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SG Biofuels Adds Arama Kukutai of Finistere Ventures to Advisory Board
SG Biofuels, an agricultural biotechnology company specializing in the development of Jatropha as a low-cost, sustainable source of oil, today announced the addition of Arama Kukutai to its board of advisors. Kukutai is Managing Director of Finistere Ventures, LLC a leading life science venture capital firm based in San Diego, Calif. Kukutai is responsible for Finistere’s agricultural technology and green energy portfolio investments and is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.
“Arama brings to SG Biofuels considerable experience growing companies in the life science and agribusiness industries to successful exits,” said Kirk Haney, President and Chief Executive Officer of SG Biofuels. “His leadership and expertise will be a tremendous asset as we scale our company from the research and development phase to commercialization.”
Prior to joining Finistere, Kukutai served as Regional Director - North America for the New Zealand government's trade development agency in North America, establishing multiple pathways for New Zealand businesses to access this key market. Kukutai has had an active career in investment, both in commercial banking at Westpac Banking Corporation, and as a Director of PKW Incorporation, a successful $300 million agribusiness and diversified investment entity involved in agriculture, aquaculture and property development with activities in New Zealand, Asia and Australia.
He has served as Chairman of PKW Farms, a large pastoral dairy agribusiness in New Zealand. He currently serves on the boards of Hawaii BioEnergy, LLC, Somark Innovations, Inc. and Tiller Cohen Farms, LP. He is also Chairman of the Larta Institute’s advisory board for the USDA Commercialization program for SBIR grantee companies and has been closely involved in the development of the Ag Innovation Showcase, the leading event for innovation in the Agriculture sector, where he is Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board.
Other members of the SG Biofuels advisory board include Arturo Alvarado, former CEO of Western Union Central America; Paul Dickerson, former COO for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Edgar Masri, former President and CEO of 3Com; Dr. Jay Short, founder of Diversa Corp., and Hon. Jerry Weller, former U.S. Congressman from Illinois.
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