Elizabeth Lisa Kuuttila

Elizabeth “Lisa” Kuuttila joined UNM Rainforest Innovations, the University of New Mexico’s technology-transfer and economic development arm, as President & CEO in 2003. She is currently the CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer of the organization. She works with the UNM Rainforest Innovations Board of Directors in developing strategies for implementing STC’s vision to play a vital role in New Mexico’s economic development and to be a leader in technology commercialization. Under her leadership, UNM Rainforest Innovations is substantially growing its program using the Rainforest model to develop an innovation ecosystem in New Mexico.

Kuuttila has more than 30 years of prior leadership experience in technology commercialization and entrepreneurial ecosystem development. This includes positions as Assistant Vice President for Technology Commercialization at Purdue Research Foundation; Director, Technology Commercialization, at the University of Georgia; and Director, of the Office of Technology Commercialization, at the Center for Advanced Technology Development, at Iowa State University. Her prior experience also includes a consulting practice that provided strategic marketing and technology-transfer consulting services for a wide variety of well-known technology corporations, universities, and foundations, including Stanford University. She began her career in the industry in several engineering and technology-marketing positions. Kuuttila received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Public Administration from Iowa State University. She is also a graduate of the Venture Capital Institute.