Leadership Team
The Innovation Cluster team have high level expertise in innovation, business growth, entrepreneurship, investor networks, agriculture and research connections.
Dr Natasha Teakle
Managing Director & Co-Founder
Tash is an experienced researcher, facilitator, grant writer, director and innovation specialist with a passion for sustainable primary industries and new technology. Tash co-founded AgriStart in 2016 and is currently Managing Director for AgriStart/Innovation Cluster, focusing on agtech, sustainable industries, business strategy and regional innovation. Tash has a background as an Agricultural Scientist, with a PhD in Plant Biology and qualifications in university teaching, research commercialisation, leadership and is a graduate of the AICD. She undertakes a range of board and advisory roles, including Chair for Busselton Jetty Inc, Chair of the Project Management Group for food tech facility SIFT WA, NED for South West NRM, Harvestaire and South West Angels. Tash has also been on the judging panel for WA Innovator of the Year Awards for over 6 years. Tash is co-owner of The SET in Vasse, a new co-working space with training room facilities, hot desks, individual offices, podcast and filming equipment for hire.
Claire Marchand-Johns
Communications Manager
Claire manages all marketing and communications for Innovation Cluster, including website design and content management, social media, marketing material design, podcast and video promotion. Claire has experience in website consultancy, graphic design, e-commerce and grant administration.
Calista Shreeve
Hub Coordinator
Calista is the coordinator and socials manager of our coworking hub, The SET Vasse. Her role involves the communication, interaction and networking with guests whilst also assisting with Innovation Cluster programs and events. Since recently beginning university, Calista aids in providing a new perspective of the younger generation through incorporating knowledge gained from her studies.
Ashleigh Roberts
Research and Innovation Manager
Ash has 15+ years' experience in research, innovation, and commercialisation - matching business challenges and requirements with research, talent, and operational and information technology to develop solutions through open and collaborative innovation. Ash has successfully scoped, built teams, and coordinated over 50 rapid prototyping proof of concept digital transformation projects for over 40 different organisations and is undertaking a PhD to investigate stakeholder perceptions of what makes a successful co-innovation project between the scientific, business and government communities. Ash offers research and insights services including survey creation alongside subject matter experts where required, interview framework and protocol development, conducting of quantitative and qualitative analysis, providing of insights based on numerical and thematic analysis, and communicating written and visual insights to internal and external audiences.
Jayne de Silva
Project Officer
Jayne's role includes digital and print material production, website maintenance, CRM management, program administrative support, and marketing and communication support. With a Mathematics and Japanese teaching degree, Jayne is a keen problem solver and ensures efficient operations and effective communication across all platforms.
External Advisors
Innovation Cluster has a strong core team and regularly brings in external expertise from our network of affiliates to deliver quality outcomes tailored to our clients’ needs. Over the last 4 years we have utilised more than 50 speakers, mentors and consultants for our various programs.
Melanie Timms
Operations Advisor
Melanie’s skills and experience centre on event production, operations management, project management and relationship building. Since graduating from UWA with a Commerce degree she has worked in the sport, arts, entertainment and event industries, providing services such as operations management, sponsorship, event management, funds sourcing and acquittals, ticketing, marketing, volunteer management, guest liaison and compliance.
Simona Hughes
Lead Financial Advisor
Simona has nearly two decades of experience working with some of the largest companies in the world as well as small start-ups and everything in between. She helps business owners gain more sanity, clarity and freedom in their lives by mentoring them on maximising their opportunities, profit, cash and assets to create sustainable wealth for them and their shareholders.
Peter Clarke
Business Strategy Advisor
Peter enjoys engaging with innovative entrepreneurs and companies that have strong differentiators in their tech and the drive and passion to get it to market. Peter has helped many startups and more established companies understand their value proposition, develop culture & strategy, get traction, grow, raise capital and access government grants. Peter's experience in multiple startups across industries, including raising VC funding, commercialisation of deep tech, global expansion and successful exits has informed the way he can assist others to get the best out of themselves and their projects.
Greg Riebe
Lead Investment Mentor
Greg uses his extensive experience in corporates, SMEs and start- ups to advise founders on how to become investment ready, how to create and capture value, and how to position their ventures to harvest returns for shareholders, investors or stakeholders. In 2020, Greg was recognised as the Australian Angel Investor of the Year and awarded the WA Pearcey Entrepreneur Award.
Who we've worked with
