Gig Guide: New ARC advisory committee established


Brandon How
Reporter

A new Australian Research Council (ARC) committee has been formed and is being chaired by deputy Curtin University vice-chancellor research Professor Chris Moran. The committee, formed by acting Minister for Education Stuart Robert, will provide advice to the chief executive of ARC such that its research programs align with government priorities.

In total there are 10 committee members, two of which are ex-officio representatives from the Department Education, Skills, and Employment, and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy, and Resources. The remaining members are across universities and industry, including Science and Technology Australia president Professor Mark Hutchinson and director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology professor Michelle Simmons.

Chris Moran will chair a new committee at the Australian Research Council

The Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein resigned on Monday after serving for just more than two years. Mr Gutwein also steps down as the member of parliament for Bass. Before becoming Premier in 2020, Mr Gutwein was Treasurer from 2014.

Mr Gutwein thanked the Tasmanian people, and his staff but said it was time for him to prioritise on his family.

“It has been an honour and privilege to serve as Tasmania’s 46th Premier, however, the time is now right for me to move on and to attend to other things in my life,” Mr Gutwein said.

“The past two years have delivered unforeseen challenges, as we have navigated through COVID-19 and focused on rebuilding a stronger Tasmania. During this time I have quite rightly focused on everyone else’s family and I now want to spend some time focussing on my own.”

The new Tasmanian Premier and incumbent Vice-Premier Jeremy Rockliff takes the role after being elected leader of the Tasmanian Liberal party unopposed. Mr Rockliff was the deputy leader of the Tasmanian Liberals since 2006, a role which will now be filled by Michael Ferguson, who was also elected unopposed.

The new part-time chief executive of Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong (AFCG) is David Buchanan who has been the chief executive of the Australian Steel Association for the past two years. Mr Buchanan has over 30 years in international trade and manufacturing, featuring stints at diversified trading companies Mitsui and Toyota Tsusho. This includes 14 years as Toyota Tsuho general manager of metals operations to support Toyota Motor manufacturing.

Mr Buchanan replaces Jennifer Conley who becomes chief executive of partner organisation, the Geelong Manufacturing Council, after three years leading AFCG. The cluster is a group of advanced fibre and composites manufacturing and innovation firms centred around Deakin University and Geelong.

The Australian Technology Network of Universities, a representative body, has launched its Industry Advisory Panel which focuses on supporting the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, and making recommendations to address skills challenges.

The seven members of the panel are former Labor parliamentarian Simon Crean, former Coalition parliamentarian Wyatt Roy, Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro, Port of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Roy Green, Industry Super deputy chief executive Matthew Linden, Technology Council of Australia chief executive Kate Pounder, and Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox.

Following the passing of David Irvine, the government has appointed experienced former public servant Bruce Miller to fill the vacated role of chair of the Foreign Investment Review Board. Mr Miller will serve a five-year term adding more than 30 years spent working for the Comonwealth. The board is responsible for advising the Treasurer and the government on foreign investment policy.

Notably, Mr Miller was the former Australian Ambassador to Japan between 2011-2017, as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade between 2016-2017, and Director General of the Office of National Assessments in 2017. Since 2018, Mr Miller has sat on the board of insurance company TAL Dai‑ichi Life.

A swathe of Administrative Appeals Tribunal appointments have been made which includes new Deputy President Michael Mischin, nine senior members, nine members, and promotion or extension of term for 26 other members. Mr Mischin was a Liberal Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council between 2006-2021.

Attorney-General Senator Michaelia Cash said that these appointments would help deal with the significantly increasing workload, namely in the Migration and Refugee Division, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Division.

The eSafety Commissioner has appointed 24 Australians aged 13-24 to the new Online Safety Youth Advisory Council. The council will advise the Government on their online experiences which will help shape policy and program.

The federal government has appointed Leanne Heywood and Timothy Longstaff as non-executive directors of Snowy Hydro on three-year terms. Meanwhile, the terms of non-executive director Scott Mitchell has been renewed.

Ms Heywood brings her experience from the mining sector and currently sits on the board of chemicals company Allkem, woodfibre company Midway, and Quickstep Holdings. Mr Longstaff has around 25 years’ worth of experience in investment banking and currently is on the board of poultry company Inghams Group, mining services provider Perenti Group, the George Institute for Global Health, and the Government’s Takeovers Panel.

ICT company Fujitsu has promoted Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) chief executive Graeme Beardsell to executive vice president and chief executive for Asia Pacific. He will retain the chief executive role of Fujitsu ANZ in addition to his new regional responsibilities. Mr Beardsell joined Fujitsu ANZ as chief executive in November 2020 after 30 years of experience across IBM, cloud computing firm Salesforce, business data firm Experian, and cyber services company Akamai.

The Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) has reappointed Deputy Chair and full-time State/Territory Member for the next two years is James Cox. Mr Cox began his time with the AER as a State/Territory Member in 2013 and became Deputy Chair in 2020. He was also previously on the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal between 1996 and 2013, as well as holding positions at the Reserve Bank and in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Reappointed for an additional year are two part-time members of the Australian Competition Tribunal, Dr Darryn Abraham and Professor Kevin Davis. Both members have held their positions since 2011 and have extensive academic careers in finance and economics.

DeepTech incubator Cicada Innovations have found their new head of technology in Hebbat Manhy. Ms Manhy brings more than 20 years of experience working with DeepTechs. She departs her role as KPMG’s transformation program manager for MedTech, Life Science, and Health.

After more than eight years in the role and almost 20 years with the compnay, Toyota Australia chief information officer Ellis Brover has left. He is being replaced by general manager Wayne Gabriel, who has spent more than 22 years at the company.

Fleet management and leasing company SG Fleet non-executive director Graham Maloney has stepped down from his role after more than eight years. Mr Maloney was also the chairman of the audit, risk and compliance committee, which will now be filled by non-executive director Edwin Jankelowitz.

Fintech company DomaCom has appointed a new chairman, chief executive, and director. The new chairman is former Liberal Party Leader Dr John Hewson, the new chief executive is John Elkovich, and the new director is Angela Williams.

Mable, an online platform supporting disability and aged car, has appointed Jay Nawaz as its new chief product officer. Mr Nawaz joins Mable from business software company MYOB where he was head of product, platforms.

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

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