Cather Simpson is an entrepreneurial academic who moved from the US to New Zealand in 2007.  At the University of Auckland, she founded the Photon Factory, a high-tech, industry-facing laser centre. Her work there has resulted (thus far) in three deep-tech spinouts: Engender Technologies (acquired by CRV, Ltd.), Luminoma Diagnostics and Orbis Diagnostics, where she is currently CEO and Founder Director.  She is a Partner at Pacific Channel, and sits on the boards of Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, SPIE the International Society for Optics and Photonics as Vice-President, and a handful of startup companies. A Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, Cather also serves on the Academy Executive.  Recent accolades include the 2019 Pickering Medal, 2022 KiwiNet Commercialisation Icon award and the inaugural NZ Institute of Physics Te Tohu mō Whaihua i te Mātai Ahupūngao  Impact Award (2023). She is keenly interested in the research-commercialisation interface, and how innovation drives productivity and economic growth.