Ken is passionate about building and growing innovative businesses driven by science, engineering and technology. 

Ken’s current roles at the University of Melbourne are Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (RIC) and Director of UM Commercialisation Ltd and UoM International Holdings where he is focused on growing the research business globally, developing external partnerships, streamlining operations and increasing innovation through the translation and commercialisation of knowledge and intellectual property.

He graduated from Cardiff University with a first-class degree in applied chemistry before spending 20 years in global executive leadership roles for BP based in the UK, New York, California and Melbourne.  More recently Ken was MD of the private-equity owned hrl: technology group, a specialist engineering and testing business operating nationally and across SE Asia, before joining its board of directors as a Non-Executive Director in 2017.

Ken is also a Non-Executive Director of BioCurate and a Council Member of the Australian British Chamber of Commerce. 

"Since joining the Board, I’ve been deeply impressed with the quality of research, innovation and the desire to make a real difference to people’s health on an international scale by successfully partnering with global biomedical companies.   BI has a clear strategy and a dedicated, diverse Board."

- Ken Jefferd