The SmartSat Cooperative
Research Centre has just appointed a high calibre independent Board to guide it
in its mission of developing leapfrogging space technologies that will ensure
that Australia builds a new space industry and transforms its major sectors including
tele-communications, agriculture and natural resources, transport and logistics,
mining and defence and security.
Established in July
2019, the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre represents one of the most
significant space research collaborations ever forged in Australia. This
research powerhouse brings together more than 100 international and national
partners who have invested over $190 million. Together with $55 million of Australian
Government support through the Cooperative Research Centres Program, this represents
a $245 million research effort over seven years.
The skills based,
fully independent Board is comprised of Dr Peter Woodgate as Chair, Dr Michele
Allan, Mrs. Julie Cooper, Dr Jacqueline Craig FTSE, Adjunct Professor Michael
Davis AO, Dr Rosalind Dubs, Professor Margaret Harding, and Professor Andy
Koronios.
The founding Chair Dr Peter Woodgate
highlighted the importance of gender equity and an independent, skills based
Board drawn from across Australia. “The founding partners of SmartSat carefully
guided the appointment process and expressed strong support for their new
Board”. Dr Woodgate went on to say “The composition of the Board respects a commitment
made to the Government in the original CRC proposal”.
The
CEO-Designate Professor Andy Koronios said “We are delighted to have such a
high calibre Board to guide us in this nation-building endeavour. I look
forward to working with this dynamic Board Chaired by Dr Peter Woodgate who is
highly experienced and knowledgeable in the space and spatial domain and together
we will make a big contribution to Australia’s space economy and global
competitiveness”.
The new SmartSat CRC
will help create a sovereign space and satellite capability and position Australia
as a leader in the $400 billion global space sector, bridging the gap between
research and the development and commercialisation of new products and
technologies.
An outline of the professional background of
each independent director is available via the SmartSat CRC website: smartsatcrc.com