Table of contents
• Imagining an Australia
built on the brilliance of our people
• Go8 names new Executive Director
effective January 2015
• Learning let loose: reforming our universities
• New Go8 publications
• New Go8 Indicators
• Go8 sponsors Australia Day
at the 64th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
• Go8 conducts pre-departure briefing
for Brazilian SWB Students
• Go8 Submission
• New Organisation Structure
at the Department of Industry
• Executive Files
• Research with Impact
• Calendar of Events
2
3
5
7
9
12
14
16
17
18
21
23
Go8 Newsletter
August 2014
PDF Version
Imagining an Australia
built on the brilliance of our people
The Chair of the
Group of Eight
(Go8), and ViceChancellor and
President of The
Australian National
University, Professor
Ian Young AO,
delivered an
Address to the
National Press Club
of Australia on 30
July 2014.
Entitled “Imagining
an Australia built on
the brilliance of our
people”, Professor
Young’s speech
challenges the nation,
and Government in
particular, to make the
hard decisions that
will ensure Australia’s
universities will stand out
as amongst the best in
the world.
Professor Young argues
for differentiation and
deregulation, and
outlines why both are
necessary if Australia
wants a report card that
gives a grade better than
“B minus”.
The text of the speech is
as follows:
Higher education and
research in Australia is
at a cross-road. It is time
for us to make choices
about what we want
for our country and
what we want for future
generations. Time to
make choices about the
future of our universities.
Do we view universities
as critical to underpinning
a highly skilled, clever
and innovative Australia?
Or do we see universities
as a finishing school for
our young? An extension
of high school where we
teach young people the
same way and the same
things no matter where
they study?
Are we content with
having a good university
system? Or do we want
one that stands out
amongst the best in the
world?
The decisions we make
now will fundamentally
shape Australia’s future.
Imagine, for a moment,
what the future can be –
for students, for research
and for our nation.
To read, download or
print the entire speech,
please visit: https://go8.
edu.au/article-type/
leaders-statements
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 2
Vicki Thomson
The Group of Eight
names new Executive Director
The Group of Eight
(Go8) welcomes the
appointment of Ms
Vicki Thomson as its
Executive Director,
effective January
2015, following a
competitive global
search.
Ms Thomson, who
will succeed Mr Mike
Gallagher, comes to the
role after more than
a decade leading the
Australian Technology
Network (ATN) of
Universities. Ms Thomson
is also a member of the
Australia China Council
Board and the New
Colombo Plan Reference
Group.
The Go8 Chair and ANU
Vice Chancellor, Professor
Ian Young AO, believes
that the appointment of
Ms Thomson will further
strengthen collaboration
on all fronts between
Australia’s leading
universities and build
on current international
partnerships, including
those in Latin America
and in China with the C9
group of universities.
Ms Thomson is pleased
to be able to take the
helm at the Group of
Eight at a time of change
and opportunity for the
Australian university
sector.
“The sector is facing
some very complex
political and policy issues
at present. I am very
much looking forward
to assisting the Go8
navigate its way through
them. Far from resting on
their laurels as leading
Australian universities,
the Go8 seeks to
maintain and build on its
international reputation
for higher education and
research,” Ms Thomson
said.
“In addition to the great
social and research
contributions made
by Go8 universities,
their capacity to meet
the productivity and
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 3
Mike Gallagher
innovation challenges
from Australian industry
is vast and unparalleled,”
said Ms Thomson.
Ms Thomson added
that: “The profile of
the Go8 for delivering
research excellence is
well recognised. This
stands as a solid platform
on which to further
demonstrate the full
firepower of the Go8
across teaching and the
full spectrum of research
to our stakeholders in
government, industry and
the community.”
Professor Young
indicated that: “Ms
Thomson comes to the
role with an outstanding
record of achievement in
Higher Education, public
service and advocacy.
The Go8 welcomes her
appointment and looks
forward to her taking up
this important role.”
“I would also like to
take this opportunity to
thank Mr Mike Gallagher
for his outstanding
service to the Go8
and the leadership
role he has played in
Higher Education,” said
Professor Young.
Professor Young added:
“Over seven years in the
Executive Director’s job,
Mike has been a leading
spokesman for the sector. He has contributed to
many policy debates,
ensuring that they
have been informed
by policy principle and
that reforms have been
subject to evaluation and
analysis. His efforts have
strengthened the Go8’s
links in Australia and
overseas, especially in
China. ”
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 4
Learning let loose:
reforming our universities
Professor Warren
Bebbington,
Vice-Chancellor
and President of
The University of
Adelaide, gave
an Address to the
Sydney Institute on
8 July 2014.
In his speech entitled,
“Learning let loose:
reforming our
universities,” Professor
Bebbington spoke
extensively about “the
spectacular range
of choice in higher
education in the
USA” and how this is
remarkably absent in
the Australian public
university landscape,
which is marked more by
sameness and uniformity.
According to Professor
Bebbington, the country
stands to gain many
benefits if the same
range of choice is made
available to Australian
students. There is no
reason, he said, we can’t
learn from America.
The text of his speech is
as follows:
In the vast Minnesota
cornfields of the
American Upper Midwest
sits the little township of
Northfield. Northfield’s
tiny population are
traditionally wheat,
corn or dairy farmers;
but their number is
greatly swollen each
year by those who come
from one of the two
undergraduate colleges
nearby. “Cows, Colleges
and Contentment” is the
town’s motto. The more
prominent of the colleges
is on the northern
edge of town, Carleton
College.
In Australia, we worry
that regional universities
would struggle to attract
students or be financially
viable in a deregulated
environment, and even
metropolitan universities
depend on their local
catchment area for most
students. But this year
Carleton’s applicants
were five times the
number of places it had
available, and they came
from every American
state and 37 countries
abroad. This despite
the fact that, just 60 km
away in Minneapolis - St.
Paul sits the University
of Minnesota, one of the
Top 100 universities in
the world, whose fees are
lower than Carleton’s.
Unquestionably, Carleton
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 5
offers undergraduate
education of a quality
Australians can only
dream of. In Australian
universities, dropout
rates of 15% or more are
common, but Carleton’s
retention rate is 97%,
and 91% of its students
finish their degree in
the minimum time.
In Australia’s public
universities, staff-student
ratios have declined to
around 1:21, and firstyear lectures of 500, 800,
or 1,000 students are not
uncommon. At Carleton
the staff-student ratio
is 1:9, and 65% of its
classes have fewer than
20 students. Indeed,
large lecture courses
are unknown: no class is
larger than 49.
There are three semesters
a year, and a co-curricular
program involving
90% of students, from
community service
projects to off-campus
study programs ranging
across more than 60
countries: in Australia
we would be pleased if
such programs reached
10%. There is a rich
extracurricular life, with
over 190 social and
sporting clubs—this for
a student population of
just 2,000, a menu of
extracurricular activities
that would shame an
Australian university of
40,000.
And what of Carleton’s
graduate outcomes?
80% of its students are
successfully admitted
to graduate schools
elsewhere, it has
produced 18 Rhodes
Scholars, and its success
with National Science
Foundation Fellowships
is second in the nation.
Unlike in Australia,
Carleton does not find a
rural setting a weakness:
it wears it as a badge
of honour, building
traditions around it. Small
wonder that among the
1,800 four-year colleges
in the US, Carleton is
ranked in the top ten, at
No. 7.
To read, download or
print the entire speech,
please visit: http://
blogs.adelaide.edu.
au/vco/2014/07/08/
speech-learning-letloose-reforming-ouruniversities/
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 6
New Go8
publications
The Group of Eight
(Go8) is releasing
four new papers in
August. Below is an
outline of their titles
and what they are
about.
Courses and
Quality Assurance
in Australian Higher
Education
The proposed changes
to higher education,
announced in the 2014
federal budget, will
herald the onset of
significant structural
reform if implemented
as planned. Expansion of
commonwealth subsidies
to all registered higher
education providers with
accredited undergraduate
courses will build on the
current demand-driven
system to help students
select an institution and
type of course most suited
to their needs. Key to
the success of this reform
will be strong quality
assurance and regulatory
mechanisms to ensure
that all Higher Education
Providers (HEPs) and the
courses that they offer
meet minimum standards
of quality. This paper gives
an overview of the quality
assurance processes used
by Australian universities as
part of this process, with a
particular focus on course
development and delivery.
University Research
Funding in Australia
This paper looks at
expenditure on research
in Australia and the
contribution made by the
higher education sector
as well as the sources
of research income for
Australian universities. In
2011-12 about $31.6 billion
was spent on research in
Australia by Government
research organisations,
universities, business
and private non-profit
organisations of which
28% was performed in the
higher education sector.
Australian universities
reported $3.4 billion in
research income in 2012
from Commonwealth
grants and contracts, other
government grants and
contracts, industry grants
and contracts, private non-
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 7
profit grants and contracts,
international grants and
contracts and donations
and Bequests. In 2012,
48% of research income
reported came from
Australian Competitive
Grants.
Paying off HELP
Debts: Case Studies
The Government’s
proposals to deregulate
university fees and
introduce a real interest
rate on debts accrued
through the Higher
Education Loan Program
(HELP) have been a source
of contention since they
were proposed in the 2014
Commonwealth Budget.
The focus of this paper is
on how HELP repayment is
affected by labour market
outcomes and employs a
series of case studies that
show graduates earning
above, at and below the
average for their age. The
case studies demonstrate
the progressiveness of the
HELP scheme and how its
built-in safety measures
actively protect those on
lower incomes. Ultimately,
how long graduates will
take to repay their debt
is dependent on their
income. Graduates with
higher incomes take less
time to repay their debts
than graduates on lower
incomes. Lower income
graduates however, may
not make any repayments
for a number of years and
then do so at much lower
rates.
No such thing as a
free degree
A number of
commentators have
argued against the
proposals outlined in
the Government’s 2014
Budget, by and large
adopting a fiercely antimarket position. Indeed,
some commentators
have gone so far to say
higher education should
be “free”. “Free” here,
of course, means free for
the student. However,
for the Government, and
ultimately for the taxpayer,
this would be a very real
cost — around $133 billion
between now and 2030.
Funding this shortfall from
international student fees
would require a 100 per
cent increase in fees, a
move that would surely
diminish Australia’s market
position. The more obvious
solution would see the
costs of free education
be constrained through
limiting admissions.
Indicatively, providing
free education within the
current funding pool,
would see a 50 per cent
reduction in participation.
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 8
New Go8
indicators
The latest Group
of Eight (Go8)
indicators are now
available on the Go8
website. On most
of the indicators,
the Go8 universities
form a distinct
group.
The latest Group of Eight (Go8)
indicators are now available on the Go8
website. On most of the indicators, the
Go8 universities form a distinct group.
No other Australian university is clearly
in ninth place overall. The indicators
highlight a variety of differences
between Go8 and other Australian
universities.
A number of the indicators quantify the
Go8 universities’ research strength. The
Go8 universities had nearly $11 billion
in research income in 2012, which was
about two-thirds of the total research
income in Australian universities.
Nearly three quarters of the nationally
competitive research grants awarded
to universities in 2012 went to Go8
universities. In the 2012 Excellence in
Research for Australia (ERA) ratings, on
average 71% of the fields submitted by
Go8 universities had a rating of 4 or 5.
More than half of domestic
undergraduate offers (57% in 2014) in
Go8 universities went to students with
a school leaving attainment in the top
10%. Just under half of all PhD students
(48%) were in Go8 universities in 2012.
The average student to staff ratio
(student EFTSL/academic staff FTE) and
attrition rates for first year domestic
undergraduates are considerably
lower in Go8 universities than other
universities.
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 9
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 10
101
22
55
89%
Nationally competitive research income ($million)
(2012)
Industry and other funded research income ($million)
(2012)
Number of submitted fields with ERA rating of
4 or 5 (2012)
[% of all submitted fields at the university]
51%
2,629
13%
PhD students (2012)
[% of all students at the university]
10,249
Undergraduate students (2012)
[% of all students at the university]
20,087
Total students, including off-shore (2012)
46%
219
Total research income per academic staff FTE
with a research function ($thousand) (2012)
Fields with graduate research student enrolments
as a proportion of all fields taught by the university
(2012)
423
Total research income ($million) (2012)
70
995
Annual revenue ($million) (2012)
Number of fields (out of 374 narrow disciplines) in
which graduate research students are enrolled (2012)
1,901
Net assets ($million) (2012)
Indicator
6%
3,842
73%
45,770
63,022
47%
109
67%
60
90
158
152
437
1,620
2,049
7%
1,913
71%
18,220
25,736
61%
115
58%
39
41
96
151
261
790
1,174
8%
4,078
50%
24,992
49,521
35%
82
78%
76
70
207
193
568
1,808
3,923
The
The
Australian
The
University
National
Monash University
of
University University of Adelaide Melbourne
7%
3,342
62%
31,302
50,838
38%
82
66%
58
66
148
165
484
1,479
1,892
8%
3,890
71%
33,451
46,863
63%
130
78%
75
95
180
150
522
1,583
2,805
7%
3,784
62%
32,631
52,636
75%
164
75%
74
95
192
160
502
1,737
3,503
7%
1,849
77%
19,463
25,195
41%
87
61%
38
54
101
181
295
916
1,569
4%
820
69%
18,821
25,947
32%
46
22%
9
9
13
70
51
442
777
The
Average
The
The
University for rest of
UNSW University of University of Western Australia’s
Australia Queensland of Sydney Australia universities
Griffith University
85%
5%
1,958
43,442
54,956
Page 1
University of Wollongong
Curtin University of Technology
RMIT University
RMIT University
University of the Sunshine
Coast
Charles Darwin University
82
60%
Griffith University
University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle
Queensland University of
Technology
University of Newcastle
237
55%
27
29
41
University of Tasmania
Charles Darwin University
271
149
University of Tasmania
Queensland University of
Technology
Griffith University
133
873
2,008
Closest non-Go8 university
Indicators of Australia’s Group of Eight Universities
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 11
77%
2,383
24%
892
41%
1,529
36%
1,347
13
7%
49%
35%
22,057
2,383
72%
1,194
14%
288
43%
866
43%
870
10
11%
46%
27%
7,056
1,042
Undergraduate Applications and Offers, 2014; Department of Education
Excellence in Research for Australia 2012 Outcomes, Australian Research Council
2012 Research Block Grant Allocations; Department of Education
2012 Higher Education Research Data Collection; Department of Education
Higher Education Statistics: Finance 2012; Students 2012; Staff 2012, 2013; Department of Education
Sources:
86%
5%
[% of all academic staff in university]
[% of all academic staff in university]
108
Staff with teaching only appointments
(actual FTE including casuals) (2012)
1,529
37%
[% of all academic staff in university]
Number of academic staff with doctorate
qualifications (2013)
747
7
Apparent gross student EFTSL to academic staff
FTE ratio (2012)
Staff with research and teaching appointments
(actual FTE including casuals) (2012)
5%
Attrition rate for first year domestic bachelor degree
students (2011)
58%
62%
Proportion of domestic undergraduate offers with
school leaving attainment in top 10% (2014)
[% of all academic staff in university]
27%
[% of all students at the university]
1,184
5,383
International students (2012)
Staff with research only appointments
(actual FTE including casuals) (2012)
380
Medical students (2012)
Indicator
66%
2,447
20%
753
38%
1,400
42%
1,540
10
5%
74%
26%
12,829
1,309
The
The
Australian
The
University
National
Monash University
of
University University of Adelaide Melbourne
59%
3,602
16%
548
48%
1,652
37%
1,271
11
5%
60%
26%
13,274
1,618
84%
2,610
14%
569
33%
1,320
53%
2,165
9
8%
52%
24%
11,324
1,889
68%
2,112
13%
455
53%
1,885
35%
1,250
11
5%
57%
22%
11,420
1,201
74%
1,306
10%
182
46%
831
44%
800
11
7%
58%
22%
5,454
1,109
62%
545
27%
268
58%
540
14%
170
19
17%
13%
23%
6,402
590
The
Average
The
The
University for rest of
UNSW University of University of Western Australia’s
Australia Queensland of Sydney Australia universities
74%
1,348
50%
628
94%
1,033
30%
518
13
7%
39%
26,613
998
Page 2
University of Wollongong
Queensland University of
Technology
The University of Notre Dame
Australia
Queensland University of
Technology
University of Canberra
Griffith University
James Cook University
Griffith University
Flinders University of South
Australia
University of Technology,
Sydney
James Cook University
RMIT University
James Cook University
Closest non-Go8 university
Lindau Meeting: a truly global event
(photo by David Fisher)
The Group of
Eight (Go8) Board
agreed to sponsor
Australia Day at the
2014 Lindau Nobel
Laureates meeting
and support the
participation of a
number of additional
early career
researchers (ECRs).
Go8 sponsors
Australia Day
at the 64th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
37 Nobel Laureates met in the week
29 June - 4 July 2014 with around 600
young scientists to share their knowledge,
establish new contacts and discuss relevant
topics such as global health, the latest
findings in cancer and AIDS research,
the challenges in immunology and future
research approaches to medicine.
The Australian delegation with Minister Robb and
Ambassador Ritchie
The three Australian Nobel Laureates
present were Elizabeth Blackburn, Barry
Marshall and Brian Schmidt. Peter Doherty
addressed the meeting through video
and a special edition of his book, “The
Beginner’s Guide to Winning the Nobel
Prize,” was given to all ECRs as a gift on
Australia Day.
Nobel Laureate Oliver Smithies with Kate Murphy, Melissa Cantley
and Hannah Moore (photo by Melissa Cantley)
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 12
Australia Day, science breakfast: Women in Science – challenges for building a career
Amongst the 600 young scientists from 80 countries were
15 Australian ECRs, who had passed the multi-stage
selection process:
Michael Bergin, University of Queensland, Go8
Dr Nady Braidy, UNSW Australia, Go8
Dr Melissa Cantley, University of Adelaide, Go8
Dr Ross Hamilton, CSIRO Preventative Health
Rae-Ann Hardie, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Dr Sarah Lockie, Monash University, Go8
Dr Yi Lu, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Maria Markoulli, UNSW Australia, Go8
Dr Hannah Moore, University of Western Australia, Go8
Dr Kate Murphy, University of Melbourne, Go8
Dr Rebecca Segrave, Monash University, Go8
Dr Kirsty Short, University of Queensland/Erasmus
Universiteit, Rotterdam, Go8
Dr Angela Spence, University of Western Australia, Go8
Dr Sonia Troeira Henriques, University of Queensland, Go8
Catriona Wimberley, Australian Nuclear Science and
Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
For the first time in the history of the meetings, the
percentage of female participants was higher than the
male`s percentage (52 to 48%), while the Australian
delegation had 13% male participants.
The Australia Day on 30 June was a significant success.
Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Andrew Robb
AO MP, and His Excellency, Ambassador to Germany David
Ritchie, lent their presence to this gathering of the best and
brightest, and used this unique opportunity to present the
Australian research landscape as one of the best in the world.
Minister Robb opened Australia Day with a welcome
speech that included personal experiences. The speech
was very well-received. Meanwhile, the musical interlude
by Genevieve Lacey (recorder) and Marshall McGuire (harp)
captivated the more than 1100 persons in the room, one
could hear a needle drop.
The presentation by Professor Emma Johnston of UNSW
Australia, depicting her passion for science and her
research on the beautiful Australian coastal environment,
was received with applause.
Professor Wolfgang Schuerer, President of the Lindau
Nobel Meeting Council, concluded that this was the
best International Day the Lindau meetings ever had. He
remarked that at least 40% of the participants will visit
Australia as a follow-up, in contrast to about 10% following
the other international days.
The Go8 had provided the ECRs with USB bracelets
containing Go8 information and the profiles of the
Australian delegates.
In conclusion, in this event, Australia presented itself as
the best destination for research in a well-balanced fashion
following the Lindau leitmotif “Educate. Inspire. Connect.”.
Thanks to the great collaboration between the ECRs, the
Nobel Laureates, the AAS, Austrade and the Go8, the
impression that ‘Team Australia’ left was definitely a very
positive one.
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 13
Go8
conducts pre-departure briefing
for Brazilian SWB Students
The Group of Eight
(Go8) prepared the
Brazilian Science
without Borders
(SWB) students for
a smooth arrival and
pleasant experience
in Australia.
In 2010 the Go8 signed
a Memorandum of
Understanding with the
Brazilian Government to
host students under its
SWB program. To date,
the Go8 has already
hosted over 3,000
students, mostly in Study
Abroad Undergraduate
programs, but also for
PhDs and post-doctorates.
The success of an
international education
experience for young
students is related to how
well-prepared they are
before leaving their home
country.
In order to facilitate
the Brazilian students’
adaptation process
into the Australian
education system,
lifestyle and culture,
the Go8 has prepared
a pre-departure session
to give the students
some understanding of
the differences between
Australia and their home
country.
The last pre-departure
session happened in late
June, before the students
departed for Australia,
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 14
Brazilian SWB students and delegation of Brazilian universities at
the University of Adelaide, in September 2013
The success of
an international
education experience
for young students is
related to how wellprepared they are
before leaving their
home country.
Welcome Party for
Brazilian SWB students
and delegation of Brazilian
universities at the University
of Western Australia, in
September 2013
with assistance from our
partners in Brazil – Latino
Australia Education (LAE).
LAE organised a webinar
session where the Go8
Director for Latin America
delivered a talk to almost
300 students about
Australia, the Australian
lifestyle, the education
system and the differences
in education style between
Brazil and Australia.
The session also discussed
issues such as reasons
for studying overseas,
importance of an
international education
experience, personal and
professional development
through international
education, adaptation
into different cultures,
commitment to the
Study Abroad and SWB
programs and rules, as well
as behavioural and cultural
differences.
Students gave excellent
feedback about the session,
saying it helped make
them feel more prepared
to begin their study
experience in Australia. This
is the second time the Go8
has conducted the predeparture session in Brazil.
It is likely to continue
offering these seminars
before the departure of
each large SWB group for
Australia.
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 15
Go8 Submission
The Group of Eight
(Go8) has recently
made a submission
to the Senate
Committee on
Economics.
The submission is in response to an inquiry
into Australia’s innovation system, with
the aim of looking into “the challenges to
Australian industries and jobs posed by
increasing global competition in innovation,
science, engineering, research and
education.”
A downloadable or printable copy is
also available on the Submissions page
of the Go8 website: https://go8.edu.au/
publication/group-eight-submission-inquiryaustralias-innovation-system.
The Go8 submission has been published by
the Australian Parliament on its website and
may be accessed here:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_
Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/
Innovation_System/Submissions
(Submission 13)
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 16
Fatima Beattie
Robyn Foster
Ian Goss
Jo Hart
David Johnson
Doug Pereira
Celia Poole
Victor Portelli
Director General
IP Australia
Patricia Kelly
Energy
Productivity
Helen Bennett
Appliance
Energy
Efficiency
David Walker
Onshore Gas
& Governance
Chris Locke
Coal &
Minerals
Productivity
Katherine
Harman
National
Offshore
Petroleum
Titles
Administrator
Graeme Waters
Electricity
Markets
Paul Johnson
Offshore
Resources
Demus King
Energy
Security
Gino Grassia
Brendan
Morling
Bruce Wilson
Uranium &
R&E
International
Michael
Sheldrick
Energy
Deputy Secretary
Gary Richards
Margaret
Sewell
Energy White
Paper
Taskforce
Investigations
Lisa Hind
Policy and
Advisory
Philip Clarke
Dale
Seymour
Australian
Industry
Participation
Grant Wilson
(A/g)
Australian
Building
Codes Board
Neil Savery
Advanced
Manufacturing
Mark Durrant
Manufacturing
and Services
Policy
Anne Byrne
Food,
Chemicals and
Fibres
Ann Bray
Pete
Chesworth
Manufacturing
and Services
Industry
Economics
(Secondment
Position)
Analytical
Services
Sue Beitz
Bureau of
Resource &
Energy
Economics
Wayne Calder
Mark Cully
Economic
and
Analytical
Services
John Ryan
Jane Cutler
CEO
National Offshore
Petroleum Safety &
Environmental
Management Authority
(NOPSEMA)
Associate Secretary
(Industry Policy Oversight)
Chris Robinson
Chief Commissioner
Australian Skills
Quality Authority
(ASQA)
AntiDumping
Commission
John Gunn
CEO
Dr Megan Clark
Chief Executive
Martin Hoffman
Australian
Institute of
Marine Science
(AIMS)
Corporate Commonwealth Entities under PGPA Act
Commonwealth
Scientific & Industrial
Research Organisation
(CSIRO)
Resources
Dr Adi Paterson
CEO
Australian Nuclear
Science &
Technology
Organisation
(ANSTO)
Skills
Funding and
Apprenticeships
Policy
Andrew Lalor
Trade and
International
Paul Trotman
Martin Graham
Kathryn Shugg
Robin Shreeve
(Policy Project)
Peta Furnell
VET Reform
Taskforce
Skills
Engagement
Melissa McEwen
Quality and
Regulation
Steve Murtagh
Information
Infrastructure
Jason Coutts
Craig
Robertson
Skills
Policy
David Luchetti
Dr Brian
Boyle
SKA Project
Kate Driver
Professor
Graham
Durant
Questacon
Audit & Fraud
Christine Leary
NMI
Dr Peter Fisk
Bruce Warrington
James Roberts
Reza Bilimoria
Valerie Villiere
Lindsay Mackay
Nigel Poole
Neville Legg
Professor
Warrick
Couch
AAO
Science Policy
Jane Urquhart
Dr Rob
Porteous
Science
Policy and
Governance
Science Group
Deputy Secretary
Secretary
Dr Subho Banerjee
Glenys Beauchamp
Productivity and
Competitiveness
Anthony Murfett
Commercialisation
Policy
Lisa Schofield
Regulation
Reform and
Parliamentary
Co-ordination
Sarah Clough
Mike Lawson
Portfolio
Strategic
Policy
Professor Ian Chubb
Chief Scientist
& Office of the
Chief Scientist
Minister for Industry
The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
The Hon Bob Baldwin MP
R&D Tax
Incentive
David Wilson
Research
Connections
Michelle
Henderson
Commercialising
Ideas
Doron Ben-Meir
Business
Advice
Nicola Morris
Deborah Anton
Entrepreneur
Development
Melbourne
Office
Jayne Facey
Sydney
Office
Aapo Skorulis
Service
Centre and CRCs
Steve Stirling
Business,gov.au
Website and
Small Business
Programmes
Graham Tanton
Customer
Service
Paul Sexton
Operations
Lisa Peterson
Chris Butler
Business
Services
Louise Vickery
ARENA
Ivor
Frischknecht
B2G Digital
Delivery and
Vanguard
Mike Sibly
Energy
Programmes
Gene McGlynn
Foundation
Skills
Susan Devereux
Industry Skills
Linda White
Skills &
Energy
Programmes
Greg Divall
Single Business Service centre - AusIndustry
Sue Weston
Deputy Secretary
Andy Barnicoat
Clinton Foster
James Johnson
Tony Marks
Stuart Minchin
Antony Stinziani
CEO
Dr Chris
Pigram
Geoscience
Australia
* ICT strategy and performance is
the responsibility of Deputy
Secretary, Martin Hoffman
Corporate
Capability
and Facilities
Brant Trim
People and
Planning
Natalie Marsh
Legal
Services
Margaret
Tregurtha
Communications
Megan Auld
Neil Kinsella
Colin Roberts
(A/g)
Matt Boyley
CIO
ICT*
Sam White
Robert Twomey
Finance and
Budgets
Brad Medland
CFO
Vanessa
Graham
Chief
Operating
Officer
Corporate
Effective from 1 July 2014
Industry Portfolio Organisation Chart
The Department of
Industry, established
in September 2013
to consolidate
industry, energy,
resources, science,
skills and business,
has recently
announced a new
structure, effective
July 2014.
New Organisation
Structure
at the Department of Industry
The organisation chart is below, and more information is available
on the Department’s website: http://www.industry.gov.au/AboutUs/Pages/default.aspx
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 17
Executive Files
In this issue, we are introducing a new section to feature the profiles of the top
executives of the Group of Eight (Go8) universities.
We start below with The University of Western Australia (UWA):
Professor Paul Johnson
Vice-Chancellor
Prior to his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western
Australia in 2012, Professor Paul Johnson served as Vice-Chancellor of
La Trobe University in Victoria for four years. Before moving to Australia,
Professor Johnson served three years as Deputy Director of the London
School of Economics.
Professor Johnson received his doctorate from Oxford University in 1982.
Professor Johnson has been an expert adviser on pension reform and the
economics of demographic change to the World Bank, the United Nations
Research Institute for Social Development, the British Government and the
House of Lords.
He has served on a number of professional councils, learned societies and
professional bodies in the UK including the Economic and Social Research
Council’s Research Grants Board, the Council of the Economic History
Society and the Governing Board of the Pensions Policy Institute.
Professor Johnson is a director of UniSuper, the Australian higher
education superannuation fund, and a member of the fund’s Investment
Committee. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Australian
Research Council. He was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Historical
Society in 1987 and to the Academy of Social Sciences in 2001.
Professor Dawn Freshwater
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Prior to moving to Western Australia to take up the position of Senior
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dawn Freshwater served as the Pro-ViceChancellor for Staff and Organizational Effectiveness, Professor of
Mental Health and Head of the School of Healthcare at the University of
Leeds. Professor Freshwater received her doctorate at the University of
Nottingham in 1998 and has been the recipient of numerous awards. She
was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing in 2001.
As an academic Professor Freshwater serves on the HEFCE Research
Excellence Framework (REF) panel in the UK; reviews and acts in an
advisory capacity for the National Institute for Health Research and MRC
and to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. She contributes to
clinical academic fellowship panels and to awards of doctoral training
centres.
In her leadership capacity, Professor Freshwater has championed and
led the successful Award of Athena SWAN; funded a study to examine
the impact of globalisation on leadership and developed a manifesto for
Inclusive Leadership jointly with the British Council.
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 18
Professor Robyn Owens
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Professor Robyn Owens is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and has
responsibility for research policy development and general oversight of the
University’s research activities, postgraduate education, industry liaison,
intellectual property and commercialisation.
Professor Robyn Owens has a BSc (Hons) from UWA and a MSc and a
DPhil from Oxford, all in Mathematics. She worked at l’Université de ParisSud, Orsay, continuing research in mathematical analysis before returning
to UWA to work as a research mathematician.
She has lectured in Mathematics and Computer Science at UWA, and
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Berkeley, as well as for
shorter periods in Thailand and New Zealand. Her research has focussed
on computer vision, including feature detection in images, 3D shape
measurement, image understanding, and representation.
Through her previous role as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Research
Training) at UWA, Professor Owens led the development and research
training of over 1900 research students. Prior to taking up that position,
she was Head of the School of Computer Science & Software Engineering
at UWA from 1998 until the end of 2002.
Mr Peter Curtis
Registrar and Executive Director Corporate Services
Mr Peter Curtis graduated in 1972 with Honours in Economics from the
University of Wolverhampton in the UK, presenting his Honours thesis on
‘Student Finance in Higher Education’. He combined part-time tutoring
with postgraduate studies in Public Administration before moving to
Australia in 1974. He commenced a career in university administration at
UWA in 1975.
From that time he has accumulated a wide variety of experience principally
in academic and student administration and has taken a leading role in
institutional planning and policy.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, as Director of Planning Services,
Peter played a lead role in establishing and developing a formal planning
process at UWA, and in the design and development of the University’s
budget model, organisational structures, and decision-making processes.
From 1993, following appointment as Deputy Registrar, he was designated
Coordinator of Planning and Policy within the University and authored
many of the University’s major policy documents, including its Strategic
Plan, Operational Priorities Plan, Quality Portfolios and Educational Profiles.
He has also been closely involved in national policy developments in areas
such as quality assurance, performance indicators and funding policy.
Peter took up the position of Executive Director (Academic Services)
and Registrar in January 2000 and, as a member of the Executive, has
continued to take a leading role in University and sector planning,
authoring many of the University’s major policy documents and
submissions to Government on higher education issues.
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 19
Professor Alec Cameron
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education)
Beginning his appointment in January 2013, Professor Alec Cameron is
one of the newest additions to the UWA Vice-Chancellery. Commencing
as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), he was subsequently appointed as
Acting Senior Deputy-Vice Chancellor from July 2013 until 31 March 2014.
Prior to joining UWA, Professor Cameron was President of the Australian
Business Deans Council. He has also been the driving force behind the
Australian School of Business, after being appointed the School’s inaugural
Dean in 2006, and overseeing its emergence from the integration of
academic units at the University of New South Wales.
Professor Cameron has also previously held the position of Deputy ViceChancellor (Resources and Infrastructure) at UNSW, and several senior
corporate positions in the IT and telecommunications industry - including at
Sun Microsystems Australia, Alcatel Australia, COMindico, and Telstra.
A Rhodes Scholar, Professor Cameron holds a Bachelor of Science degree
and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with First Class Honours.
He also holds a University Medal from the University of Sydney, a Doctor
of Philosophy degree in robotics from Oxford University, and a Master
of Science degree in the Management of Technology from Polytechnic
Institute of New York University (NYU).
In December 2012, The Professor Alec Cameron Prize for Excellence
was established at UNSW in honour of his significant contribution to the
institution and community.
Ms Gaye McMath
Chief Operating Officer
Gaye McMath is the Chief Operating Officer at The University of Western
Australia(UWA). She sits on various University Boards including The Perth
International Arts Festival, The University Club and University Hall.
Gaye is responsible for the University services of Financial Services, Human
Resources, Campus Management and Venues Management.
Ms McMath was previously employed with BHP Billiton where she held
a range of senior executive positions in finance, strategic planning and
commercial management in the steel, mining and treasury divisions.
She was also a BHP nominated director on a number of domestic and
international mining and infrastructure subsidiary and joint venture boards.
Prior to her current role she was the Executive Director Finance and
Resources and Chief Financial Offcer at UWA and Pro Vice-Chancellor
(Resource Management) and Chief Financial Officer at Murdoch University.
She was also a director on various University related companies associated
with education, research, commercialisation of intellectual property,
property development and aged care.
Gaye has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of
Melbourne, a Masters of Business Administration from Melbourne Business
School and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard
Business School. She is a fellow of CPA Australia and the Australian
Institute of Company Directors.
Gaye is currently a non-executive Director of the Western Australian
Treasury Corporation and Gold Corporation. She is a member of Australian
Institute of Company Directors (WA Division), The Anglican Church Perth
Diocesan Trust and the Committee for Perth.
For contact details and more information, please visit the UWA website: http://www.uwa.edu.au/
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 20
Research
with Impact
This month we
further highlight
discoveries that
have benefited
the health of
Australians.
Saving Lives at Birth
The delivery of an old drug in new ways has
the potential to save the lives of thousands
of mothers in the developing world at
risk of bleeding to death after childbirth.
Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science
(MIPS) researchers led by Dr Michelle
McIntosh are developing oxytocin as
an inhaled, acute use medicine for the
treatment of post-partum haemorrhage
which kills 150,000 women annually in
resource poor countries. The inhaled form
of oxytocin is stable at room temperature
and readily administered, in contrast to
the current need for refrigerated storage
of the injected liquid formulation, which
is problematic in resource poor countries.
Inhaled oxytocin can be administered by
non-medically trained staff.
The technology has now cleared a number
of the critical pre-clinical hurdles that are
required prior to progression into the
clinic. The project has been supported by
funding agencies including the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, Saving Lives at
Birth, the McCall MacBain Foundation, the
Planet Wheeler Foundation and the Helen
McPherson Smith Trust.
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 21
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) has been an important
clinical diagnostic tool since the 1980s, with the current
global market estimated to be around US$4.5 billion p.a.
from the sale of around 3500 systems annually. Technology
that improves the clarity of images from MRI machines
resulted from a project led by Professor Stuart Crozier. The
electromagnetic noise compensation technology is now
incorporated into two-thirds of the world’s high field MRI
systems sold since 1996 and facilitates vastly improved
diagnostics. An estimated 8 billion patients worldwide have
benefited from this improved technology.
The creation of the Glycemic Index
Principal Researcher, Professor Jennie Brand-Miller’s
groundbreaking work into human nutrition has led to the
development of the University of Sydney Glycemic Index
Research Service (SUGiRS), established in 1995 to provide
a reliable commercial GI testing laboratory for the local
and international food industry. Foods that meet nutrition
guidelines and have been GI tested can carry the GI symbol,
which is administered by the Glycemic Index Foundation,
supported by the University of Sydney and JDRF (Australia).
The GI ranks carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100
according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar
levels after eating. Research on the nutritional aspects of
food carbohydrates has been internationally recognised.
Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) refer to the GI in making
nutrition recommendations.
Consumers save over $1 billion annually with dental discovery Recaldent™ products have revolutionised dental practice
A leading figure in oral health science with more than 30
years’ experience in dental research, management, and
commercialisation of innovations, Professor Eric Reynolds
was one of the first to identify the molecular processes
enabling the repair of early tooth decay without the need
for invasive treatment.
Recaldent™ is now in products that have generated over $2
billion in sales since 2003, while its use is estimated to save
consumers over $1 billion in dental treatment costs per year.
This was followed by the discovery of a milk compound
called Recaldent™ that repairs the effect of acid on teeth
and reduces the risk of disease.
Hailed as a major global breakthrough in the prevention
and treatment of early tooth decay, Recaldent™ enhances
the uptake and incorporation of fluoride into tooth enamel
and the repair of early stages of disease.
“Regular use of Recaldent™ products has the potential to
significantly repair early stages of tooth decay,” Professor
Reynolds says.
Photo credits: Chris Owen
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 22
Calendar
of Events
Event/Meeting/Courtesy Call
Date
Venue
Remarks/Details
Go8 Briefing for Go8 Universities
Latin America Managers
15 August
Santiago
Briefing for Go8 staff prior
to LAE exhibition
Latino Australia Education (LAE)
Student Exhibitions in
Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima,
Bogota, Quito, Mexico City
16 August –
4 September
tbc
The Go8 will have a booth
and make presentations at all
exhibitions.
Go8 postgraduate coordinators
workshop
18-19 August
Adelaide
Go8 DoGS
19 August
Adelaide
Go8 Marketing Directors
11-12 September
UQ
Go8 Research Director’s Meeting
16-17 September
ANU
Go8+ Deans of Engineering
2-3 October
UQ
Go8 International Strategy Group
7 October
Brisbane
Meeting
Go8 Mobility Managers
7 October
Brisbane
Meeting
AIEC – Australian International
Education Conference
7-10 October
Brisbane
Go8 Social Inclusion Strategy Group
24 October
Adelaide
Go8 Directors
for Latin America visit to Australia
October
Go8 Deans of Business
13-14 November
Shanghai
Go8 Directors
of Statistics and Planning
17 Nov
Melbourne
LAE – Go8 Scholarship events in
Latin America
November – tbc
tbc
Go8 Alumni and Networking function
in Brazil
tbc
tbc
Visits to all Go8 universities
Joint Go8 Business
alumni meeting
tbc
August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 23