Mr Simon Hanson

Simon is the director of CSIRO's SME Connect team which has a presence in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Wollongong, Sydney, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Townsville. SME Connect provides a single point of contact for Australian start-ups and SMEs to interact with CSIRO, universities and public research organisations. The team works with companies to identify opportunities for research to benefit their business, connects them with the best Australian researchers, and facilitates access to dollar-matched research project funding.

The CSIRO SME Connect team is the National Delivery Partner of the Innovation Connections and Incubator Support elements of the Australian Government's Entrepreneurs' Programme, delivers the Ross Metcalf STEM⁺ Business Fellowship Program on behalf of the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF), and delivers the CSIRO Kick-Start program.

Prior to his current position, Simon was the Business Development and Commercial Director of CSIRO’s Environment Group. Simon has worked in a variety of other industry engagement and commercialisation roles in CSIRO, with a focus on the manufacturing sector. Simon commenced his professional career as a lawyer.