In summary

This opinion piece by Swinburne's Chief Scientist Professor Virginia Kilborn, was originally published in the Herald Sun on Monday 23 February, 2026.

Capitalise on our advanced manufacturing talent, skills, capability and facilities to become a hub for excellence in manufacturing innovation.

We have incredible skills in Victoria and we are known as a place where we test, experiment and push the boundaries of what's possible when it comes to making the things the world needs.

Our advanced manufacturing capability lies not only in production, but the ideas behind it. We should explore the frontiers of what's possible and harness and nurture the ideas of our people.

Think not just 10 years, but 100 years into the future when it comes to sustainability, finding smart and strategic ways to use Victoria's natural assets, giving us increasing opportunities and quality of life.

Our Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub is trying to fast-track the transition towards a sustainable energy sector, with a focus on achieving net zero targets and promoting the uptake of renewable energy sources.

By bridging the gap between industry and academia, we're working towards solving some of the world's most pressing energy issues, right here in our own back yard.

Let's rewrite the rule book when it comes to who gets access to the tools and knowledge to make a difference. Everyone has something to contribute - and everyone should get that chance.

One of our greatest strengths lies in our people - people who are smart, capable, think big and get things done. But our education systems aren't always set up to guide them to becoming the innovators and leaders we need for the future.

Multi-sector institutions and universities, like Swinburne, ensure that we can provide the very best in education across a range of disciplines and skills.

We need a system that rewards and fosters creativity, ingenuity and problem solving, as well as drawing on First Nations Peoples' knowledge and deep understanding of our country, to ensure that we have a rich variety of perspectives informing the solutions to increasingly complex problems.

Related articles