David Secher

David is an international expert in intellectual property technology transfer and research management. His international experience includes Japan, Jordan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Argentina, India, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon as well as Europe and the USA. Dr. Secher is a Life Fellow and until 2018 was Senior Bursar at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge where he was responsible for the investment of a £210 million endowment.

David was co-founder and chairman of Praxis (now PraxisAuril) the leading UK technology transfer program, of which he is now a Patron. He served as Director of Research Services, at the University of Cambridge where he was responsible for creating and directing a new division of 80 staff, for designing and implementing an IP policy for the University, and for technology transfer throughout the University resulting in £2 million licensing revenue, 40 new licenses and six spin outs per year.

David was Chief Executive of N8 Limited, a consortium of eight research-intensive universities in the North of England, securing initial funding of £6m from Regional Development Agencies. His earlier career was in molecular biology research with MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Celltech Limited, and Cancer Research Campaign (now Cancer Research UK). David held or was named on three patents and is the holder of a lifetime Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion for creating “environments that favor enterprise, specializing in the practical aspects of commercializing the results of academic research”. External appointments: David is a Director of Cambridge KT Ltd, Trustee of Cambridge United Charities, Chairmain of Fitzwilliam Museum (Enterprises) Ltd, and Hon. Treasurer of the César and Celia Milstein Foundation. During 2020 David was Interim Bursar of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. David is the Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.