The New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT) has appointed internationally experienced technology and venture-building leader Roman Reyhani as its new Chief Executive.
NZIAT Chair Steve O’Connor says Roman brings a strong combination of technology, commercialisation, strategy and venture-building experience to the role.
“Roman has spent much of his career working at the point where technology and ideas become products, businesses and commercial opportunities,” Steve says.
“He brings valuable international experience, a strong connection to New Zealand and real ambition for what we can achieve in advanced technology.”
Raised in Auckland, Roman has built a career spanning international law, technology, entrepreneurship and venture building.
His early career in international law included roles in The Hague and Rwanda before he moved into technology and entrepreneurship in the United States, working with early-stage and growth companies across emerging technology, machine learning and fintech.
Roman later joined Boston Consulting Group’s venture-building business, BCG Digital Ventures, and subsequently BCG X, where he spent six years building and commercialising new technology ventures for major global companies and growth-stage businesses.
His work spanned energy, climate technology, mining and resources, advanced manufacturing, automotive and financial services. It included commercialising and scaling technologies in EV batteries and charging, methane detection and emissions monitoring, industrial decarbonisation, as well as AI and machine learning.
Roman also brings significant venture and investment experience, including technology assessment, market validation, capital raising, venture spinouts and joint ventures.
After more than two decades overseas, Roman returned to New Zealand last year.
“Roman brings an interesting perspective from having watched New Zealand’s technology sector develop from abroad,” Steve says.
“Whether it was rockets launching off the coast of Māhia or New Zealand companies increasingly competing on the world stage, Roman saw a country becoming more confident about its technology potential. Now he gets to be part of what we do next.”
“He has a strong belief in New Zealand’s talent, ingenuity and ability to do things differently. We’re delighted that he will now bring his experience to NZIAT.”
Roman says he is excited about the opportunity.
“I genuinely believe New Zealand’s potential is limitless. We have exceptional people, great ideas and a willingness to think differently.
“I’m excited to bring the experience I’ve gained internationally to NZIAT and to work with our people and partners to help turn frontier research into frontier firms for the benefit of all New Zealanders,” Roman says.
Roman will take up the role on 19 October 2026.
About Roman Reyhani
Roman is a returning New Zealander with more than 20 years of international experience spanning technology, venture building, investment and commercialisation. He is also a California-qualified technology and transactions lawyer.
His experience includes:
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Venture and investment: Technology assessment, market validation, investment cases, capital raising, venture spinouts, joint ventures and M&A. His work includes establishing a deep-tech venture with operations across 14 jurisdictions, structuring a US$1 billion-plus international industrial decarbonisation joint venture, and taking a Series A automotive venture from corporate spinout to standalone company.
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Advanced technology: Experience spanning EV batteries and charging, methane detection and emissions monitoring, industrial decarbonisation, climate technology, AI and machine learning. This includes establishing EV-charging and battery businesses for a Fortune 25 manufacturer and commercialising a methane-detection technology that subsequently raised US$25 million.
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Sectors and organisations: Experience across energy, climate, mining and resources, heavy industry, advanced manufacturing, automotive, financial services and fintech. He has worked with start-ups and scale-ups, Fortune 25 and Fortune 500 companies, investors, technology partners, university research groups and international public institutions.
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Research commercialisation: Experience assessing the commercial potential of university research and commercialising university-developed technologies, including battery technologies; structuring a non-profit climate-technology innovation hub involving universities, technology and climate-tech partners; and mentoring founders through the UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator.
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International experience: Technology and commercialisation activity across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Japan and Taiwan, with ventures spanning markets across North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia.
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Career and qualifications: Roman spent six years with BCG Digital Ventures and BCG X, and has held senior roles with Atomic Capital and Leviathan Analytics. Earlier in his career, he founded Reyhani Law and worked with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He holds an LL.M. from Leiden University and an LL.B. and B.A. from the University of Auckland.