Al Monro replaces Sir Peter Maire on Callaghan Innovation board

Al Monro has been appointed to the board of government-funded business innovation agency Callaghan Innovation, replacing Sir Peter Maire who's stepping down after two years to focus on his business interests.

Callaghan Innovation was set up in 2013 to support Kiwi businesses in science and technology-based commercialisation.

Board chairwoman Sue Suckling said Sir Peter, a leading technology entrepreneur and one of eight founding members of the board, had brought fresh thinking and commercial perspectives to the Crown entity.

"Sir Peter has played a key role in shaping Callaghan Innovation into an organisation that is in tune with the needs of business,"she said.

Sir Peter, who founded early GPS device market entrant Navman in 1986, is a majority shareholder of Invenco, a secure payment technologies business, and a director and shareholder of NZX-listed Rakon NZ, which has struggled since the commoditisation of the oscillating crystal components Rakon makes for use in mobile communications.

His replacement, Mr Monro, is a former chief executive of Next Window, a touch-screen technology innovator sold to Smart Technologies of Canada, which closed Next Windows down, and is currently a principal and director at Broadfield Advisory, which he co-founded in 2013 to help Kiwi tech companies expand globally. He's also on the boards of noise-cancelling technology developer Phitek Systems, Umajin, eStar, Baanto, and is chairman of corporate registry consultants Foster Moore.

Robin Hapi was also reappointed to the board today. Other board members include Richard Janes, Paul Lockey, Michele Allan, Professor Peter Hunter and NZX-listed Wynyard Group [NZX: WYN] chief executive Craig Richardson.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce also announced today that 18 technology companies have now been approved funding of $7.8 million under the repayable grants introduced through the new technology incubators funded through Callaghan.

The companies have each received funding of up to $450,000 over two years, which have to be matched by private equity of up to $150,000 per company.

Mr Joyce said some grant recipients have the potential to disrupt a variety of sectors globally.

"For example, one of the technologies, which aims to reduce the cost of water removal and recovery, could be a game-changer worldwide."

The government allocated $31.3 million in new funding in 2013 spread over four years for the repayable grants.

BusinessDesk receives funding to help cover the commercialisation of innovation from Callaghan Innovation.

(BusinessDesk)