Speakers

Session

Unpacking the Promise Behind AI for Diagnosis, Personalization, and Data Sharing
Business Model Panel Discussion – Big Data & Artificial Intelligence
1:05 PM - 1:50 PM

Matt Gardner is the chief executive of the California Technology Council. Matt brings together backgrounds in economic development, nonprofit management and startups in his approach to building the CTC. 

Prior to the CTC, Matt was a senior vice president at TechAmerica, where he led initiatives to develop a startup value proposition and focus the organization on serving members.  In his previous role as President and Chief Executive of BayBio, Matt served in one of the most visible roles of public leadership in the life science industry in the world. He led a restructuring and executed a turn-around which led to an increase of more than 100% in membership, while developing a dynamic platform for member-driven engagement. His career in nonprofits began at the Technology Council of Maryland, where Matt established a number of legacy programs including that Tech Council's suite of member benefits.

Matt has had the privilege of serving as founder and chair of the life science advisory boards to two members of Congress. He has been active in the community through directorships and advisory roles for organizations including the California Association for Local Economic Development, Alameda County Workforce Investment Board, UC Davis External Research Advisory Board, and the University of Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program.

Before his career in trade associations, Matt spent almost a decade in economic development. He was the North American Director of Business Development for the government of Queensland, Australia. Mr. Gardner’s work included biopartnering campaigns, capital formation programs and participation in policy teams ranging from economic diversification in primary economies to venture financing. While serving Queensland, he founded and chaired of the Queensland-United States Bioscience Business Council.

In prior advisory roles, Matt served as a board member of the Maryland Technology Development Center (an incubator), as a life science advisor on the Corporate Relations Advisory Group of JHPIEGO at Johns Hopkins University, as the founder and director of the first-ever life science advisory board to the World Bank Development Marketplace, and as a biotechnology advisor to the California Commission for Economic Development. He was a member of the founding Global Board of Advisors for the Patent and License Exchange and was a charter member of the LA Morning Rotary Club serving downtown Los Angeles, California.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and his Master of Arts in History, both from the University of San Diego. His Master's thesis, entitled The Seeds of Innovation, explored the roots of San Diego's biotech and telecommunications industry development.