About DTB Consulting

DTB Consulting was launched in 2021 by its principal Dr. Darren Cundy. Ph.D. M Sci Tech Comm. GAICD.

Darren completed a Ph.D. in organic Chemistry at the University of Queensland and spent the following two years at the University of Florida as a post‐doctoral student. Darren returned to Australia to take up a role with the CSIRO in Melbourne to develop novel agrichemicals. His research position at CSIRO evolved over time to one that became increasingly responsible for the interaction with external clients and he broadened his skill base to include the commercial aspects of R&D.

Darren then took an opportunity to work as the Executive Officer to the CEO of CSIRO, and worked with three successive CEOs in Canberra. While in that role Darren completed a Master’s degree at the University of Adelaide in the Commercialisation of Science & Technology.

To put those skills into practice, Darren took up two back‐to‐back secondments working as an investment manager in two Melbourne based venture capital firms, one specialising in early stage ICT and the other in life science.

Darren returned to CSIRO to join their Business development and Commercialisation team. In that capacity as Executive Manager: Commercial Darren established the CSIRO’s $16M Australian Growth Partnership program and led equity, and debt investments by the organisation into technology‐receptive companies. In the last few years of his career with CSIRO he led the licensing effort for one of the organisation's high value technologies,

Darren then joined CIS Consulting, a Melbourne based consulting firm specialising in the higher education sector where he managed the needs of a wide range of clients, including many universities and in particular was a critical liaison in the development of Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) bids.

It was via CIS that Darren was introduced to The University of Tasmania and took up the role of Director Business Development and Technology Transfer. 

After almost seven years in that position Darren then took an the major responsibility of establishing the newly awarded Blue Economy CRC as its interim Chief Executive. 

This was followed by his appointment as the Director Knowledge Exchange & Enterprise at the University of Newcastle prior to the establishment of DTB Consulting.

Darren is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP).

Through his career Darren has also served as a Board Member and non-executive Chairman for several early stage technology based businesses, helping  them navigate through the critical establishment phase.