Albert McGhee
Position: General Manager, NanoLayr. (previously Revolution Fibres) Field: Nanotechnology, nanomaterials
Albert McGhee
General Manager for Revolution Fibre.
Job
Albert describes his General Manager role in Revolution Fibres as having two sides. The first being “to really work with the smarts in the background of the company and to bring them together, to be able to drive them as a team, work with them, make sure they understand what our objectives are and really get the most out of them”. The other side is when he needs to turn that round and take that to the market, to people and to customers and be able to communicate that to them. He describes this as “being the face that sells their service to people and helps people understand the advantages nanofibre can bring”.
Why innovation is important: Revolution Fibres
Albert McGhee and Iain Hosie, from Revolution Fibres, discuss the importance of innovation for New Zealand.
Deeper thinking
Albert McGhee comments: “It’s the action, the output of innovation that’s important.” He poses the questions: Are we innovative? Are we innovative enough? Discuss why these are important questions when considering New Zealand’s economic future.
UPDATE: In May 2021, Revolution Fibres rebranded to NanoLayr.
He finds that, in a high-tech start-up, the General Manager role is one that has a real focus on working with the company and helping it to evolve into the kind of organisation it needs to be.
Coming from New Zealand, I'm used to the Kiwi way of doing more with less. And that's quite a good thing – it can take you quite a long way – but really, to produce excellent things, it takes more than just a number 8 wire approach. We need to step up and invest in innovation.
Career pathway
Albert is an engineer who began his career in the family business, a textile company. Starting on the ground floor and working his way up, he developed skills and expertise that led him into a business development role. He travelled frequently to international destinations in this role and learnt a lot about business.
Innovation definition: Albert McGhee
Albert McGhee, General Manager, Revolution Fibres, discusses invention and innovation and the relationship between them.
A challenge for students
Look at how different people in different Innovation stories define innovation. Compare these with various definitions available online and identify common elements. Discuss and compile an agreed definition in groups or as a class.
UPDATE: In May 2021, Revolution Fibres rebranded to NanoLayr.
Innovation definition: Albert McGhee
Albert McGhee, General Manager, Revolution Fibres, discusses invention and innovation and the relationship between them.
A challenge for students
Look at how different people in different Innovation stories define innovation. Compare these with various definitions available online and identify common elements. Discuss and compile an agreed definition in groups or as a class.
UPDATE: In May 2021, Revolution Fibres rebranded to NanoLayr.
After a while, he decided to take a step back to review his career and where he wanted to go. He decided to do an MBA. Towards the end of his MBA, he spotted an advertisement for Revolution Fibre’s CEO role. Deciding that this would be a really exciting thing to be part of, he applied and was successful.
Albert joined Revolution Fibres when the company had its foundational technology, its first product and first customer. At this time, it was focused on making nanofibre products. With Albert’s leadership, the company realised its strengths were in the science and manufacturing of nanofibre and refined its business model. Now Revolution Fibres’ business model is to work with partners in a wide range of industries to develop innovative solutions and products using nanofibre technology.
Albert became Revolution Fibre’s General Manager in 2010.
Update
In May 2021, Revolution Fibres rebranded to NanoLayr.
This article is based on information current in 2013.
