Esteemed innovation policy expert and University of Technology Sydney special innovation advisor Emeritus Professor Roy Green has been appointed to the board of national science agency CSIRO.
Professor Green, who is also chair of the Port of Newcastle and the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub, fills the last remaining leadership position on the CSIRO board, which has been without its full membership for most of 2023.
He has previously held a slew of university leadership roles and led or sat on more than 10 state and federal government bodies focused on innovation and manufacturing. Most recently, he worked with the South Australian government on its manufacturing strategy.
Speaking with InnovationAus.com on Friday, Professor Green said he is “greatly looking forward to working with the CSIRO board and new CEO Doug Hilton to address our big global challenges, particularly around energy transition and industrial transformation”.
“In doing so, CSIRO will be well placed to deliver a more dynamic and sustainable knowledge-driven economy for Australia,” Professor Green said.
On LinkedIn, Industry and Science minister Ed Husic sent “huge congrats” to Professor Green, describing him as a “massive champion of Australian industry, innovation and advanced manufacturing”.
In another vote of confidence for the ARM Hub, chief executive Cori Stewart has been appointed to the board of Industry Innovation and Science Australia, the federal government’s innovation think tank.
In addition to Ms Stewart, the government also made two other appointments to the board: Blackbird Ventures head of impact and operating principal Kate Glazebrook and Meraki Venture Capital venture partner and UTS executive director for data science Distinguished Professor Fang Chen.
Australian Research Council chief executive Judi Zielke has stepped down due to a health issue. The acting chief executive will be the incumbent deputy chief executive Dr Richard Johnson until a permanent appointment is made.
The federal government has made three new appointments to the Foreign Investment Review Board. They are former agent-general for Queensland in the United Kingdom and trade and investment commissioner to Europe Linda Apelt, former federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief innovation officer and chief scientist Dr Sarah Pearson, and experienced private sector executive Kellie Benda.
Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre chair Paul Cooper was appointed chair of Manufacturing Skills Queensland last week. Mr Cooper was appointed alongside two new directors: the Australian Workers’ Union’s Queensland branch secretary Stacey Schinnerl and BlueScope’s Queensland specification manager for commercial and civil construction Sheree Taylor.
The new chief executive and managing director of Green aviation company AMSL Aero is former General Electric Australia chief executive Max York. He is currently on the advisory board of heavy engineering and manufacturing company Baker and Provan as well as the University of Technology Sydney Business School Dean’s Industry Advisory Board.
The new head of the Australian Taxation Office is the current Australian Institute of Health and Welfare chief executive Rob Heferen. Mr Heferen has previously served four different deputy secretary roles across four federal government departments.
Western Australia’s Environment and Climate Action minister Reece Whitby will take over responsibility for the Energy portfolio, while Premier Roger Cook will assume the Hydrogen Industry portfolio. Both portfolios are currently held by Bill Johnston, who has announced his intention to retire at the next election in 2025.
Last week, the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association appointed Nintendo’s in-house legal counsel for Australia and New Zealand Amy Roy as its new chair, moving her from the vice-chair role, with Kylee Kay to fill the vacated role. Ms Roy replaces Roger Clarke who has stepped down after three years. Three new directors were also appointed, Ben Britten, Liam Esler, and Manea Castet.
The Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre’s new research director is the former head of innovation and technical for the APAC region at chemical manufacturer DSM Dr Mike Patane.
In the New South Wales public service, experienced public servant Anthony Lean has been appointed the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s secretary. Mr Lean will commence on January 22, 2024 and move from his role as The Law Society of NSW’s deputy chief executive.
