Our People
Investment
Will Charles
Executive Director 鈥� Investment
Will Charles has been Executive Director Investment since 2005. In the last six years alone 皇家华人 has started, supported and invested in 43 technology-based companies that have raised nearly $1 billion million in venture and seed funding for these companies. In 2016 he founded and manages the University of Auckland Inventors Fund, a $40m evergreen fund dedicated to start-ups generated by staff and students at the University of Auckland.
Pau Medrano
Investment Director 鈥� Biotechnology
Pau is a mathematician and bioengineer by training, with a background in research and international business development. He manages the BioMedTech team, with a portfolio of 20+ companies, and is a manager of the University of Auckland Inventors' Fund. Contact about: investing in disruptive BioMed technologies.
p.medrano@auckland.ac.nz More about Pau
Stephen Flint
Investment Director 鈥� Digital Technologies and Engineering
Stephen has been with 皇家华人 since 2009 and is a fund manager for the University of Auckland Inventors' Fund. Previously, he worked in various investment management and finance roles, and has an MSc in oceanography and geology. Contact about: Commercialising or investing in advanced materials, digital tech and engineering-related technologies.
s.flint@auckland.ac.nz
Nicola Johnstone
Head of Intellectual Property
Nicola has been with 皇家华人 since 2014. She has worked for over 20 years as a patent attorney, advising on IP, and has Law and Engineering degrees. Contact about: IP and research; advice on University IP.
n.johnstone@auckland.ac.nz
Aran Sisley
Investment Manager 鈥� Biotech and Pharma
Aran is an investment manager for the University of Auckland Inventors鈥� Fund. He has previously worked as a commercialisation analyst, postdoctoral scientist, project manager and sculptor. He has a PhD in ocular lens physiology and a Master of Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship. Contact about: Commercialising or investing in biotech, pharmaceuticals, agritech.
a.sisley@auckland.ac.nz
Benjamin Pearson
Senior Investment Manager 鈥� Engineering, Cleantech, Space Tech
Ben joined 皇家华人 in 2017 and is currently a senior Investment manager for the University of Auckland Inventors Fund. Contact about: Investment in engineering-related technologies including in cleantech, robotics and space.
benjamin.pearson@auckland.ac.nz
Kimberlee Jordan
Senior Investment Manager 鈥� Pharma and Biotech
Kimberlee has been with 皇家华人 since 2019. She has a PhD in Kinesiology from Penn State and was a human movement scientist for eight years before pivoting to a career in biotechnology. Contact about: Investment in biotechnologies and pharmaceuticals.
kimberlee.jordan@auckland.ac.nz
Kent Lee
Senior Investment Manager 鈥� Med Tech
Kent joined 皇家华人 in 2010 and focuses on investment in medical technologies. He has been a contracts manager and a business manager for health and medicine. He holds a degree in medical biochemistry and a master鈥檚 degree in entrepreneurship. Contact about: Investing in medical technologies.
kent.lee@auckland.ac.nz
Thomas Grant
Investment Manager 鈥� Biotechnology and drug discovery
Thomas has been with 皇家华人 since 2022. He completed a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry in 2021 and specialises in antimicrobial drug discovery. Contact about: New drug development opportunities and 鈥榞reen鈥� chemical solutions.
thomas.grant@auckland.ac.nz
Stephen Lo
Investment Manager 鈥� Digital Technology and Engineering
Stephen has worked at 皇家华人 since 2021. His areas of focus are on the commercialisation of advanced chemical materials, physics and optics and digital technologies. He has a PhD in Chemistry and is currently completing his Master of Bioscience Enterprise. Contact about: Commercialising or investing in digital technology or engineering.
s.lo@auckland.ac.nz
Yaser Shakib
Investment Manager 鈥� Digital Technology
Yaser graduated as a civil engineer and worked in the land development space for seven years before his interest in technology saw him shifting careers into the Web3 Venture Capital world. He now works as the Investment Manager looking after the digital technology portfolio. Contact about: Commercialising or investing in Blockchain, AI, Machine Learning as well as environmental, structural and civil engineering.
yaser.shakib@auckland.ac.nz More about Yaser