Innovation Engines in an Era of Constraint
Speakers & Moderators

David Baker, Vice President, External Affairs, Illinois Institute of Technology; Executive Director, University Technology Park at IIT

David E. Baker, Vice President for External Affairs at Illinois Institute of Technology is responsible for the University’s governmental relations, technology park development, and trustee relations. Over the past 11 years he has worked to create the University Technology Park at IIT of which he serves as executive director. He also helped open the Perspectives/IIT Math and Science Academy, a public grade 6-12 charter school in September 2008. Baker holds a Master of Arts from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, a baccalaureate in history, with a minor in economics, from Stanford University and serves on the Association of University Research Parks Board of Directors. 

Kevin T. Byrne, MBA, AURP President, Chief Operating Officer, The University Financing Foundation, Inc.

Kevin Byrne spent his early career at Arthur Andersen with a primary focus in the real estate and financial services industries. In 1997, Byrne founded Byrne & Associates, which focused on providing investment-banking services to small and middle market companies. After earning his Master of Business Administration with honors from the Wharton School of Business in 2001, Byrne joined a real estate development firm as the Chief Financial Officer, managing a balance sheet of over $200 million and leading new transactions of over $150 million in just two years. Byrne joined The University Financing Foundation (TUFF) in 2003 and has managed all aspects of the firm including the firm’s new investments in education and research projects, which total over $800 million.  Byrne oversees the operations of the firm and through Byrne’s leadership the firm is involved in all aspects of research park creation and ongoing operations including the development of facilities.  He has crafted full-scale park business plans, assisted in the strategic and master planning of research parks and has helped several global parks with the creation of innovative investment structures that enable parks to maximize the efficiency of their limited resources. Byrne is an honors graduate from Furman University, and currently serves as President of the Association of University Research Parks Board of Directors.

Brian Darmody, Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Director of Corporate Relations, University of Maryland; Special Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Development, University System of Maryland

Brian Darmody is Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Director of Corporate Relations, University of Maryland. He is responsible for developing projects, funding opportunities, and policies to support partnerships with private and government sectors. Previously he was the University’s director of state and federal relations in the President’s Office, and served in the legal counsel’s office. He serves on national and state boards, including Fraunhofer USA, National Association of Seed and Venture Funds, Maryland Venture Authority, the Technology Council of Maryland, Maryland Space Business Roundtable and is past President of the Association of University Research Parks. He has served on the staff for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration Office of Attorney-Advisor, and the Maryland General Assembly. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore.

Dr. Colman Casey, Administrative Director for Research and Industrial Liaison, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork; Interim Director, Cork Science and Innovation Park

Prior to his current position at University College Cork and Cork Science and Innovation Park, Dr. Colman Casey served seven years as general manager of Schering-Plough, a European Medicines Agency (EMEA) / U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated, multinational biotech pharmaceutical manufacturing company, with over 900 employees.  He also managed $200 million of capital investment projects covering additional capacity and associated infrastructure and GMP upgrades. Casey is a former president and founding member of Parenteral Drug Association (PDA Ireland), a member of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation editorial advisory board, and was granted a Distinguished Alumnus Award by University College Cork in 2003. Casey received his Bachelor of Science and doctorate in microbiology from the University College Cork.

Desmond Fahey, MBA, Chief Executive, Dublin Business Innovation Centre 

Desmond Fahey is an industrial engineer by profession and is currently chief executive of the Dublin Business Innovation Centre.  Previously he served as president of the European Business Network (EBN) (1994-1998) and vice president of the Irish Government's Industrial Development Authority West Coast, USA (1983-1990).  Prior to this, Fahey worked for national and multinational corporations at senior management level. He is a founding board member of the three seed capital funds managed by Dublin BIC, the Business Innovation Fund (1992), the Dublin Seed Capital Fund Ltd. (1997), the Irish BICs Seed Capital Fund Ltd. (1998) and a founding member of the Dublin Enterprise & Technology Centre Limited, t/a Guinness Enterprise Centre. 

Joe Greaney, President, European BIC Network (EBN)

Equally fluent in his native Gaelic language or in English, Joe Greaney has been working with start-ups in the West of Ireland since 1981. He is the current president of the European Business & Innovation Centre Network and one of the longest serving chief executive officers of an EC-BIC across the European Union (EU). He is the founding director of the Galway Technology Centre Ltd., the Irish BICs Seed Capital Fund Ltd., Gaillimh le Gaeilge Teo., and is an elected director of Galway Chamber of Commerce, having already served as president. Greaney is a long-time contributor to policy in economic development and innovation delivery at the EU level and is regularly invited to share his experience and knowledge in applied innovation measures across the EU and outside.

Tracy Kitts, Acting Chief Executive Officer, National Business Incubation Association (NBIA)

Tracy Kitts has been with the National Business Incubation Association since May 2000 and is currently its acting chief executive officer. He oversees the internal operations and finances of the 2,000-plus member organization of incubator managers, developers and other Economic Development professionals. He manages a staff of 13. NBIA currently has members from over 60 nations, making it the most international business incubation association. NBIA has developed a comprehensive array of member services including publications, training, research, consulting and information clearinghouse activities, and it has significantly expanded its prestige in the United States and abroad. It is nearly five times larger than any of its peer associations.  

Foluso Laguda, MBA, Consulting Director, yet2.com Europe Ltd.

Foluso Laguda currently serves as the consulting director at yet2.com and is responsible for supporting large and small companies with their business growth initiatives through technology acquisition and technology exploitation. He is responsible for developing and expanding the yet2.com global partnership networks that include science and technology parks, business incubation networks, and also enterprise/venture capital investment portfolios. He is a management consultant with strong operational experience across multiple industries – having supported organizations to develop, evaluate, and implement growth opportunities, whilst working at Frost & Sullivan. Laguda holds a Master of Business Administration from Imperial College, London. Laguda graduated with honors from the University of Manchester (UMIST) with a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering.

Jackie Kerby Moore, AURP Past President, Executive Director, Sandia Science & Technology Park

Jackie Kerby Moore, Past President of the Association of University Research Parks Board of Directors and Manager of the Sandia Technology and Economic Development Department serves as Executive Director for the Sandia Science & Technology Park.  Because of synergistic programs like New Mexico Small Business Assistance and Entrepreneurial Separation to Transfer Technology, Moore has been recognized with the Small Business Advocate of the Year Award and Who’s Who in Technology Award.  In addition, Moore’s programs have received Outstanding Partnership Awards from the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) and Moore was awarded the AURP 2010 Career Achievement Award.  Moore regularly speaks on the topic of research parks at conferences and events around the world including China, Taiwan, Finland, France, Spain, Mexico and Canada.

Dr. Patrick G. O'Shea, Vice President and Chief Research Officer,  University of Maryland

Professor O’Shea is Vice President for Research, and Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland. Previously he has served as chair of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, executive director of the Center for Applied Electromagnetics, co-director of the Maryland Cyber Security Center; director of the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, all at the University of Maryland; project leader at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and on the faculty of Duke University. He was born in Cork, Ireland, and holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University College Cork, and a Master of Science and doctorate from the University of Maryland. He holds affiliate appointments in the Department of Physics, the Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics, the Maryland NanoCenter, and the Maryland Energy Research Center. He played a leading role in the founding of the Maryland NanoCenter, the Maryland Center for Applied Electromagnetics, and the Maryland Cyber Security Center. Professor O’Shea’s technical expertise lies in the field of applied electromagnetics, and particle accelerators for applications in medicine, nanoscience, high energy physics, and energy. He has published over 200 scientific articles. In recognition of his leadership in science, engineering and education he has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society, Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher of the University of Maryland.

John Perry TD, Minister of State for Small Business, Republic of Ireland

John Perry TD was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Small Business at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in March 2011. Perry, a full-time Public Representative, was first elected to the Dáil in 1997 representing Sligo/North Leitrim and was spokesperson on Science, Technology, Small Business & Enterprise and the Border Counties from 1997 - 2002. He then served as spokesperson on the Marine 2004 - 2007. In the 29th Dáil he was vice chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications and Natural Resources and was a member of the Audit Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. From September 2002 to October 2004 he was chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. On his re-election to the Dáil in 2007 John served as spokesperson on Small Business. He was re-elected to the 31st Dáil in February 2011.

Eileen Walker, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
 
Eileen Walker is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), which fosters innovation, commercialization and economic growth in a global economy through university, industry and government partnerships. The organization is comprised of university’s operating and planned research, science and tech parks from all around the world. Walker regularly consults with universities and parks regarding best practices. Recently, Walker was selected to serve as a Fulbright Specialist, to work with the Universidad de Antonio Narino in Bogota, Colombia, on the planning for their new research park, by the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Walker directed the Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe, Arizona, a university research park comprised of over two million square feet of developed space for many years, and during this time, served as a member of the Board of Directors of AURP, and as an executive officer of the Arizona Bioindustry Association.  Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Tucson. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and holds a Master of Business Administration in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). Additionally, Walker was designated a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) of the National Real Estate Institute in 2002.

Jeff Williams, AICP, LEED^® AP, Associate, Senior Project Designer, Perkins+Will 

Jeff Williams brings his dual experience as an architect and planner to his role as urban designer at Perkins+Will. Williams' extensive background in the Middle East, his critical thinking, and his talent for bridging disciplines are a unique benefit to the Urban Design team. Prior to joining Perkins+Will, Williams was an urban planner for the City of Atlanta, where he brought a designer’s eye to complex planning challenges. He now applies the same focus to large-scale planning, urban design, and landscape architecture projects around the world. Williams was instrumental in planning the Science Town at KAUST, Innovation Square in Gainesville, Florida and the Center for Innovation Testing and Evaluation (CITE) in Hobbs, New Mexico.