The Western Australian government’s has appointed 11 members to its first innovation advisory board, bringing in entrepreneurs, academics, investors, consultants, and the state’s recently departed director of innovation.
Charlie Gunningham, who left the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation last month, joins the board after overseeing the development of the state’s 10-year innovation strategy and the $25.8 million New Industries Fund.
Other members are Curtin University’s director of entrepreneurship and the West Tech Fest Danelle Cross, director of MedTech and BioTech network Perth Biodesign Oliver Bazzani, and the director of manufacturing firm Adarsh Australia Faz Pollard.
The founder of Tender Relief, a software platform helping small to medium sized enterprises prepare bids, Eliza Carbines also sits on the state’s new innovation board.
There were more than 160 expressions of interest to join the board which will deliver insights and strategic advice to Western Australia “a global hub for innovation, research, investment and impact”, Innovation and Digital Economy minister Stephen Dawson said.
The other six board members on the innovation advisory board are:
- Verity Consulting principal Sandy Chong
- Peritas Consulting chief futures and people officer Jemma Iles
- First Australians Capital state manager Kent Matla
- Corrs Chambers Westgarth special counsel Clare Mould
- Resource Capital Funds managing director Anna Shave
- Landgate director strategy and finance Mette Wendler
Former South Australian Senator and transparency advocate Rex Patrick has joined the Jacqui Lambie Network to run as a candidate for the South Australian Senate seat at the next election.
The former submariner was appointed Senator for South Australia in November 2017 after Nick Xenophon stepped down, but lost his seat to the Greens at the 2022 federal election.
He is a prolific user of the freedom of information system, recently securing the release of a secret expression of interest document issued to quantum computing companies ahead the government’s controversial investment in PsiQuantum.
Department of Social Services secretary Ray Griggs will retire from the public service by the end of the year. Mr Griggs was formerly chief of Navy, vice chief of the Defence Force, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s associate secretary of the indigenous affairs group.
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has announced leaders for its three new APS professional streams. The new streams are aimed at increasing workforce capability in procurement and contract management, evaluation, and complex project management
The six respective profession co-heads are:
- Procurement and Contract Management: Finance deputy secretary commercial group Richard Windeyer and Industry deputy secretary industry and commercialisation group Julia Pickworth
- Evaluation: Treasury first assistant secretary macroeconmomic analysis and policy division Dr Shane Johnson and Home Affairs chief data officer Pia Andrews
- Complex Project Management: Defence deputy secretary capability acquisition and sustainment group Chris Deeble and Health and Aged Care deputy secretary primary and community care Dr Liz Develin
Geosciences Australia chief executive Dr James Johnson will step down after eight years. Mr Johnson will stay on board until a successor is appointed. This closes a nearly 19-year career at the government agency. He has worked in the resources industry since 1985.
Former CSIRO chief scientist and current University of New South Wales deputy vice-chancellor for research and enterprise Professor Bronwyn Fox has joined the board of governance for the university’s Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy.
The new chief executive of auDA will be Dr Bruce Tonkin in the new year. He is currently chief operating officer of the not-for-profit that administers the .au domain name system, where he has been since May 2017.
At the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Phillip Gould has been appointed deputy Australian statistician overseeing the data and statistical practices group, vacating the Department of Health and Aged Care first assistant secretary health economics and research division role.
At the Australian Banking Association industry group ING Australia chief executive Melanie Evans has been appointed deputy chair.
The Centre for Policy Development has appointed the managing director of climate investment and advisory firm Pollination, Zoe Whitton, as its new chair. She moves from the deputy chair role at the thinktank and replaces acting chair Dr Don Russel who leaves the board after reaching the six-year term limit.
This week, Luke Coleman began his term as the chief executive at the Communications Alliance, an industry group.
Three part-time members have been appointed to the Australian Competition Tribunal on five-year terms. These are University of Melbourne Professor David Byrne, University of New South Wales Associate Professor Katharine Kemp and University of Queensland Professor Flavio Menezes.
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