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 and Co-founder
Tash is an experienced researcher, facilitator, grant writer 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 Innovation Cluster, focusing on agtech 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. Tash founded iPREP WA in 2014, a unique program involving researchers from all 5 WA universities undertaking projects in industry, which won the 2017 Australian Council of Graduate Research award for industry engagement and was a finalist in the Premier’s Science awards in 2016. She undertakes a range of board, advisory and volunteer roles, including the judging panel for WA Innovator of the Year Awards and was recently selected for the GRDC Western Panel.
Peter Rossdeutscher FAICD. IDP-C.
Director and Co-founder
Peter is an Experienced Non-Executive Director and experienced Leader with a deep background in commercialisation, technology, and Board roles. He is a former multinational company Managing Director, successful Entrepreneur, INSEAD Certified International Director and an Adjunct Professor in Entrepreneurship and Strategy at UWA. Chair of the SmartSAT CRC Mining & Energy Advisory Board, StartUp WA Advisory Board, Board Director of MinEx CRC and Chair of the Transition and IP Committee, Board Director of CRC ORE and Chair of the Commercialisation Committee, Chair of Quantify Technologies. Executive Director of Atomic Sky and AgriStart, Founder of the QuantumTX cross-sector technology exchange.
Melanie Timms
Operations Manager
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.
Claire Marchand-Johns
Communications Manager
Claire manages all marketing and communications for AgriStart, 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.