Lesley Millar-Nicholson

Director, Technology Licensing Office & Director, Catalysts, Office of Strategic Alliances & Technology Transfer

MIT

Lesley is formerly the director of the Office of Technology Management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where she had responsibility for the oversight of all technology transfer activities across the university. In this position, Lesley demonstrated leadership in all phases of the commercialization of technology and intellectual property, ranging from proof of concept programs to enable the launch of startup companies through patenting and licensing processes. She played a major role in developing a thriving innovation ecosystem at UIUC, marked by strong corporate engagement. Beyond her university focus, Lesley has been a prominent speaker nationally and internationally on the economic importance of technology transfer.

Lesley holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Georgia, respectively, and an MBA from UIUC.