Doron Ben-Meir

Summary Bio

Mr Ben-Meir has extensive experience in the venture capital industry and commercialisation more generally. Over the past twenty five years he has been involved in numerous venture capital organisations; has been a founder or co-founder of six start-up companies; as well as an investor, investment manager, and advisor to several other companies.

Career highlights include:

1991 - 1996: Security Magnetics Pty Ltd
Founder and Managing Director
High security identification and access control technologies specialising in secure plastic cards and card systems for the Gaming and Defence sectors. Partnered with Thorn EMI Ltd (UK).

1993 – 1998: Gaming Management Services Pty Ltd
Co-founder and Managing Director
Gaming systems consultancy and developer of integrated point-of-sale and loyalty systems.

1996 – 1999: Giesecke & Devrient Australasia Pty Ltd
Co-founder and Managing Director
Australia’s leading smart card manufacturing and personalisation facility in partnership with Giesecke & Devrient GmbH (Munich).

1999 – 2001: Momentum Funds Management Pty Ltd
Investment Director
$30m seed stage venture capital fund.

2001 – 2003: ES Group Ventures Pty Ltd
General Manager
$40m early stage venture fund established by the Eric Smorgon Family Office.
• Akamai Asia Pacific Pty Ltd
Established regional edge/cloud computing operation in partnership with Akamai (AKAM: NASDAQ)

2003 – 2007: Jagen Pty Ltd
Principal Private Equity and Venture Capital
Liberman Family Office.
• Centricom Pty Ltd
Co-founder and CEO
Novel on-line payments solution (POLi)

2007 – 2010: Prescient Venture Capital
Co-founder and CEO
Early stage venture capital fund and management & technology consultancy.
• Enesolve Pty Ltd
Energy performance contracting
• Catch of the Day
Australia’s Number 1 on-line retailer (period as CEO to assist in securing $80m private equity round)

In April 2010 Mr Ben-Meir was appointed by the Australian Federal Government as the inaugural CEO of Commercialisation Australia and, from 1 July 2014, was further appointed as the Director of the Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme.

Since 2010, Mr Ben-Meir has led the establishment of a national portfolio of over 550 companies including 4 successful exits and several substantial capital raisings (>$5million).

In June 2015 Mr Ben-Meir was appointed the inaugural Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation at the University of Melbourne and CEO of University of Melbourne Commercial Limited, with overall responsibility for all research funding, external commercial engagements and the commercialisation of University generated intellectual property.

Mr Ben-Meir’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering (1st Class Honours) from Monash University, Melbourne. He is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.