Dr Ian Goon

Dr Ian Goon is Head of Strategy and Innovation at Tyree IHealthE. We talk to Ian about his diverse professional background and what excites him about his role. 

Dr Ian Goon

Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

I am a strategy leader with a multi-disciplinary skill set developed through professional experience in research, technology, management consulting, and healthcare. I have a background in scientific research, developing nanomaterials for biosensing applications and subsequently spent 4 years in a commercially focused role as a strategy consultant with The Boston Consulting Group. A desire to work on projects in healthcare led me to start a health technology company focused on building digital tools for Global Health research projects across Asia.

I am currently Head of Strategy and Innovation for the Tyree Foundation Institute of Health Engineering at UNSW, where I focus on developing and executing the Institute's strategic initiatives for identifying unmet healthcare needs and driving the translation of Australian innovations to address these needs.

What excites you most about your role as Head of Strategy and Innovation?

The multi-faceted nature of the role where I get to apply my experience in science, business, technology, and healthcare towards addressing clinical unmet needs excites me the most. The opportunity to work closely with clinicians, technologists, and other like-minded members of the healthcare translation ecosystem in overcoming barriers to innovation with the aim of improving healthcare outcomes, is uniquely rewarding.

What do you think will enable health engineering projects and innovations to succeed?

The area that teams aiming to translate innovative technologies most often overlook is the competitive and regulatory context within which the innovation sits. Being able to clearly articulate the competitive advantages and regulatory pathways of an innovation enables more strategic development of the innovation which increases the likelihood of success. Tyree IHealthE applies structured innovation methodologies coupled with expert facilitation to support innovators in ensuring key aspects of the translation process are not overlooked during development of the innovation.

What are some of your interests outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy camping, sailing, and playing football with my young family. This year, we are taking every opportunity we can get to travel - something we’ll never take for granted again!

How do people get in contact with you?

The best way to get in touch is to drop me an email at i.goon@unsw.edu.au