SHARAD MĒNON

• As the Head of Industry Engagement and Business Development (digital research), successfully secured and delivered large-scale, high-value research opportunities with industry and the government.
• Launched new products and services with thorough market research, leading to increased revenue growth and the creation of an end-to-end, nation-first manufacturing SME engagement practice.
• Led and oversaw the strategic growth and industry (manufacturing) policy deployment to drive the growth and productivity of the full-stack digital industries R&D portfolio.
• Developed and led the implementation of an expansive ecosystem engagement plan across industry and the government to generate new revenue.
• Developed competitive pricing strategies based on extensive market research data analysis.
• Implemented data-driven decision-making strategies, leading to more informed, sustainable business choices and bottom-line growth.

Key Outcomes

Public Sector R&D Income and Growth Initiatives

• Secured $250,000 via partnerships with the NSW and TAS governments and industry, expanding AMI4Hub interstate (2023-2024). Please see the AMI4Hub details in the previous role.
• Secured $250,000 under the national TECH4HSE program to research novel cybersecurity techniques to support the applications in AR/VR in healthcare sector (2022).
• Secured 6 new technology partnerships (e.g. in IIoT, AI, energy monitoring, digital twin etc.) in Swinburne Factory of the Future tech-demonstration facility to enhance manufacturing customer engagement (2022-2024).

Industry R&D Income via Major Initiatives

• Secured $5 Mn in cash from the AMI4Hub’s industry partners inviting $5 Mn co-investment from the ARC, to establish Swinburne's first national $17 Mn Industrial Transformation Research Hub (ITRH) in Future Digital Manufacturing, comprising a syndicate of 12 industry partners and 5 universities (2023-2028, please see In the Media section below).
• Secured $500,000 industry income by developing and selling a new Industry 4.0 training program under the Digital Jobs For Manufacturing (DJFM) initiative, making it the second-most subscribed course (2024).
• Secured $300,000 from the Industry Growth Program (IGP) in partnership with the QLD ARM Hub AI Adopt Program to establish the Advanced Manufacturing Capability Network (AMCN) (2024).
• Developed and secured a partnership with Ability Works to win a $1.1 Mn project under the Skills Solutions Partnership Program (2024, please see In the Media section below)

Other Industry-based R&D Income

• Generated $1.6 Mn in digital research revenue from manufacturing SMEs (2022-2023)
• Secured Swinburne's first, high-value pilot digital transformation + net zero project with DMTC ($50,000) and defence primes under the Industry Capability Development (ICD) program (2024).

CRC R&D Income

• Developed strategic partnerships with Fraunhofer IAO Germany to develop the frameworks for the AMI4Hub and raised $500,000 as a 1:1 co-investment of IMCRC and industry cash (2023)
• Secured a total of $200,000 from SmartCrete CRC and industry partner Sunset Sleepers to deliver an manufacturing automation project in construction (2024).

International Engagements

• Secured $170,000 under the MAITRI grant to develop and commercialise additive manufacturing research capabilities in India (2024).
• Positioned Swinburne (the only university) as a Finalist at the prestigious Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC) Awards, for the digital transformation project with manufacturing SME Cablex under AMI4Hub. MLC is the world's first premier member-driven manufacturing leadership network, and a division National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in the USA (2024).
• Secured $250,000 Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP) to deliver a research project in AI for Net Zero Energy Transition (2023).

• Developed and implemented customer acquisition strategies, successfully onboarding an expansive network of manufacturing businesses, and a robust, considered customer base to sell the end-to-end advanced manufacturing Industry 4.0 business transformation program, comprising awareness, advisory, implementation and training in smart manufacturing. This was under the Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0 Hub (AMI4Hub).
• Implemented high-conversion, high-retention and scalable sales strategies, quadrupling the revenue target.
• Managed the P&L to optimize internal processes for greater efficiency, streamlined workflows, reduced costs and maximising profitability.
• Presented progress reports to executive leadership, sharing insights on performance metrics and growth indicators.

Key Outcomes

• Delivered the $2 Mn VIC Government AMI4Hub 2022. Please see In the Media section below.
• Successfully realised new strategic investments and product development (please see e.g., TAS/NSW engagement and DJFM outcomes in the latest role).
• Raised $1.1 Mn in research revenue from the industry and government and deployed this nation-first, commercially sustainable, standardised, tailored and scalable manufacturing SME engagement digital transformation program engaging at least 400 unique businesses. Please see the Key Outcomes in the next role demonstrating the expansion of national footprint of AMI4Hub.
• Winner of Vice Chancellor's Award for "Sovereign Advanced Manufacturing Capability Development" under the category "Engaged" (2022).

• Business Development Cultivated strategic partnerships with external stakeholders to maximize business opportunities within manufacturing and healthcare.
• Commercialisation Secured partnerships to trigger investment and pave tech-transfer pathways for a healthcare start-up.

Key Outcome

• Secured Swinburne University of Technology as an account to implement the AMI4.0Hub (see next role).
• Raised $300,000 and secured contacts (private capital) to pursue new investment, partnerships in R&D/product development, manufacturing, distribution and clinical trials for a WA based med-tech start-up.

• Facilitated successful cross-functional matrix collaborations for the completion of key projects and new revenue generation.
• Executed and managed large, complex transactions with industry (national and international), peak industry bodies and the government.
• Launched new technologies with thorough market research, leading to increased revenue growth via research projects and technology commercialisation.

Key Outcomes in R&D Income and Strategic Growth Initiatives

• Negotiated and secured a 5-year, $9Mn joint investment research project with a peak industry body.
• Negotiated the business unit's first ag-tech research project with a QLD-based manufacturing SME attracting $250,000 in revenue.
• Built an internal business case to successfully attract funding for technology development and commercialisation (food processing, TRL6 to TRL9) with an EU-based global equipment manufacturer.
• Negotiated and executed 2 royalty bearing licenses to commercialise a) agricultural IP (seed varieties) to a peak industry body and b) food processing technology to a manufacturing SME.
• Developed and implemented a 2-year tech-transfer plan to commercialise a food processing technology into a consortium of businesses with co-investment from an industry group.

• In this secondment and industrial placement role, I identified technology investment to drive product innovation, profitability and operational improvements.
• Facilitated the implementation of technology solutions that streamlined processes, improved operational efficiency, and reduced costs.
• Evaluated vendor performance (product and technology) and negotiated contracts to secure favourable terms for the organization.
• Conducted thorough market research to identify trends and inform business strategy development efforts.
• Engaged senior leadership on the development of long-term strategic goals for improved strategic sales and operational performance.

Key Outcomes

• Developed and implemented key recommendations to inform investments for strategic adoption of automation and R&D capabilities to drive productivity.

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop comprehensive due diligence reports for potential investments for healthcare technologies.
• Built a strong network of industry contacts that facilitated access to valuable market insights and optimised deal flow.
• Evaluated, developed and secured commercial investment opportunities and R&D linkages, identifying key risks and opportunities for growth.
• Prepared Investment Committee Reports (ICRs), Term Sheets and related/ensuing documentation for multiple investment cases.
• Ensured regulatory compliance by maintaining detailed documentation of investment decisions and transactions.

Key Outcomes

• Prepared 2 successful ICRs and Pre Investment Proposals (PIP).
• Raised $3.2 Mn (part of Series B) for a site-specific drug delivery technology, deriving in excess of $500,000 of research income from further development of the technology.

• Built strategic, industry-based relationships to generate new national and international research project opportunities (biomaterials engineering).
• Successfully engaged state and federal governments, private enterprises and the investment community to secure funding for research and commercialisation.

Key Outcomes

• Secured $1.1 Mn in 2 grants for 3 years from the Queensland Government. Engaged a food processing SME to service the larger grant to develop and commercially launch 4 new functional foods products (healthy ageing applications).
• The second grant was used to undertake research on seaweeds as functional foods, with partners in James Cook University and in the industry.

• Developed technical documentation for clarity and conformity with overall operational goals, safety guidelines, and regulatory compliance.
• Developed and maintained relationships with suppliers to facilitate quality and timely delivery of materials.
• Analyzed and interpreted customer requirements to develop engineering solutions.
• Supported project planning and execution efforts relating to technical documentation and process development.

Key Outcomes

New product development (industrial polymeric materials) with water-ingress sealing capacity for applications in the mining industry.