top of page

TIV's Advisory Council

At Tambourine Innovation Ventures, our Advisory Council is more than a group of senior advisors; it is a global network of pre-eminent leaders whose expertise spans science and technology policy, intellectual property, venture capital, public sector innovation, international development, and strategic finance. Drawn from the highest levels of multilateral organizations, academia, government, and industry, they bring decades of experience in shaping landmark policies, steering multi-billion-dollar initiatives, and guiding transformative programs worldwide.

 

Their collective insights inform every dimension of TIV’s work, from designing innovation ecosystems and commercialization strategies to advising governments on emerging technology governance to structuring catalytic investments and public-private partnerships. Working closely with our leadership team, the Council helps chart TIV’s strategic direction and ensures that our clients benefit from cutting-edge thinking, unparalleled networks, and a deep understanding of the complex dynamics driving global change.

Dr. Andrew Scheinman, Ph.D., J.D., is a seasoned expert in technology transfer, IP strategy, and early-stage venture formation, with over 25 years of experience advancing science-driven innovation across academic, government, and private sector ecosystems. As Founder of Scheinman Law, he advises universities, research institutions, and startups on IP portfolio development, commercialization readiness, and investor due diligence, combining legal acumen with a pragmatic understanding of innovation management. He previously served as a Licensing Professional with the State University of New York Research Foundation (SUNY RF), overseeing technology transfer, business planning, and training programs across four major research campuses (Albany, Upstate, Downstate, and Optometry) and over twenty SUNY colleges. His work involved guiding principal investigators through invention disclosure, EPIC grant preparation, and early-stage program coordination. Earlier, Dr. Scheinman held executive and advisory roles at Nidus BioSciences, StrongArm Technologies, Graphene Devices Limited, and MicroEra Power, where he led startup formation, IP protection, venture strategy, and fundraising. He has also served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the University of Rochester, and Barnard College, and has mentored participants in the NSF I-Corps program. Dr. Scheinman earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his J.D. from California Western School of Law, both on full academic scholarships, following a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. He is a registered U.S. Patent Attorney and licensed member of the North Carolina Bar, serving at TIV as a Licensing & Business Planning Expert focused on IP strategy, commercialization, and institutional capacity-building. Dr. Scheinman earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from UCLA and his J.D. from California Western School of Law, both on full academic scholarship, following undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a registered U.S. Patent Attorney and licensed member of the North Carolina Bar, serving in this engagement as a non-legal business advisor focused on licensing strategy, commercialization planning, and coordination with counsel.

Dr. Andrew Scheinman

Numerous Private Organizations & VC Funds

Nationally recognized expert in technology transfer, intellectual property strategy, and early-stage venture formation, with more than two decades of experience advancing research-based innovation across academic, government, and private sector ecosystems.

Read More
Howard B. Rockman, J.D., is a distinguished intellectual property attorney, consultant, author, and academic with more than five decades of experience. He has advised innovators, companies, and public institutions on the litigation, protection, and commercialization of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets across US and international jurisdictions. His career began at the US Patent and Trademark Office as a Patent Examiner, followed by his role as a Patent Attorney at the US Department of Justice. He later built a prominent private practice, serving as a partner at Lee Mann Smith et al./Barnes & Thornburg and of counsel at Reed Smith LLP, before co-founding Rockman Videbeck & O’Connor LLC. Beyond practice, Howard is a noted educator and thought leader. He is an Adjunct Professor at The John Marshall Law School, teaching advanced patent law, and at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he lectures on IP law for engineers and scientists. He has authored influential texts, including Intellectual Property Law for Engineers and Scientists and The Practice of Intellectual Property Law, and has published widely in legal and engineering journals. Recognized as a Super Lawyer in 2005, his contributions also extend to professional societies, including the American Society of Civil Engineers and IEEE. At TIV, Howard applies his unparalleled experience in intellectual property law to help clients craft effective IP strategies, manage litigation risks, and align innovation with business growth. His dual role as both practitioner and educator makes him a trusted advisor for entrepreneurs, engineers, and policymakers navigating the complex IP landscape.

Prof. Howard Rockman

Northwestern University

Intellectual property attorney and legal strategist with over 50 years of experience in patent litigation, IP protection, and technology commercialization across government, academia, and industry.

Read More
Dr. Anna Quider is an award-winning science policy leader and the CEO of The Quider Group, with over 15 years of experience spanning higher education, the US federal government, and the nonprofit sector. Named one of the “Top 100 Lobbyists” by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics, she has shaped national research and innovation policy, including authoring key provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act for Emerging Research Institutions. She is a two-time Superior Honor Awardee of the US Department of State, a former President of the Board of Directors of The Science Coalition, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. A former professional astrophysicist and Principal Investigator on a Hubble Space Telescope project, Dr. Quider combines scientific rigor with policy acumen. She earned her Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge as a Marshall Scholar and NSF Graduate Research Fellow, and dual bachelor’s degrees in Physics & Astronomy and Religious Studies & the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Her career has bridged federal science policy, university leadership, and international engagement. She has served as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow and led major initiatives at the US Department of State, where she advanced global science diplomacy and innovation strategies. Beyond government, she has advised higher-education associations, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations on federal engagement, program optimization, and stakeholder strategy. At TIV, Dr. Quider leverages this breadth of experience to help clients navigate federal processes, foster innovation ecosystems, and ensure that research translates into tangible impact. A frequent public speaker, she has delivered hundreds of presentations and trainings worldwide on science, innovation, and advocacy, equipping the next generation of leaders with the tools to succeed in complex policy and innovation landscapes.

Dr. Anna Quider

The Quider Group

Award-winning science policy expert with extensive experience bridging federal government, academia, and nonprofit sectors to design innovation strategies, influence legislation, and strengthen research ecosystems.

Read More
Adam has over 20 years of consulting and technology experience in the areas of intellectual property licensing, technology commercialization, innovation strategy, expert testimony on damages and IP valuation, and data analytics. Adam began his career with Ernst & Young working with clients in the telecommunication and energy industries. Adam then worked as a licensing professional in the field of academic technology transfer, where he managed diverse portfolios of intellectual property providing technology commercialization and development services to various stakeholders. From there, Adam developed a consulting practice focused on litigation consulting and data analytics, technology commercialization and valuation. Mr. Falconer holds a Juris Doctor and Certificate in Law, Technology and Management from Syracuse University, College of Law (cum laude), in addition to an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from Iowa State University, College of Business (highest honors). Mr. Falconer has served as a guest lecturer on intellectual property damages at the University of San Francisco School of Law, University of Kansas School of Law, and has lectured on patent policy at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy. Adam is a member of various professional associations, including the Forensics and Valuation Services Section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Valuation and Pricing Committee of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) and he is a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP).

Mr. Adam Falconer

Numerous Universities & Private Organizations

Intellectual property strategist and technology commercialization expert with 20+ years of experience in IP licensing, valuation, litigation consulting, and tech transfer for leading universities, startups, and Fortune 500 companies.

Read More
Dr. Charles Weiss was appointed in 1971 as the World Bank’s first Science and Technology Advisor and served in this capacity until 1985. Under his direction, the Bank financed pioneering methods of support to innovative technology in Israel, Korea, and Spain. Between 1985-97, he was the Principal of Global Technology Management, Inc. He taught at the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University, the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. Department of State.

Dr. Charles Weiss

World Bank & Georgetown University

Global authority on science, technology, and innovation policy; former World Bank Science & Technology Advisor and Distinguished Professor shaping development strategies worldwide.

Read More
Oltac Unsal brings a great deal of experience in the technology entrepreneurship, investment, and development sectors. He is the President of Smyrna Capital and has invested in over 45 startups in technology, renewable energy, and other opportunistic sectors. His success in their entrepreneurial ventures is greatly attributable to his mentoring of the portfolio businesses on market positioning, growth, and sales strategy. In these ventures, he has led the development of numerous products (from conception to lab tests to mass engineering and sales). ​ Mr. Unsal has worked as a Senior Advisor/Manager at the World Bank. He managed Early Stage Innovation Financing programs and initiatives in 50+ countries for infoDev and led ministerial-level innovation-led economic development initiatives in over 30+ countries. During his position as Senior Portfolio and Offerings Manager for Microsoft, Oltac assisted the turnaround of $500M unprofitable Enterprise Services to $800M, 14% profit business in 3 years through focusing on value-priced productized services and international. He also architected a three-year offerings strategy to reinvent all of Enterprise Services away from a cost-plus business model to define a clear “theater of operations” that minimized channel conflict and helped the Federal team redefine offerings pricing and strategy to minimize support costs by 42% and increase customer response times by 75%. He also served as Investor-In-Residence at USAID Development Innovation Ventures (DIV). Mr. Oltac Unsal holds an MBA in Finance/Entrepreneurship from Stanford Business School and a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Whitman College.

Mr. Oltac Unsal

World Bank Group

Global leader in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and innovation policy; former World Bank advisor and Microsoft executive shaping startup ecosystems and commercialization strategies worldwide.

Read More
Susan Kling Finston is a key opinion leader (KOL) on innovation, assimilation, and commercialization of new technologies to create social and economic benefit, with a deep understanding of government procurement and broader business development opportunities for bioscience and related R&D programs. Her substantive experience includes evaluating projects relating to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other low-carbon technologies. With 25+ years of work experience at the top echelons of corporations and government, Susan’s transformational vision yields consistent dividends for clients. Milestones include licensing and commercialization transactions over $20M, market access, and strategic partnering agreements for Fortune 100 companies. She also has completed successful engagements for corporate clients in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and World Trade Organization (WTO). She has served as a cleared advisor (Secret level) to the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative (IPR, Tariff/Trade Facilitation) and served in the U.S. Foreign Service, Department of State with Top Secret and Code Word (compartmentalized) clearance levels. She has founded and/or co-founded several companies and NGOs with visionary leaders, including biotech pioneer Ananda Chakrabarty, Ph.D. ​ She earned her Joint Degree J.D./M.P.P. from the University of Michigan Law School & Ford School of Public Policy.

Ms. Susan Finston

Finston Consulting

Seasoned advisor on bioscience innovation, intellectual property, and commercialization, bridging high-stakes policy, industry strategy, and international trade.

Read More
Professor Howard Rush is a founder member of the Centre for Research in Innovation Management (CENTRIM), where he was the Head or Deputy Head for 26 years. He has also been co-director of the ESRC-funded Center on Complex Product Systems Innovation (CoPS). Professor Rush has made significant contributions to the socioeconomic impacts of information technology, benchmarking of research and technology institutes, and the diffusion of new technologies in developing countries. Additionally, he is a global thought leader in evaluating national and regional innovation policies, managing innovation in complex projects, illegal innovation in cybercrime, and, most recently, innovation with humanitarian relief. He has published over 125 academic papers and has been the Principal Investigator on over 25 major research projects funded by various national and international agencies. He is often called upon to conduct consultancies for major organizations such as the (former) UK Department of Trade and Industry, the World Bank, the European Commission, and United Nations agencies such as the ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, and IFAD. Professor Rush is dedicated to ‘closing the loop’ between academia and industry and has been deeply involved in programs developed at CENTRIM to transfer and disseminate knowledge. As a certified trainer on the Managing Innovation course, he has delivered the program in South America, Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia. He is also certified as an instructor on the course’s ‘train-the-trainer’ program.

Dr. Howard Rush

Brighton University

Renowned expert on innovation systems, technology transfer, and complex project management, with a career dedicated to advancing R&D policy and delivering impact for governments, industry, and multilateral organizations.

Read More
Dr. James J. Gillespie, Ph.D., JD, MPA, is a consultant and researcher in the advanced application of analytics and technology to address challenges and opportunities for economic development and innovation in the biotechnology, device, healthcare, medical, and pharmaceutical sectors. He co-founded the “Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity Symposium,” the leading annual event focused on D&I for the global biopharmaceutical sector. ​ Dr. Gillespie’s research has appeared in numerous academic journals and industry periodicals. He has an article titled “Biopharmaceutical Entrepreneurship, Open Innovation, and the Knowledge Economy” forthcoming in the Journal of Innovation Management. Dr. Gillespie has also been published in the Academy of Management Review, American Behavioral Scientist, European Journal of Social Psychology, Harvard Business Review, Life Science Leader Magazine, Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, and Strategic Management Journal. ​ His education includes Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University School of Law, J.D., Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy, M.P.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, B.S., Carnegie Mellon University Heinz School, and Rand Graduate School. He also serves as President & Co-Founder at the Center for Healthcare Innovation in Chicago, IL, and as a Project Director & Senior Advisor at the Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, CA.

Dr. James Gillespie

Center of Healthcare Innovation

Strategic advisor and analytics expert specializing in applying advanced data, AI, and technology solutions to transform healthcare, biotechnology, and life sciences innovation.

Read More
Kurt Hoffman is an internationally recognized leader in entrepreneurship, impact investment, and innovation for development, with over 30 years of experience mobilizing enterprise-based solutions to address global challenges. He has designed and directed large-scale programs that link entrepreneurship, finance, and innovation to sustainable development across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Hoffman is the founding architect of the Shell Foundation, where he deployed $40 million in catalytic capital, leveraging more than $1.4 billion for scalable solutions in clean energy, SME finance, and sustainable urban transport. Under his leadership, the Foundation established enduring platforms, including GroFin Capital, now Africa’s leading SME finance facility, and EMBARQ, a global network of sustainable transportation centers active in over 50 cities. He went on to design and lead TransFarm Africa, a $50 million USAID- and Hewlett Foundation–backed initiative that pioneered the equitable commercialization of smallholder agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa. Beyond philanthropy, Hoffman has served as Chief Executive of the Institute for Philanthropy in London and New York, where he advised leading global philanthropists on maximizing the social value of their giving. Since 2015, he has served as Director of the School for Startups (S4S), a UK-based social enterprise that has trained over 40,000 entrepreneurs worldwide and advised governments on entrepreneurship-led growth strategies. Earlier in his career, he spent a decade as a Senior Fellow at the University of Sussex and launched two venture-backed technology startups, providing him with a unique perspective on academia, entrepreneurship, and global development. Hoffman has been a trusted advisor to international organizations, including DFID, USAID, the UN, and the Rockefeller Foundation, on issues ranging from innovation policy to humanitarian relief. He has served on multiple boards and advisory councils, including as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). His published work and thought leadership have influenced policy debates on enterprise-based development and innovation ecosystems worldwide. At TIV, Hoffman draws on his unmatched experience in entrepreneurship, finance, and innovation policy to advise on the design and evaluation of programs that deliver measurable, scalable impact in economic development and sustainability

Mr. Kurt Hoffman

School for Startups

Architect of transformative programs advancing entrepreneurship, corporate social investment, and economic development, with a track record of building institutions and ventures across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

Read More
bottom of page