societal potential into the world.
How to get involved:
Register your interest
If you are interested in joining the Venture Executive community, register your expression of interest below. You will be kept across current and upcoming opportunities, invited to networking events, and considered for roles that match your experience and sector expertise.
Registration takes around five minutes and covers your experience, areas of expertise and the kind of commitment you are looking for.
Want to talk to someone first?
foundingexecutive@uniquest.com.au +61 (07) 3365 4037 and follow us on LinkedIn
