Medical device commercialisation
James has over 20 years of experience in the commercial sector, including 17 years at Cochlear — the global leader in implantable hearing solutions — where he held senior roles such as Principal Engineer, Senior Surgical Specialist, Product Marketing Manager and Product Manager – Implants and Professional Engagement. He led collaborative R&D projects with international partners to develop surgical systems, instruments and robotics, and conducted detailed market research and modelling to build business cases for major capital investments. His work directly supported the launch of 44 new products in under five years and strengthened Cochlear’s professional networks across the Asia-Pacific region.
Technology Transfer and IP Strategy
At UNSW’s Industry and Innovation department, James managed a portfolio focused on Medtech and Life Sciences. He assessedinvention disclosures, advised on IP protection and commercialisation pathways, and negotiated IP terms in collaborative research and licensing agreements. As a commercialisation reviewer for the NHMRC and a consultant on successful grant applications across medical, energy and manufacturing sectors, he has contributed expert analysis on market alignment, partner value, and commercial viability. James is also named inventor on seven granted patents.
Commercialisation Systems and Regulatory Compliance
James has extensive experience designing and implementing systems that meet international medical device standards. At Nuheara, he supported product development and manufacturing teams in meeting ISO 13485 and FDA CFR21 Part 820 compliance, applying knowledge developed at Cochlear to improve quality assurance, documentation, prototype testing and traceability processes. His guidance ensured alignment with both US and EU regulatory frameworks.
