Khimji Ravji Vaghjiani

Nominated Australian Innovator of the year 2010, Khimji was recently Head of the Harbour City Labs in Sydney assisting and mentoring promising Australian deep-tech scale-ups to think global. Previously, a Consultant at the NSW - Data Analytics Centre, managing a range of projects looking at commercialisation of data and digital assets. He has Project, Programme & portfolio & leadership experience spanning 3 decades + of enabling ICT / technology/R&D/Innovation in large corporate’s, SME’s, University’s, Government and 4 start-up’s, as well as an entrepreneurial mentor, and business advisor to emerging SME’s.

Khimji designed, developed and exported a solar off-grid product to 18 countries around the world. Vertical experience in Solar, R&D, commercialisation, banking, telco, manufacturing, R&D, academia and not-for-profit's. Khimji ran the Corporate Venture capital unit with Westpac wherein he would conduct technology due diligence,

Assisting companies with Lean Canvas, minimum viable product (MVP) development across a range of industry disciplines. Managing technology transfer projects and IP development between universities and SME’s. Assessed over 1250 MVP and funded 280 over the last 3 years. Director CRC for Smart Technology during 2000-2008 working with university researchers and commercial organisations.

Khimji has been a business advisor for state government innovation funding ranging from $15K-$100K, managing a deal flow of over 300 funded companies. Extensive experience with research and commercialization arms of the Sydney based universities, CRC’s, SME’s, start-ups, and government working across transport & logistics / E-Health/E-Learning / data analytic's, advanced manufacturing & renewables.

Khimji is a year on year recipient of the Deans award for Teaching from Sydney University, one of Australia's premier educational institutes.