Professor Damian Hine is an evolutionary economist with over 25 years of international experience in innovation and commercialisation research, teaching and practice.
Damian’s work sits at the crossroads of strategy and innovation. He specialises in the impact of disruptive products and technologies and the innovative business models required to deliver them. He works closely with scientists and engineers in translating science to meaningful economic, community, environmental and societal impacts.
In addition to his role at FaBA, Damian is leading the AgriMining initiative with the UQ Sustainable Minerals Institute, the UQ/CSIRO Food System Horizons Initiative, assessing the potential to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAFs) production in Australia and the Circular Biosphere Project. He is also leading projects on the viability of establishing a viable coca industry in Tonga (DFAT funded), a portfolio analysis for a SAFs industry in Australia (funded by Sugar Research Australia) and the broader SAFs initiative funded by the Japanese Government through its Moonshot program.
Damian has worked extensively internationally, including with the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Global Environment Facility and OECD to improve livelihoods in low resource communities across Asia and Pacific through enterprise-led solutions.
He has won over $60M in funding, and is leading numerous bioeconomy initiatives across the university, including in precision fermentation and biofuels.
Key capabilities
Evolutionary economist