New members appointed to Swinburne Innovation Precinct Board

Swinburne welcomes its newly appointed Innovation Precinct board members, effective 3 August 2020. The new members will serve a two-year term.

The new Swinburne Innovation Precinct board members bring to the table an impressive range of background disciplines and a wealth of experience and knowledge to help guide the future direction and the continual growth of the precinct.

In recognition of this growth, the Swinburne Innovation Precinct Chair, Associate Professor Elaine Saunders, and Executive Director, Dr John Morrison, have redesigned the remit and operating model of the Board. They have assembled an experienced and highly respected group of business leaders from the technology, innovation and entrepreneurial sectors.

“It is wonderful to add so much wisdom and enthusiasm to our board,” Dr Saunders says. “This impressive group have deep expertise which will further propel the precinct into one of the most important innovation environments in Australia.”

Bringing opportunities and innovation to Melbourne despite pandemic

Despite the current challenges faced by the university sector, the Innovation Precinct has continued to experience significant success.

Swinburne has partnered with Codex to host the Codex World’s Top 50 Innovators 2021 Conference in Melbourne from 14–16 October 2021. This collaboration will see Swinburne co-organise the next three 'World’s Top 50 Innovators’ conferences over nine years, alternating between London and Melbourne for each event, which for the first time sees the conference being held out of London.

Furthermore, Codex will work with Australian innovation and technology ambassadors to support and promote the event, providing an opportunity to showcase how Australian science and technology are making a global impact.

“The Swinburne Innovation Precinct has been quietly growing for a few years, but it is wonderful that our hard work is being recognised now, and I am thrilled to welcome a Board of this calibre,” says Dr Morrison. “I would like to acknowledge the wonderful support of our first Board, who were central to the success we have enjoyed to date.”

The new Board of 14 members are:

Non-executive members                      

Associate Professor Elaine Saunders (Chair), co-founder of Blamey Saunders as well as an inventor, scientist and entrepreneur.             

Professor Bronwyn Fox, Swinburne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise)

Graham Goldsmith, Chairman and non-Executive Director at SEEK Ltd             

Con Frantzeskos, company founder, startup adviser, non-executive director and digital and marketing strategist                                           

Caitlin Iles, venture capitalist, disruptive entrepreneur

Rohini Kappadath, General Manager, Immigration Museum

Alex Kaiser, Director Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship at Swinburne

Bronwyn Le Grice, Founder, CEO, Managing Director, ANDHealth

Geoff Gourley, Founder and Chairman, Impact Investment Fund
 

Ex officio members

Dr John Morrison, Executive Director, Innovation Precinct

Professor Matthew Cuthbertson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Commercialisation)

Pauliina Mattila, Coach and lecturer, Design Factory Melbourne

Lisian Teh, Director Commercial Innovation Programs

Adam Jacoby, Director Innovation and Entrepreneurship

For any questions related to the Swinburne Innovation Precinct please contact Dr John Morrison at johnmorrison@swin.edu.au