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15 UMIC ® UMIP ® UMI 3 UMIP WELCOMES TWO NEW COLLEAGUES…. STORM CEO APPOINTED AS UMIP SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AMBASSADOR 15 Dr Leanne Burgin, Team leader – IP Development and Partnering Leanne has joined us as Team Leader for our IP Development and Partnering Team. She has a broad based technical background having a first degree in Physics, an MSc in optoelectronic and laser devices, and a PhD from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Aberdeen University. Leanne comments: "I'm delighted to join UMIP and will be working as a Team Leader for the IP Development and Partnering team. I was previously working as an Innovation and Technology Manager at the Medical Technologies Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) at the University of Leeds. In that role I identified promising novel medical technologies both within Leeds University and with other national partners taking the teams through commercial development via proof of concept studies and collaborations with industry partners towards clinical trial, licensing and spinning out. "The opportunity to develop that further with the team here in Manchester was really appealing. It's such a diverse portfolio of projects which is exciting and I guess the challenge is likely to be the ability to continue to secure funding in what is still a difficult marketplace. The role is really about bridging the gap between research and commercialisation and that is something which I'm really looking forward to doing." Prior to her role at Leeds, Leanne worked for Smith and Nephew for a total of 7 years and also worked in the microelectronics industry for 3 years after completing her MSc, prior to her PhD at Aberdeen. UMIP's IP Development and Partnering Team has recently welcomed two new colleagues, Dr Leanne Burgin and Dr Mark McCairn. Dr Gill Green, CEO of Self-harm Mitigation and Postvention training service, STORM Skills Training CIC, has been appointed Social Enterprise Ambassador to UMIP. As part of her role, she will help advise the founders and teams behind new social enterprises from the University on how best to prepare for their journey - offering tips and hints gleaned from her many years' of experience in running a social enterprise. Tony Walker, Director of Enterprise and Business Development at UMIP, commented: "We are delighted to add Gill's considerable experience and credibility to help further our social enterprise agenda here at UMIP. It has been an exceptional couple of years of development, we have evaluated 108 socially innovative ideas, and with the support of our partners UnLtd made awards to over 25 budding social entrepreneurs across the campus and have exciting new spin-out companies in this area. The Ambassador role further demonstrates our commitment to building on our award winning programme to address social, civic and environmental issues by unleashing the creative power of our staff, students and recent graduates." Dr Green will help stimulate new social enterprises among academics and staff at presentations, training and development events run by UMIP, as well as helping to set up a number of quarterly round table events with early-stage projects, academics and social entrepreneurs. These will focus on stimulating self-help, keeping interested parties appraised of high-profile issues which might affect social enterprises and helping organisations to develop a view of best practice. Commenting on her appointment, Dr Green said: "I'm thrilled to be invited to take the post, which will see social enterprises represented with an ambassador alongside those already in place to support spin-outs and licensing. "I can't wait to use my experiences with STORM to help others and look forward to bringing together early-stage social enterprises to discuss best practice and relevant issues." Dr Green's STORM enterprise, a UMIP spin-out, has been trading independently of the University for just under two years and in that time has grown considerably. It now employs two full time staff, three part time employees and 20 consultants who deliver the training. STORM also recently launched its flagship campaign - 'Hey, are you OK?' (#HeyareyouOK?) - which aims to help people recognise distress in themselves and others, and learn how to seek and offer help when confronted with these situations. For more information about STORM, please see www.stormskillstraining.com Follow STORM on Twitter @STORM_CIC Mark has joined us as IP Development & Partnering Manager from his role in the School of Chemistry where he worked as Technology Transfer and Industrial Liaison Officer for 4 years. Previously, Mark worked for the University spin-out, Nanoco Technologies and has an MBA and PhD in chemistry. Mark comments: "I'm probably a quite a familiar face around here and I certainly know my way around the campus! My role involves identifying new innovations and helping our academic colleagues take their bright ideas to the next stage on the route to commercial success. So that will include helping them to secure patents, finding funding and advising whether a spin-out or licensing route is the best option for them." Dr Mark McCairn, IP Development and Partnering Manager

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