ClassNotes Profiles
Mark Neely
LLB MSTC
Mark, a former lawyer, is the founding principal of Infolution Pty Ltd, which has provided technology commercialisation services since its inception in 1997. Mark is recognised as an Australian pioneer and authority on the use of Internet technology and e-business, and has authored a number of books on the topic. He is also recognised for his extensive experience developing marketing strategies for the introduction and diffusion of emerging and disruptive technologies and innovations, speaking on the topic at international conferences.
Mark’s client base includes both large, multinational corporations, such as Telstra Corp. and Merrill Lynch, and start-up ventures at various stages of the commercialisation continuum. He has conducted a number of commercialisation potential reviews of private-, academic- and government-owned technologies.
To hone his skills and broaden his experience, Mark completed a Masters of Science and Technology Commercialisation at the Innovation, Creativity and Capital (IC2) Institute at the University of Texas (Austin) and University of Adelaide, and won the Technology Commercialisation “Idea-to-Market” (I2M) Award (University of Texas).
In advising clients, Mark not only assists with the development of formal intellectual property protection strategies, he also plays an active role in conducting commercialisation potential reviews and market analysis, developing business and venture plans and providing input on pivotal commercialisation steps, such as technology transfer, intellectual property management, market penetration strategies and ‘harvest’ outcomes.
In addition to his legal and consulting background, Mark has been personally involved—as founder—in several start-ups, both in Australia and the United States, and is thus able to bring ‘coal face’ experience to clients seeking assistance in positioning their technologies for international expansion, acquisition or in attracting investment funding.
Mark is a regular columnist for Australian Anthill magazine on topics concerning successful innovation and commercialisation, and serves as a pro bono mentor and coach for several entrepreneurs and start-ups.
Mark was recently appointed Treasurer of Asia Circle Australia, the Australian chapter of the Asia Society, an organisation dedicated to facilitating social and professional networks throughout the Asia-Pacific region (including the US), and whose members represent diverse fields, from business, law, the arts, academia, government, finance, and nongovernmental organisations. Mark’s considerable commercial and practical commercialisation experience allows him to provide clients from all backgrounds with a commercial focus in their efforts in the exploitation of innovative technologies and ideas from both the public and private sectors.
