Ken Jefferd

Commander
DISC Type : D

Board and Investment Committee Member at Tin Alley Ventures

Greater Melbourne Area, Australia

Overview

Ken is the Managing Director of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation at the University of Melbourne, where he leads a team of 300 professionals. With a first-class degree in applied chemistry, he spent 20 years in global executive roles at BP before applying his experience to growing science and technology-driven enterprises.

Described as values-driven, open, and authentic, Ken is passionate about building innovative and purposeful businesses. He is known for his ability to connect with people, listen actively, and foster an inclusive and customer-focused culture. His leadership is frequently highlighted as a key strength in professional recommendations.

He successfully led HRL Technology Group out of administration, resulting in a 9X return for investors upon its sale to private equity.

Personality Overview

Candid & Clear

Strong-Willed

Impact-Driven

They respond better to strong and respectful interactions.  They like to stay in control of the negotiation or defining of the terms. They are less concerned about the product and more about its potential impact.

Topics They Care About

Research Commercialisation
His current role involves translating university research into real-world impact. He recently appeared on a podcast titled, "Turning Billions of Research Investment Into Commercial Success. "
Venture Investing
Serves as a Board and Investment Committee Member for Tin Alley Ventures, a $120m venture capital fund focused on the University of Melbourne's innovation ecosystem.
MedTech & Bionics
Holds Non-Executive Director roles at BioCurate, the Bionics Institute, and the Jumar Bioincubator, demonstrating a deep commitment to the medical technology sector.

Media Appearances

Ken has no verified media appearances

Work History

12-2022
Board and Investment Committee Member at Tin Alley Ventures
7-2022
Managing Director at University of Melbourne
5-2020
Non Executive Director at BioCurate Pty Ltd
2-2019 - 1-2023
Council Member at Australian British Chamber of Commerce
1-2018 - 2-2023
Non Executive Director at Bionics Institute

Education

2014 - 2014
BP CFO Excellence Exec Development Program from The Wharton School
2008 - 2008
BP Sales and Marketing Exec Development Program from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 28 Location : Greater Melbourne Area, Australia Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Board and Investment Committee Member at Tin Alley Ventures
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Insights For Selling To Ken

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • When negotiating terms, help them build an impression that they are the ones calling the shots
  • Speak about competitive differentiation that your product offers
  • Hold your ground without indulging in one-upmanship

DONT's

  • Don’t take too much time in sending them information if they ask for any
  • Do not hesitate from asking counter questions, just avoid challenging their authority
  • Don't try too hard to forge relationships with them

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Ken is

  • Conviction around the impact matters the most to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Ken

  • If they decide not to use your product, they will say no clearly.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Ken move?

  • If convinced, they can reach decisions quite fast.
  • Can Ken take some risk or not?

  • They do not shy away from taking risks, but can be quite binary about them.

You And Ken

Personality Compatibility


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