Innovation Centre Team

Board of Directors



  • Professor Greg Hill, Vice-Chancellor and President Designate, University of the Sunshine Coast (Chairman)

Professor Hill was appointed Vice-Chancellor and President Designate at the University of the Sunshine Coast on 15 June 2010. Before his appointment he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at USC, a role he had held since 2005.

Professor Hill began his career as a primary school teacher and later completed a BA Hons (Geography) and PhD (Wildlife/Statistical Ecology) at the University of Queensland. He taught at UQ for 15 years and gained national recognition for teaching innovation and technology transfer to developing countries. He was appointed as Reader in Geographical Sciences and UQ Director of the (ARC) Key Centre in Land Information Studies.

He was the Foundation Chair in Tropical Environmental Science at Charles Darwin University in 1995 and was a Dean from 1997.

Professor Hill represents the University on several bodies including the QTAC, the National Seniors Research and Education Advisory Committee, and the Consortium for Integrated Resource Management and Smart Water Research Centre Boards.


  • Professor Mike Hefferan, Pro Vice-Chancellor Regional Engagement, University of the Sunshine Coast (Deputy Chairman)

Professor Mike Hefferan brings a strong background in property and business precinct development and while working for the Queensland Government was responsible for much of the 'Smart State' initiative which included the establishment of the Australian Institute for Commercialisation - where he was the interim CEO - the establishment of Aviation Australia and the i.lab Incubator at Toowong.


  • Dr Karen Woolley, CEO, Proscribe

Dr Karen Woolley who continues to be a strong advocate for the Innovation Centre and business development on the Sunshine Coast, has more than twenty years experience in clinical research and medical writing and is the CEO of Proscribe, an international medical communication company based in Noosa. Karen is a former Sunshine Coast Business Woman of the Year and Queensland Business Owner of the Year.


  • Mr Mike Schwartz, Regional General Manager, Commercial Banking, QLD Metro North, Westpac

Mike Schwartz has extensive global experience in banking, finance, IT and communications, has valuable direct experience with IT start-up companies and is passionate about the Innovation Centre and its drive to create new jobs on the Sunshine Coast. Mike was also previously a General Manager at Telstra, VP at Goldman Sachs and a Management Consultant with the Boston Consulting Group.


  • Mr John Nicholson, Businessman and Angel Investor

John Nicholson, also based in Noosa, originates from Western Australia and has a strong background in accounting - cofounding a Perth based practice that grew to 50 staff within 3 years. In more recent years, John has been an angel investor and helped to grow an online fitness education business with over 60,000 subscribers, which sold to a major player in the UK in 2007.


Management Team

Name: Colin Graham
Position: Chief Executive Officer

Colin is the founding CEO of the Innovation Centre. He is responsible for the Business Accelerator and building connections between businesses at the Innovation Centre and the University as well as supporting the Student Enterprise and Business Incubator Programs. Colin has a degree in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde and a Masters in Entrepreneurship from Glasgow Caledonian University. He is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. His first job ..more
Name: Nigel Hall
Position: Manager, Business Incubator

Nigel manages the Innovation Centre’s Business Incubator, attracting and developing growth oriented start-up companies. Nigel began his career at Ernst & Young in Germany and then joined Biosym Technologies, a Molecular Design software company. He left Biosym to start Xpedite Systems Germany, a data and telecommunications services company. Following the trade sale of Xpedite in 1997, Nigel started HighwayOne Germany and became CEO of the European network operator and data service p..more
Name: Alison Glen
Position: Operations Manager

Alison manages the Innovation Centre facility and office systems, and is responsible for customer service - ensuring a smooth path for new businesses entering the building and supporting their needs as they grow. Alison is originally from Scotland and moved to Australia in 1990, living in Victoria for a few years before settling on the Sunshine Coast. She has worked in local government and the banking sector - working for St George Bank and Westpac - and has extensive administrative and cus..more
Name: Hayley Passmore
Position: Marketing Coordinator

Hayley organises and promotes all of the events and functions held by the Innovation Centre as well as looking after all of the marketing activities. Hayley manages the extensive database of business contacts, organises public relations campaigns, manages the website, and organises advertising material. Hayley completed a Bachelor of Business at the University of the Sunshine Coast and has had experience in marketing and public relations roles as well as in the Real Estate industry...more
Name: Amy Pitura
Position: Receptionist & Admin Assistant

Amy runs the Innovation Centre reception, greets visitors and handles customer enquiries. She is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the facility and maintains great relationships with all client companies. Amy is responsible for the hire of the Business Training Facility, assisting with organising all events, and maintaining the extensive database of business contacts. Amy is a Sunshine Coast local and has lived here for the past 18 years. Amy's key role in previous employ..more
Name: Erin Pyers
Position: Student Ambassador

Erin is the Innovation Centre's newly appointed Student Ambassador and is responsible for the smooth running of the UniConnect program at the Centre. This involves creating mutually beneficial relationships between the companies based at the Centre and the University of the Sunshine Coast students and staff. Erin is responsible for placing interns and work experience students, helping secure graduate positions for USC students, organising course projects to be completed using Innovation Centre t..more