Our team of permanent and part-time staff members ensures the streamlined day-to-day functioning of InnovUS, and assists inventors and investors with all queries and processes related to our services.
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Permanent staff |
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Anita Nel Chief executive officer A former investment manager at a venture capital company, Anita has served on the boards of various young companies in different technology-based fields. She started out her career as a maths teacher, and went on to manage a socially responsible investment fund and a small research company. With vast experience in human resources, marketing, negotiations, strategy and general management, Anita is well equipped to understand entrepreneurship and the many challenges facing start-up companies. Experiencing weightlessness during a parabolic flight in an Ilyushin Il-76 jet outside Moscow (after witnessing a blast-off of a Soyuz spacecraft at Baikonur in Khazakstan) is one of the most extraordinary experiences of her life so far. When she is not at work, Anita adores her two daughters and loves travelling with her family to interesting places. |
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Doris Peters Intellectual property and financial assistant Doris has been with InnovUS since September 2000 and is responsible for the administration of the University’s trademark and intellectual property portfolio. |
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Carol Kat Senior copyright and short course official Previously the copyright officer for a publisher and supplier of course material in the Naspers Group, Carol has been in the employ of Stellenbosch University since March 2003. She started out as the copyright officer for the University’s publishing initiative and transferred to InnovUS in 2004. |
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Venessa Williams Administrative officer and PA for CEO Venessa joined the InnovUS team in September 2008. She is responsible for managing the office and is the personal assistant to the Director. In addition, Venessa maintains InnovUS's databases of researchers, industry partners and funders. She is currently qualifying as a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS). Venessa loves working in InnovUS’s stimulating environment, and in her spare time enjoys partaking in road races with her husband. |
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Saberi Marais Business developer Having studied Management Advancement at WITS Business School, Saberi is well versed in business theory across all business disciplines. He started his career as a research scientist with a British biotechnology company after which he was Technology Transfer Manager at the South African Medical Research Council’s Innovation Centre. During this time he evaluated freedom-to-operate issues in projects, protected intellectual property, identified licensing opportunities and developed business cases for technologies. At InnovUS, Saberi will identify new invention disclosures and be a point of contact for Stellenbosch University’s researchers. He is motivated by the potential opportunities of extracting value from Stellenbosch University’s researchers, their ideas and their inventions. Saberi holds an MSc (Molecular and Cell Biology) degree from UCT and has completed several commercial legal courses at Unisa and the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law. His wife Nailah and baby boy Zaahid are very dear to him and he loves spending time with them outdoors. He enjoys kickboxing and hiking and will try his hand at painting soon. |
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Part-time staff |
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Philip Marais Part-time business developer An accredited Mentors and Business Coaches International Facilitator, Philip has a unique technical and business background. He started his career in the software development industry after which he became one of the founding members of HBD Venture Capital. While at HBD, Philip also started and managed Upstarts Business Incubator and was responsible for mentoring and coaching incubator tenants. His passion for mentoring and coaching led him to start his own consulting company and he continues to assist small businesses in pursuing long-term sustainable success. He is actively involved in the transformation of South African business through enterprise development initiatives. Philip holds an MSc (Engineering) degree from UCT. His wife Nikki and his children Joshua, Jemma and Noah are very dear to him and he loves spending time with them. He also enjoys outdoor activities, especially mountain biking. |
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Sol Bezuidenhout Part-time business developer Sol is the Investment Manager at Hasso Plattner Ventures Africa and brings a wealth of experience in the venture capital industry to InnovUS, where he works on a part-time basis. He holds a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Diploma in Executive Management from the Stellenbosch University Graduate Business School. |
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Llewellyn du Toit Candidate Attorney, Patent Department Llewellyn joined the firm in February 2011 and specialises in both local and international patent searches as well as the drafting of legal opinions for clients. Llewellyn is a qualified pharmacist, with a degree in law and he is currently studying towards the requisite examinations to qualify as a patent attorney, as prescribed by the Patent Examination Board. He is particularly interested in patents in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. Education |
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JD Labuschagne JD joined InnovUS at the start of 2012 as an entrepreneur intern. JD was initially one of our 100-hour interns and wished to stay on after its completion. As young entrepreneur he started several small businesses and intends another one in the near future. JD obtained his BCom (Investment Management) at the Stellenbosch University and is currently studying towards a CFA qualification in portfolio management. His diverse interests include nature and outdoor life, as well as choral singing, jogging and cooking a great Durban curry. |
Click here to contact a member of the InnovUS team.
