Pacific Channel

A University of Auckland professor jointly appointed in physics and chemistry, Cather Simpson joined Pacific Channel as a partner in 2021 to help identify and develop deep tech commercialisation projects. She co-founded the Photon Factory laser lab, Engender, Orbis Diagnostics and Luminoma.

Gary Pace is an entrepreneur and operations manager in life sciences with over 40 years of experience developing and commercializing technologies across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and food. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons I) from the University of New South Wales and a Ph.D. from MIT, where he was a Fulbright Fellow, and is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. He has held visiting academic roles at MIT and the University of Queensland and served as a director of ResMed Inc from 1994 to 2018.

Robert Powell has roughly 15 years of experience forming and developing deep-tech ventures. A former academic with a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Otago, he previously managed the commercialisation program for a US biotechnology-focused research university and later worked with angel and VC investors in the US and New Zealand while running a deep-tech due diligence consultancy. He has been with Pacific Channel since 2018 and has worked across medical, human, animal, and aquatic technologies.

Roland Toder has a background in life sciences and international business development, having held roles as a manager, board member, and consultant to companies in New Zealand and Europe. At Pacific Channel he supports the team with technical due diligence, scientific validation, early-stage startup valuation, technology transfer, international licensing, and advising portfolio companies on commercial arrangements.

A serial entrepreneur and director with over 40 years in life sciences commercialisation, he sits on several public and private boards and was a founding director of ResMed. He holds a PhD from MIT and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

University of Auckland professor jointly appointed in physics and chemistry and co-founder of the Photon Factory laser lab. Joined Pacific Channel as a partner in 2021 to identify and advance commercialisation projects.

Richard Pinfold joined Pacific Channel in November 2022 after returning to New Zealand from Europe. He previously managed commercialisation projects for the MacDiarmid Institute and Dodd Walls Centre, both Centres of Research Excellence, and worked for a private equity firm in Europe focused on wind and solar ventures. He holds a BA and BCom from Auckland University and an International Certificate in Wealth Management from The Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

A former biochemistry academic with 15 years' experience forming and nurturing deep-tech ventures, he has worked with angel and VC investors in the US and NZ and joined Pacific Channel in 2018.

A life sciences and international business development specialist who supports Pacific Channel with technical due diligence, scientific validation, valuation, technology transfer and licensing. He has served as manager, board member and consultant to companies in New Zealand and Europe.

Samantha Ng is leading the establishment of Pacific Channel's first fund management firm in Australia. Her background spans capital markets, relationship management, and strategic operations, including building an operations team during a corporate restructuring and managing an M&A integration for a global financial services firm. She has also worked with family offices and high-net-worth individuals on their investment and structuring needs.

Tim van Vliet is Principal and Southeast Asia Manager at Pacific Channel, with a background as an entrepreneur and investor across Asia and Europe. He co-founded INSEACT, a Singapore-based agritech company producing insect protein for aquaculture feed from palm oil by-products, which was acquired in 2023, and previously founded Holland Milk, a Beijing-based infant nutrition company, along with an e-commerce business. He later served as Vice President of Venture Scale at ENGIE Factory, building and investing in early-stage climate and energy ventures, and holds degrees from Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Tsinghua University, and an MBA from INSEAD.

A seasoned executive and serial entrepreneur with over 35 years of global tech experience, he holds roles at Peak Equity Partners, Black Nova VC and Advance VC and is an Enterprise Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

A technology and venture investment leader who previously led the Ventures team at ANZ Bank's 1835i, was Investment Director at Uniseed and COO of Smart Sparrow, and worked in strategy at Microsoft. He holds a PhD in Computer Systems Engineering.

David Rowe is a technology and venture investor with experience across enterprise strategy, corporate venture, and deep-tech commercialisation. He most recently led the Ventures team at 1835i, ANZ Bank's innovation and investment arm, and previously served as Investment Director at Uniseed and COO of education technology company Smart Sparrow (a UNSW spin-out acquired by Pearson). Earlier he worked in technology strategy and corporate development at Microsoft, leading its EMEA Strategic and Emerging Business team. He holds a PhD in Computer Systems Engineering from UTS and a Master's in Applied Finance from Macquarie.

Jaco Pretorius is a technology-strategy and monetization consultant with 25 years of experience delivering advanced technology solutions, having developed and supported products for the US DoD, NASA, DOE, and Fortune 500 companies across the chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive, aerospace, and renewable-energy sectors. He advises on product development, intellectual property, technology strategy, digitization, business growth, and forensic engineering, and sits on the boards of several startups while mentoring graduate students and entrepreneurs. He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Stellenbosch, a BSc in Computer Science from the University of South Africa, and an MSc in Engineering and Management from MIT and the Sloan Business School, and is the inventor of 14 granted US patents.

Paul Muckleston is a Venture Partner at Pacific Channel who previously served as Chief Operating Officer for Microsoft's worldwide Public Sector business. During his Microsoft career he held leadership roles based in New Zealand, France, Germany and the United States, including six years in Seattle-based global roles. His experience covers channel strategy, go-to-market models, global operations, governance and organizational transformation across both growth and mature businesses.

A biotechnology entrepreneur and former CEO, board member and advisor focused on oncology and infectious disease therapeutics, currently CEO of DetectOn Diagnostics and a former professor of virology at Rockefeller University.

Ben McCutcheon joined Pacific Channel as an Analyst in 2025 after an internship with the firm and completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Finance and Economics. In his role he coordinates the firm's intern programme and supports early-stage investing work.

A former Partner at Pacific Channel who remains an advisor, he is a director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and has held CIO and CFO roles in cleantech and water technology, plus early-stage investing roles at Macquarie.

An agricultural technology entrepreneur who founded Regen (exited to CropX in 2020) and serves as Chief Sustainability Officer for CropX, focused on financial and environmental sustainability for farmers.

Bronwynne Howse works with Pacific Channel through her communications consultancy, Joyce & Howse Consulting. She has advised companies ranging from scaling start-ups and SMEs to large multinational organisations across various industries.

Cherie Tirikatane-Le Cheminant works on connecting Māori-led enterprises and community development focused on economic growth and environmental sustainability in Aotearoa. She is CEO of SEED NZ, founder of Whānau Power (addressing energy hardship) and He Pito Mata Ltd., and has contributed to the Māori Media Sector Shift initiative. She previously served as COO of Ekos, CEO of BIZview, and GM of Pentech Communications Ltd.

Chairs several boards including the Environmental Protection Authority and Upstream Medical Technologies, with senior executive roles across health care and commercialisation, and a founding partner of investment banking firm Medicus Capital.

An award-winning scientist and expert in immunoassay development, electrochemistry and chemical sensors, formerly Head of Chemistry at UCL and Chief Scientist at Alere. He co-founded Capteur Sensors and Aeroqual and is based at the University of Auckland.

Biotechnology entrepreneur and CEO of DetectOn Diagnostics, on the board of Orbis Diagnostics, focused on oncology and infectious disease therapeutics. Former Rockefeller University virology professor.

Biotech consultant and director holding chair and board roles at deep-tech startups, and an investment committee member assessing foodtech, biotech, agritech and SaaS companies.

Innovation and commercialisation specialist with 30+ years' experience, former GM of Science at Industrial Research Limited and CEO of the Building Research Association. Holds a doctorate from Oxford.

Emily Moore supports Pacific Channel on day-to-day legal matters part-time through her own legal practice, De Novo Legal. She has spent most of her career as a senior in-house lawyer, including General Counsel and Head of Legal roles leading legal teams in Sydney. Her experience spans New Zealand and Australian businesses across industries, from multinational IT and telecommunications firms to SMEs and scaling startups.

Jaimie Huggins is the Executive Assistant to the Managing Partner at Pacific Channel, where her role spans investor relations and operations marketing. She maintains and refines internal processes and coordinates internal and external resources to support management and company objectives.

Joe Victor is President and CEO of RareCyte, a precision biology company in Seattle providing instruments, consumables, and services to academic medical centers and biopharma companies. He has been a Venture Partner/Venture Advisor with 5AM Ventures since 2016, and previously led Startide Sciences, DVS Sciences (acquired by Fluidigm), and Applied Precision (acquired by GE Healthcare). He holds an MBA from UCLA and MS and BS engineering degrees from the University of Washington.

An intellectual property lawyer and patent attorney with 45 years' experience specialising in trademark law, formerly a partner and chairman at AJ Park, who has acted for major international and New Zealand brands.

Lifei Wang joined Pacific Channel in 2017 as part of its East Asia Team, focusing on marketing and connecting portfolio companies with investors, acquirers, and strategic partners in the East Asia region. Wang holds a New Zealand Level 7 Diploma in Business & Marketing and previously worked in journalism and marketing campaigns for a large local news outlet in Asia.

Mohan Nair is CEO of Emerge Inc and works on corporate innovation and business transformation, having led efforts to launch new ideas within and outside of corporate structures. Born and raised in Singapore, he has worked in the USA and is an Edmund Hillary Fellow assisting with transformation efforts in New Zealand. He has also been a TV talk show host and musician.

Award-winning scientist and expert in immunoassay development and chemical sensors, former Head of Chemistry at UCL and co-founder of Capteur Sensors and Aeroqual. Based at the University of Auckland.

A business advisor with 40 years' experience, formerly a 10+ year partner at EY and a founding director of VCFO Group, advising entrepreneurial companies on growth, capital access, strategy and transactions.

The founding CEO of Kiwibank, he has spent the last decade in governance roles supporting growth companies such as Xero, Magritek, PartnersLife and Synlait, following a career in financial services.

A biotech consultant and director holding chair and board positions at deep-tech startups, an investment committee member for the Manawatu Investment Group Fund 3, with a career spanning drug development, medical devices and natural products.

A commercialisation specialist with over 30 years turning innovation into business success, he managed IP portfolios at Industrial Research Limited, served as CEO of the Building Research Association, and holds a D.Phil from Oxford and an MBA.