June 2026 Edition | From our President - Cherie van Wensveen | Report on the Melbourne Conference.
Melbourne's renowned laneways provided the perfect backdrop for the LESANZ Annual Conference 2026, bringing together commercialisation professionals, licensing executives, researchers, investors and industry leaders for three days of learning, discussion and connection.
Held at Melbourne Connect under the theme Laneways to Licensing, the conference explored the many pathways that research, innovation and intellectual property can take on the journey from idea to impact.
Conference commenced with an Intermediate Licensing Workshop facilitated by Peter Gretton and Ben Gouldson, providing delegates with practical insights into licensing structures, negotiations and commercialisation fundamentals. The workshop set the tone for a program focused on practical application, real-world experiences and meaningful discussion. (Left)
The Trustees also have their annual face to face board meeting, providing a significant opportunity to discuss future projects, membership opportunities and the conference destination for 2027. Major focus is currently around the development of a CLP program that is already used globally by LESI. (Right)
The conference was also honoured to welcome newly appointed Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) President Ningling Wang to her first LESANZ Annual Conference in the role. Her attendance reinforced the strong connection between LESANZ and the global licensing community, while her opening remarks highlighted LESI's commitment to international collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development across the licensing profession.
Cultivating Growth from the Ground Up
A standout highlight for many delegates was the keynote address by Lisa Boyd, former owner and Non-Executive Director of Seasol International. Sharing the remarkable story behind one of Australia's most recognisable horticultural brands, Lisa reflected on the challenges, opportunities and strategic decisions involved in growing Seasol from a niche product into an internationally recognised business. Her story demonstrated that commercial success is rarely the result of a single breakthrough, but rather persistence, innovation, strong partnerships and a deep understanding of market needs.
Rethinking Value Creation
Throughout the conference, speakers challenged traditional approaches to commercialisation and intellectual property management.
Michael Masterson, CEO of Intrinsika, delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled No Straight Road to Value: Rethinking IP, Investment and Innovation, encouraging delegates to consider broader measures of value creation and the importance of aligning intellectual property strategies with commercial objectives.
Building on this theme, Rob McInnes challenged delegates to think differently about licensing negotiations and deal structures. Drawing on decades of experience, he highlighted how preparation, clarity of purpose and creative deal-making can unlock value and create stronger long-term partnerships.
Together, these sessions reinforced a key conference message: successful commercialisation requires more than excellent research. It depends on the careful alignment of funding, governance, market understanding, founder capability and commercial strategy.
Commercialisation in the Melbourne Precinct
With the conference taking place at Melbourne Connect, delegates were uniquely positioned to hear directly from leaders operating within one of Australia's most significant innovation ecosystems.
Moderated by Lexie Vangard, this panel brought together Ruth Park-Jones, Lucy Pearce, Sinth Jegaskanda and Seth Jones to discuss the realities of research commercialisation within Melbourne's thriving innovation ecosystem.
Drawing on practical experience in technology transfer, licensing and startup creation, panellists explored commercialisation pathways, funding challenges and the importance of collaboration between researchers, investors and industry. The discussion highlighted Melbourne's strength as a leading centre for research, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Building Stronger Commercialisation Ecosystems
A key theme emerging across the conference was the evolution of Australia's innovation ecosystem.
Hun Gan, CEO of the Genesis Pre-Seed Fund, shared insights into bridging the gap between research discoveries and investable companies through patient capital, founder-friendly structures and commercialisation support. Discussion centred on the changing role of universities, the growing focus on impact and entrepreneurship, and the need for flexible approaches to equity, licensing and governance.
Collectively, these conversations highlighted Australia's increasing focus on translating world-class research into globally competitive companies.
Learning Through Negotiation
One of the anticipated sessions was the return of the live mock negotiation. Scott Bouvier, Karen Litherland, Dallas Wilkinson and Alison Greenway brought licensing discussions to life through a realistic negotiation between a university and commercial licensee.
Covering licensing terms, royalties, improvements and commercial risk allocation, the session delivered practical insights while highlighting the human dynamics that underpin successful deal-making.
Scaling for Success
The conference concluded with an engaging panel examining the realities of scaling innovation businesses.
Lily Liu, Stephanie Guiney, Janice Yew and Daniel Pilbrow explored the challenges faced by emerging companies, highlighting the importance of maintaining a competitive advantage, building strategic partnerships, understanding market differences and ensuring teams focus on their core strengths.
The discussion reinforced the complexity of scaling innovation businesses and the importance of balancing technical excellence with commercial execution.
Melbourne's Hidden Gems
Beyond the conference sessions, delegates enjoyed a distinctly Melbourne experience through a series of curated networking events.
The conference opened with welcome cocktails at Mill Place Merchants, capturing the speakeasy character and cool energy of Melbourne's famous laneway culture.
Delegates later gathered at the magnificent State Library Victoria for a memorable conference dinner sponsored by Bartier Perry. Beginning with drinks beneath the iconic dome of the La Trobe Reading Room before dinner in the elegant Isabella Fraser Room, the evening provided a fitting opportunity to celebrate connections, conversations and the strength of the commercialisation community.
A Community Focused on Impact
Across every session, panel discussion and networking event, one message remained clear: Australia's innovation ecosystem continues to mature through stronger collaboration between universities, investors, industry and government.
The attendance of LESI President Ningling Wang further highlighted the growing international profile of the LESANZ community and its role in connecting local expertise with global opportunities.
Most importantly, LESANZ 2026 demonstrated the enduring value of bringing together professionals from across the commercialisation ecosystem to share experiences, challenge assumptions and learn from one another.
As delegates departed Melbourne, they left with new connections, fresh perspectives and practical insights to help navigate their own pathways through the evolving world of licensing and commercialisation.
The success of LESANZ 2026 was made possible through the efforts of a dedicated volunteer Conference Organising Committee comprising Lexie Vangard (Integra Law), Jesse Gordes (Melbourne University) and Janice Yew (Hamilton Locke). Their time, creativity and commitment were instrumental in delivering an outstanding program and delegate experience that truly reflected Melbourne's vibrant innovation ecosystem.
LESANZ also extends its sincere thanks to our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and delegates, whose expertise, support and active participation continue to make the Annual Conference a valued forum for learning, collaboration and connection across the commercialisation community.