Irvine Invents Innovation Council
Innovation Council members gather to commemorate the launch of Irvine’s newest initiative. Photo credit Irvine
Irvine is going to work. In a plan to attract, retain, and support high-growth technology businesses, Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan announced the launch of Irvine’s first ever Innovation Council. In partnership with some of our city’s most important business, education, and government leaders, the Innovation Council will aim to secure Irvine’s position as a technology and innovation hub.
The Innovation Council will work to create a pipeline of talent to support all of this creative entrepreneurship. It will focus on programming to encourage innovation at local schools.
“As the city of Irvine celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and we look ahead to the future, there is no doubt that our next chapter will be defined by our growing prominence in technology and innovation,” Mayor Khan says. “I am excited to launch my Innovation Council, which is our path to reinvest in our community and stitch together different pieces that are critical to the innovation ecosystem’s growth and success. Now let’s start innovating.”
The Innovation Council’s government, education, and business leaders include
CerraCap Ventures: Saurabh Ranjan, Founder and CEO; Abhi Mukherjee, Operating Partner; and Sylvia Kim, Venture Partner
Chapman University: Dr. Janeen Hill, Dean, Crean College of Health & Behavioral Sciences
Edwards Lifesciences: Michael A. Mussallem, Chairman and CEO; Heather Rouhana, Government Affairs
FivePoint: Emile Haddad, Founder and Chairman Emeritus eff. 10/1/21; Lynn Jochim, President and Chief Operating Officer
Google: Michael Jeter, Director
Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce: Bryan Starr, President and CEO
Irvine Company: Jeffrey Davis, Vice President – Entitlement
Irvine Valley College: Dr. John Hernandez, President
KW Capital Partners: Irving Kau, Managing Partner
Masimo: Joe Kiani, Founder, Chairman, and CEO
Microsoft: Ali Mazaheri, MTC Director – Irvine
OCTANe: Bill Carpou, CEO
Orange County Business Council: Lucy Dunn, President and CEO
Partake Collective: Adam Carillo, CEO
Sunstone Management, Inc.: John Shen, Principal
Sustain SoCal: C. Scott Kitcher, President and CEO
UCI Beall Applied Innovation: Errol Arkilic, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer
University of California, Irvine: Howard Gillman, Chancellor