Arnold migrated from The Netherlands with his wife and two daughters to Perth in October 2005.

He has a Masters Degree in Medical Informatics (Medical and Computer Science degree combined) and attended several higher management and post-doc courses (MBA, Economic Development, Marketing & Sales). Prior to Zernike (in The Netherlands), he was business owner and director of a consultancy company, with a focus on commercialisation of technology, business development and strategic consultancy. Furthermore, he was founder and director of a successful Dutch Executive Search Company.

Zernike is an active player in the field of commercialisation of technologies, Science Park management, venture capital, business consultancy and incubation. For the last 15 years Zernike has managed Science Parks, including incubators all over the world and a growing number of seed and latter stage funds. Arnold is responsible for the region Australasia and has offices in Perth and Brisbane, with further operations in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. With Zernike Arnold holds close relationships with State and Federal Government, Universities and companies in the private sector.

Arnold is also the Honorary Consul of The Netherlands for Western Australia. As the Consul he represents The Netherlands in WA and actively supports the economic development between the two countries, especially in the field of Mining & Resources, Maritime, Renewable Energies and innovation exchange.

Arnold is associate Professor of Curtin Business School and is the main point of contact for Zernike commercialisation projects, master planning of Technology Parks and economic development projects.

Countries experience

Australia, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, US, Malaysia, Singapore, China.

Tom Huissen has a long standing record when it comes to public private partnership. He joined the Economic Department of the Province of North Holland in 1974 as a project manager for regional development. Furthermore he managed innovation and technology programmes for five regions in Holland.

In 1990 he became director of the Economic Department of North-Holland. In his capacity as director for trade and industry he built up an extensive international network and brought many new innovations to North Holland. In 1998 he became director of a newly integrated department of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Environment (110 fte). Tom was the founding father of three development companies in North Holland created around three major clusters: The Schiphol Area Development Company, The Regional Harbour Development Company and the Development Company North Holland North. For the latter he was personally involved in creating the Marine Technology Park in Den Helder.

Since the first of January 2007 he has retired from government and is now the Chairman of Zernike Australia.