Table of contents • Imagining an Australia built on the brilliance of our people 2 • Go8 names new Executive Director effective January 2015 3 • Learning let loose: reforming our universities 5 • New Go8 publications 7 • New Go8 Indicators 9 • Go8 sponsors Australia Day at the 64th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 12 • Go8 conducts pre-departure briefing for Brazilian SWB Students 14 • Go8 Submission 16 • New Organisation Structure at the Department of Industry 17 • Executive Files 18 • Research with Impact 21 • Calendar of Events 23

Go8 Newsletter August 2014 PDF Version Imagining an Australia built on the brilliance of our people The Chair of the Entitled “Imagining The text of the speech is same way and the same Group of Eight an Australia built on as follows: things no matter where the brilliance of our they study? (Go8), and Vice- Higher education and people”, Professor Chancellor and research in Australia is Are we content with Young’s speech President of The at a cross-road. It is time having a good university challenges the nation, for us to make choices system? Or do we want Australian National and Government in about what we want one that stands out University, Professor particular, to make the for our country and amongst the best in the Ian Young AO, hard decisions that what we want for future world? delivered an will ensure Australia’s generations. Time to Address to the universities will stand out The decisions we make make choices about the as amongst the best in now will fundamentally National Press Club future of our universities. of Australia on 30 the world. shape Australia’s future. Do we view universities July 2014. Professor Young argues Imagine, for a moment, as critical to underpinning for differentiation and what the future can be – a highly skilled, clever deregulation, and for students, for research and innovative Australia? outlines why both are and for our nation. necessary if Australia Or do we see universities To read, download or wants a report card that as a finishing school for print the entire speech, gives a grade better than our young? An extension please visit: https://go8. “B minus”. of high school where we edu.au/article-type/ teach young people the leaders-statements

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 2 Vicki Thomson The Group of Eight names new Executive Director The Group of Eight Ms Thomson, who on all fronts between at present. I am very (Go8) welcomes the will succeed Mr Mike Australia’s leading much looking forward appointment of Ms Gallagher, comes to the universities and build to assisting the Go8 Vicki Thomson as its role after more than on current international navigate its way through Executive Director, a decade leading the partnerships, including them. Far from resting on Australian Technology those in Latin America their laurels as leading effective January Network (ATN) of and in China with the C9 Australian universities, 2015, following a Universities. Ms Thomson group of universities. the Go8 seeks to competitive global is also a member of the maintain and build on its Ms Thomson is pleased search. Australia China Council international reputation to be able to take the Board and the New for higher education and helm at the Group of Colombo Plan Reference research,” Ms Thomson Eight at a time of change Group. said. and opportunity for the The Go8 Chair and ANU Australian university “In addition to the great Vice Chancellor, Professor sector. social and research Ian Young AO, believes contributions made “The sector is facing that the appointment of by Go8 universities, some very complex Ms Thomson will further their capacity to meet political and policy issues strengthen collaboration the productivity and

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 3 Mike Gallagher

innovation challenges Professor Young Professor Young. from Australian industry indicated that: “Ms Professor Young added: is vast and unparalleled,” Thomson comes to the “Over seven years in the said Ms Thomson. role with an outstanding Executive Director’s job, record of achievement in Ms Thomson added Mike has been a leading Higher Education, public that: “The profile of spokesman for the sector. service and advocacy. the Go8 for delivering He has contributed to The Go8 welcomes her research excellence is many policy debates, appointment and looks well recognised. This ensuring that they forward to her taking up stands as a solid platform have been informed this important role.” on which to further by policy principle and demonstrate the full “I would also like to that reforms have been firepower of the Go8 take this opportunity to subject to evaluation and across teaching and the thank Mr Mike Gallagher analysis. His efforts have full spectrum of research for his outstanding strengthened the Go8’s to our stakeholders in service to the Go8 links in Australia and government, industry and and the leadership overseas, especially in the community.” role he has played in China. ” Higher Education,” said

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 4 Learning let loose: reforming our universities Professor Warren In his speech entitled, The text of his speech is that regional universities Bebbington, “Learning let loose: as follows: would struggle to attract reforming our students or be financially Vice-Chancellor In the vast Minnesota universities,” Professor viable in a deregulated and President of cornfields of the Bebbington spoke environment, and even The University of American Upper Midwest extensively about “the metropolitan universities sits the little township of Adelaide, gave spectacular range depend on their local Northfield. Northfield’s an Address to the of choice in higher catchment area for most tiny population are Sydney Institute on education in the students. But this year traditionally wheat, 8 July 2014. USA” and how this is Carleton’s applicants corn or dairy farmers; remarkably absent in were five times the but their number is the Australian public number of places it had greatly swollen each university landscape, available, and they came year by those who come which is marked more by from every American from one of the two sameness and uniformity. state and 37 countries undergraduate colleges abroad. This despite According to Professor nearby. “Cows, Colleges the fact that, just 60 km Bebbington, the country and Contentment” is the away in Minneapolis - St. stands to gain many town’s motto. The more Paul sits the University benefits if the same prominent of the colleges of Minnesota, one of the range of choice is made is on the northern Top 100 universities in available to Australian edge of town, Carleton the world, whose fees are students. There is no College. lower than Carleton’s. reason, he said, we can’t In Australia, we worry learn from America. Unquestionably, Carleton

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 5 offers undergraduate a year, and a co-curricular produced 18 Rhodes education of a quality program involving Scholars, and its success Australians can only 90% of students, from with National Science dream of. In Australian community service Foundation Fellowships universities, dropout projects to off-campus is second in the nation. rates of 15% or more are study programs ranging Unlike in Australia, common, but Carleton’s across more than 60 Carleton does not find a retention rate is 97%, countries: in Australia rural setting a weakness: and 91% of its students we would be pleased if it wears it as a badge finish their degree in such programs reached of honour, building the minimum time. 10%. There is a rich traditions around it. Small In Australia’s public extracurricular life, with wonder that among the universities, staff-student over 190 social and 1,800 four-year colleges ratios have declined to sporting clubs—this for in the US, Carleton is around 1:21, and first- a student population of ranked in the top ten, at year lectures of 500, 800, just 2,000, a menu of No. 7. or 1,000 students are not extracurricular activities To read, download or uncommon. At Carleton that would shame an print the entire speech, the staff-student ratio Australian university of please visit: http:// is 1:9, and 65% of its 40,000. blogs.adelaide.edu. classes have fewer than And what of Carleton’s au/vco/2014/07/08/ 20 students. Indeed, graduate outcomes? speech-learning-let- large lecture courses 80% of its students are loose-reforming-our- are unknown: no class is successfully admitted universities/ larger than 49. to graduate schools There are three semesters elsewhere, it has

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 6 New Go8 publications The Group of Eight Courses and to their needs. Key to contribution made by the (Go8) is releasing Quality Assurance the success of this reform higher education sector four new papers in in Australian Higher will be strong quality as well as the sources assurance and regulatory August. Below is an Education of research income for outline of their titles mechanisms to ensure Australian universities. In The proposed changes that all Higher Education 2011-12 about $31.6 billion and what they are to higher education, Providers (HEPs) and the was spent on research in about. announced in the 2014 courses that they offer Australia by Government federal budget, will meet minimum standards research organisations, herald the onset of of quality. This paper gives universities, business significant structural an overview of the quality and private non-profit reform if implemented assurance processes used organisations of which as planned. Expansion of by Australian universities as 28% was performed in the commonwealth subsidies part of this process, with a higher education sector. to all registered higher particular focus on course Australian universities education providers with development and delivery. reported $3.4 billion in accredited undergraduate research income in 2012 courses will build on the University Research from Commonwealth current demand-driven Funding in Australia grants and contracts, other system to help students This paper looks at government grants and select an institution and expenditure on research contracts, industry grants type of course most suited in Australia and the and contracts, private non-

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 7 profit grants and contracts, on how HELP repayment is for a number of years and cost — around $133 billion international grants and affected by labour market then do so at much lower between now and 2030. contracts and donations outcomes and employs a rates. Funding this shortfall from and Bequests. In 2012, series of case studies that international student fees 48% of research income show graduates earning No such thing as a would require a 100 per reported came from above, at and below the free degree cent increase in fees, a Australian Competitive average for their age. The A number of move that would surely Grants. case studies demonstrate commentators have diminish Australia’s market the progressiveness of the argued against the position. The more obvious Paying off HELP HELP scheme and how its proposals outlined in solution would see the Debts: Case Studies built-in safety measures the Government’s 2014 costs of free education The Government’s actively protect those on Budget, by and large be constrained through proposals to deregulate lower incomes. Ultimately, adopting a fiercely anti- limiting admissions. university fees and how long graduates will market position. Indeed, Indicatively, providing introduce a real interest take to repay their debt some commentators free education within the rate on debts accrued is dependent on their have gone so far to say current funding pool, through the Higher income. Graduates with higher education should would see a 50 per cent Education Loan Program higher incomes take less be “free”. “Free” here, reduction in participation. (HELP) have been a source time to repay their debts of course, means free for of contention since they than graduates on lower the student. However, were proposed in the 2014 incomes. Lower income for the Government, and Commonwealth Budget. graduates however, may ultimately for the taxpayer, The focus of this paper is not make any repayments this would be a very real

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 8 New Go8 indicators

The latest Group The latest Group of Eight (Go8) More than half of domestic of Eight (Go8) indicators are now available on the Go8 undergraduate offers (57% in 2014) in website. On most of the indicators, the Go8 universities went to students with indicators are now Go8 universities form a distinct group. a school leaving attainment in the top available on the Go8 No other Australian university is clearly 10%. Just under half of all PhD students website. On most in ninth place overall. The indicators (48%) were in Go8 universities in 2012. of the indicators, highlight a variety of differences The average student to staff ratio the Go8 universities between Go8 and other Australian (student EFTSL/academic staff FTE) and form a distinct universities. attrition rates for first year domestic group. undergraduates are considerably A number of the indicators quantify the lower in Go8 universities than other Go8 universities’ research strength. The universities. Go8 universities had nearly $11 billion in research income in 2012, which was about two-thirds of the total research income in Australian universities. Nearly three quarters of the nationally competitive research grants awarded to universities in 2012 went to Go8 universities. In the 2012 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) ratings, on average 71% of the fields submitted by Go8 universities had a rating of 4 or 5.

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 9 Indicators of Australia’s Group of Eight Universities

The The The Average Australian The University The The University for rest of National Monash University of UNSW University of University of Western Australia’s Indicator University Melbourne Australia Queensland of Sydney Australia universities Closest non-Go8 university

Net assets ($million) (2012) 1,901 2,049 1,174 3,923 1,892 2,805 3,503 1,569 777 2,008 Griffith University

Queensland University of Annual revenue ($million) (2012) 995 1,620 790 1,808 1,479 1,583 1,737 916 442 873 Technology

Total research income ($million) (2012) 423 437 261 568 484 522 502 295 51 133 University of Tasmania

271 Charles Darwin University Total research income per academic staff FTE 219 152 151 193 165 150 160 181 70 with a research function ($thousand) (2012) 149 University of Tasmania

Nationally competitive research income ($million) 101 158 96 207 148 180 192 101 13 41 University of Newcastle (2012) Industry and other funded research income ($million) Queensland University of 22 90 41 70 66 95 95 54 9 29 (2012) Technology Number of submitted fields with ERA rating of 55 60 39 76 58 75 74 38 9 27 University of Newcastle 4 or 5 (2012)

[% of all submitted fields at the university] 89% 67% 58% 78% 66% 78% 75% 61% 22% 55% University of Newcastle August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 10

Number of fields (out of 374 narrow disciplines) in 237 Griffith University 70 109 115 82 82 130 164 87 46 which graduate research students are enrolled (2012) 82 Charles Darwin University

Fields with graduate research student enrolments 85% Griffith University as a proportion of all fields taught by the university 46% 47% 61% 35% 38% 63% 75% 41% 32% University of the Sunshine (2012) 60% Coast

Total students, including off-shore (2012) 20,087 63,022 25,736 49,521 50,838 46,863 52,636 25,195 25,947 54,956 RMIT University

Undergraduate students (2012) 10,249 45,770 18,220 24,992 31,302 33,451 32,631 19,463 18,821 43,442 RMIT University

[% of all students at the university] 51% 73% 71% 50% 62% 71% 62% 77% 69%

PhD students (2012) 2,629 3,842 1,913 4,078 3,342 3,890 3,784 1,849 820 1,958 Curtin University of Technology

[% of all students at the university] 13% 6% 7% 8% 7% 8% 7% 7% 4% 5% University of Wollongong

Page 1 The The The Average Australian The University The The University for rest of National Monash University of UNSW University of University of Western Australia’s Indicator University University of Adelaide Melbourne Australia Queensland of Sydney Australia universities Closest non-Go8 university

Medical students (2012) 380 2,383 1,042 1,309 1,618 1,889 1,201 1,109 590 998

International students (2012) 5,383 22,057 7,056 12,829 13,274 11,324 11,420 5,454 6,402 26,613 RMIT University

[% of all students at the university] 27% 35% 27% 26% 26% 24% 22% 22% 23%

Proportion of domestic undergraduate offers with 62% 49% 46% 74% 60% 52% 57% 58% 13% 39% James Cook University school leaving attainment in top 10% (2014)

Attrition rate for first year domestic bachelor degree University of Technology, 5% 7% 11% 5% 5% 8% 5% 7% 17% 7% students (2011) Sydney

Apparent gross student EFTSL to academic staff Flinders University of South 7 13 10 10 11 9 11 11 19 13 FTE ratio (2012) Australia

Staff with research only appointments 1,184 1,347 870 1,540 1,271 2,165 1,250 800 170 518 Griffith University (actual FTE including casuals) (2012)

[% of all academic staff in university] 58% 36% 43% 42% 37% 53% 35% 44% 14% 30% James Cook University

Staff with research and teaching appointments 747 1,529 866 1,400 1,652 1,320 1,885 831 540 1,033 Griffith University (actual FTE including casuals) (2012)

[% of all academic staff in university] 37% 41% 43% 38% 48% 33% 53% 46% 58% 94% University of Canberra Staff with teaching only appointments Queensland University of

August 2014 Newsletter 108 892 288 753 548 569 455 182 268 628 (actual FTE including casuals) (2012) Technology The University of Notre Dame [% of all academic staff in university] 5% 24% 14% 20% 16% 14% 13% 10% 27% 50% Australia Number of academic staff with doctorate Queensland University of 1,529 2,383 1,194 2,447 3,602 2,610 2,112 1,306 545 1,348 qualifications (2013) Technology

[% of all academic staff in university] 86% 77% 72% 66% 59% 84% 68% 74% 62% 74% University of Wollongong

Sources:

PDF Version page 11 Higher Education Statistics: Finance 2012; Students 2012; Staff 2012, 2013; Department of Education 2012 Higher Education Research Data Collection; Department of Education 2012 Research Block Grant Allocations; Department of Education Excellence in Research for Australia 2012 Outcomes, Australian Research Council Undergraduate Applications and Offers, 2014; Department of Education

Page 2 Lindau Meeting: a truly global event (photo by David Fisher) Go8 sponsors Australia Day The Group of Eight (Go8) Board at the 64th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting agreed to sponsor Australia Day at the 37 Nobel Laureates met in the week The three Australian Nobel Laureates 2014 Lindau Nobel 29 June - 4 July 2014 with around 600 present were Elizabeth Blackburn, Barry Laureates meeting young scientists to share their knowledge, Marshall and Brian Schmidt. Peter Doherty and support the establish new contacts and discuss relevant addressed the meeting through video participation of a topics such as global health, the latest and a special edition of his book, “The number of additional findings in cancer and AIDS research, Beginner’s Guide to Winning the Nobel early career the challenges in immunology and future Prize,” was given to all ECRs as a gift on researchers (ECRs). research approaches to medicine. Australia Day.

The Australian delegation with Minister Robb and Nobel Laureate Oliver Smithies with Kate Murphy, Melissa Cantley Ambassador Ritchie and Hannah Moore (photo by Melissa Cantley)

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 12 Australia Day, science breakfast: Women in Science – challenges for building a career

Amongst the 600 young scientists from 80 countries were The Australia Day on 30 June was a significant success. 15 Australian ECRs, who had passed the multi-stage Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Andrew Robb selection process: AO MP, and His Excellency, Ambassador to Germany David Ritchie, lent their presence to this gathering of the best and Michael Bergin, University of Queensland, Go8 brightest, and used this unique opportunity to present the Australian research landscape as one of the best in the world. Dr Nady Braidy, UNSW Australia, Go8 Minister Robb opened Australia Day with a welcome Dr Melissa Cantley, University of Adelaide, Go8 speech that included personal experiences. The speech Dr Ross Hamilton, CSIRO Preventative Health was very well-received. Meanwhile, the musical interlude by Genevieve Lacey (recorder) and Marshall McGuire (harp) Rae-Ann Hardie, Garvan Institute of Medical Research captivated the more than 1100 persons in the room, one could hear a needle drop. Dr Sarah Lockie, Monash University, Go8 The presentation by Professor Emma Johnston of UNSW Dr Yi Lu, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Australia, depicting her passion for science and her Dr Maria Markoulli, UNSW Australia, Go8 research on the beautiful Australian coastal environment, was received with applause. Dr Hannah Moore, University of Western Australia, Go8 Professor Wolfgang Schuerer, President of the Lindau Dr Kate Murphy, , Go8 Nobel Meeting Council, concluded that this was the best International Day the Lindau meetings ever had. He Dr Rebecca Segrave, Monash University, Go8 remarked that at least 40% of the participants will visit Dr Kirsty Short, University of Queensland/Erasmus Australia as a follow-up, in contrast to about 10% following Universiteit, Rotterdam, Go8 the other international days.

Dr Angela Spence, University of Western Australia, Go8 The Go8 had provided the ECRs with USB bracelets containing Go8 information and the profiles of the Dr Sonia Troeira Henriques, University of Queensland, Go8 Australian delegates.

Catriona Wimberley, Australian Nuclear Science and In conclusion, in this event, Australia presented itself as Technology Organisation (ANSTO) the best destination for research in a well-balanced fashion following the Lindau leitmotif “Educate. Inspire. Connect.”. For the first time in the history of the meetings, the Thanks to the great collaboration between the ECRs, the percentage of female participants was higher than the Nobel Laureates, the AAS, Austrade and the Go8, the male`s percentage (52 to 48%), while the Australian impression that ‘Team Australia’ left was definitely a very delegation had 13% male participants. positive one.

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 13 Go8 conducts pre-departure briefing for Brazilian SWB Students

The Group of Eight In 2010 the Go8 signed The success of an lifestyle and culture, (Go8) prepared the a Memorandum of international education the Go8 has prepared Brazilian Science Understanding with the experience for young a pre-departure session without Borders Brazilian Government to students is related to how to give the students (SWB) students for host students under its well-prepared they are some understanding of SWB program. To date, before leaving their home the differences between a smooth arrival and the Go8 has already country. Australia and their home pleasant experience hosted over 3,000 country. In order to facilitate in Australia. students, mostly in Study the Brazilian students’ The last pre-departure Abroad Undergraduate adaptation process session happened in late programs, but also for into the Australian June, before the students PhDs and post-doctorates. education system, departed for Australia,

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 14 Brazilian SWB students and delegation of Brazilian universities at the University of Adelaide, in September 2013 The success of an international education experience for young students is related to how well- prepared they are before leaving their home country.

Welcome Party for Brazilian SWB students and delegation of Brazilian universities at the University of Western Australia, in September 2013

with assistance from our issues such as reasons Students gave excellent partners in Brazil – Latino for studying overseas, feedback about the session, Australia Education (LAE). importance of an saying it helped make LAE organised a webinar international education them feel more prepared session where the Go8 experience, personal and to begin their study Director for Latin America professional development experience in Australia. This delivered a talk to almost through international is the second time the Go8 300 students about education, adaptation has conducted the pre- Australia, the Australian into different cultures, departure session in Brazil. lifestyle, the education commitment to the It is likely to continue system and the differences Study Abroad and SWB offering these seminars in education style between programs and rules, as well before the departure of Brazil and Australia. as behavioural and cultural each large SWB group for differences. Australia. The session also discussed

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 15 Go8 Submission

The Group of Eight The submission is in response to an inquiry A downloadable or printable copy is (Go8) has recently into Australia’s innovation system, with also available on the Submissions page made a submission the aim of looking into “the challenges to of the Go8 website: https://go8.edu.au/ to the Senate Australian industries and jobs posed by publication/group-eight-submission-inquiry- Committee on increasing global competition in innovation, australias-innovation-system. Economics. science, engineering, research and education.”

The Go8 submission has been published by the Australian Parliament on its website and may be accessed here:

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_ Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/ Innovation_System/Submissions (Submission 13)

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 16 The Department of Industry, established in September 2013 New Organisation to consolidate industry, energy, resources, science, skills and business, Structure has recently announced a new at the Department of Industry structure, effective The organisation chart is below, and more information is available July 2014. on the Department’s website: http://www.industry.gov.au/AboutUs/Pages/default.aspx CEO Pigram Tony Marks Dr Chris Australia Clinton Foster Stuart Minchin Andy Barnicoat James Johnson Antony Stinziani Geoscience CIO (A/g) ICT* CFO Legal Chief Officer Budgets Margaret Services Graham Planning Tregurtha Vanessa Brant Trim Corporate Capability Matt Boyley Sam White Neil Kinsella Operating Corporate Megan Auld People and Colin Roberts Finance and Brad Medland and Facilities Natalie Marsh Robert Twomey Communications the responsibility of Deputy Secretary, Martin Hoffman * ICT strategy and performance is Ivor Skills Energy ARENA Energy Skills & Mike Sibly Vanguard B2G Digital Effective from 1 July 2014 Foundation Delivery and Louise Vickery Greg Divall Linda White Programmes Frischknecht Gene McGlynn Programmes Susan Devereux Industry Skills Industry Portfolio Organisation Chart Sue Weston Deputy Secretary Office Office Service Sydney Service Customer Services Melbourne Business Operations Paul Sexton Jayne Facey Steve Stirling Website and Programmes Aapo Skorulis Lisa Peterson Chris Butler Graham Tanton Small Business Business,gov.au Centre and CRCs Ideas Advice Michelle R&D Tax Single Business Service centre - AusIndustry Incentive Research Business Henderson David Wilson Connections Nicola Morris Entrepreneur Development Doron Ben-Meir Deborah Anton Commercialising Boyle Durant rofessor Graham Dr Brian Kate Driver P Questacon David Luchetti SKA Project Dr Rob Science Audit & Fraud Christine Leary Porteous Policy and Jane Urquhart Governance Science Policy Science Group NMI AAO Couch Warrick Professor Nigel Poole Neville Legg Valerie Villiere Reza Bilimoria James Roberts Dr Peter Fisk Lindsay Mackay Bruce Warrington Deputy Secretary Dr Subho Banerjee Craig Skills Policy Skills Skills Policy Secretary Robertson Taskforce Information Jason Coutts Regulation Quality and Infrastructure VET Reform Peta Furnell Kathryn Shugg Andrew Lalor Martin Graham Funding and Engagement Steve Murtagh Robin Shreeve Melissa McEwen (Policy Project) Apprenticeships Glenys Beauchamp Minister for Industry The Hon Bob Baldwin MP The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP Policy Policy Portfolio Trade and Regulation Strategic Reform and & Office of the Chief Scientist Chief Scientist Lisa Schofield Sarah Clough International Paul Trotman Anthony Murfett Co-ordination Parliamentary Productivity and Mike Lawson Competitiveness Professor Commercialisation Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Energy Position) Services Industry Sue Beitz Services Analytical Bureau of Analytical Economic Economics Economics Resource & Mark Cully (Secondment Wayne Calder CEO (NOPSEMA) Jane Cutler Environmental National Offshore Petroleum Safety & Management Authority John Ryan Associate Secretary (A/g) Pete Food, Policy Fibres Industry Building (Industry Policy Oversight) Australian Ann Bray Australian Neil Savery Advanced Grant Wilson Anne Byrne Participation Mark Durrant Codes Board Chesworth and Services Manufacturing and Services Manufacturing Chemicals and Manufacturing PGPA Act (ASQA) Chris Robinson Australian Skills Quality Authority Chief Commissioner Dale Anti- Paper Advisory Sewell Seymour Dumping Lisa Hind Policy and Margaret Philip Clarke Taskforce Commission Gary Richards Investigations Energy White CEO (AIMS) John Gunn Australian Institute of Marine Science Energy Energy Energy Security Markets Energy Morling Efficiency Appliance Brendan Electricity Chris Locke Gino Grassia David Walke r Productivity Onshore Gas Paul Johnson Helen Bennett & Governance (CSIRO) Corporate Commonwealth Entities under Commonwealth Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark Scientific & Industrial Deputy Secretary Research Organisation Martin Hoffman R&E Titles Michael Coal & National Harman Sheldrick Offshore Offshore Minerals Katherine Petroleum Uranium & Resources Demus King Resources International Productivity Administrator Graeme Waters Bruce Wilson CEO (ANSTO) Science & Technology Organisation Dr Adi Paterson Australian Nuclear Jo Hart Ian Goss Celia Poole Doug Pereira Victor Portelli Robyn Foster Fatima Beattie David Johnson IP Australia Patricia Kelly Director General

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 17 Executive Files In this issue, we are introducing a new section to feature the profiles of the top executives of the Group of Eight (Go8) universities. We start below with The University of Western Australia (UWA):

Professor Paul Johnson Vice-Chancellor Prior to his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Australia in 2012, Professor Paul Johnson served as Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University in Victoria for four years. Before moving to Australia, Professor Johnson served three years as Deputy Director of the London School of Economics.

Professor Johnson received his doctorate from Oxford University in 1982.

Professor Johnson has been an expert adviser on pension reform and the economics of demographic change to the World Bank, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, the British Government and the House of Lords. He has served on a number of professional councils, learned societies and professional bodies in the UK including the Economic and Social Research Council’s Research Grants Board, the Council of the Economic History Society and the Governing Board of the Pensions Policy Institute.

Professor Johnson is a director of UniSuper, the Australian higher education superannuation fund, and a member of the fund’s Investment Committee. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Australian Research Council. He was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society in 1987 and to the Academy of Social Sciences in 2001.

Professor Dawn Freshwater Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prior to moving to Western Australia to take up the position of Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dawn Freshwater served as the Pro-Vice- Chancellor for Staff and Organizational Effectiveness, Professor of Mental Health and Head of the School of Healthcare at the University of Leeds. Professor Freshwater received her doctorate at the University of Nottingham in 1998 and has been the recipient of numerous awards. She was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing in 2001. As an academic Professor Freshwater serves on the HEFCE Research Excellence Framework (REF) panel in the UK; reviews and acts in an advisory capacity for the National Institute for Health Research and MRC and to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. She contributes to clinical academic fellowship panels and to awards of doctoral training centres.

In her leadership capacity, Professor Freshwater has championed and led the successful Award of Athena SWAN; funded a study to examine the impact of globalisation on leadership and developed a manifesto for Inclusive Leadership jointly with the British Council.

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 18 Professor Robyn Owens Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Robyn Owens is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and has responsibility for research policy development and general oversight of the University’s research activities, postgraduate education, industry liaison, intellectual property and commercialisation. Professor Robyn Owens has a BSc (Hons) from UWA and a MSc and a DPhil from Oxford, all in Mathematics. She worked at l’Université de Paris- Sud, Orsay, continuing research in mathematical analysis before returning to UWA to work as a research mathematician.

She has lectured in Mathematics and Computer Science at UWA, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Berkeley, as well as for shorter periods in Thailand and New Zealand. Her research has focussed on computer vision, including feature detection in images, 3D shape measurement, image understanding, and representation.

Through her previous role as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Research Training) at UWA, Professor Owens led the development and research training of over 1900 research students. Prior to taking up that position, she was Head of the School of Computer Science & Software Engineering at UWA from 1998 until the end of 2002.

Mr Peter Curtis Registrar and Executive Director Corporate Services Mr Peter Curtis graduated in 1972 with Honours in Economics from the University of Wolverhampton in the UK, presenting his Honours thesis on ‘Student Finance in Higher Education’. He combined part-time tutoring with postgraduate studies in Public Administration before moving to Australia in 1974. He commenced a career in university administration at UWA in 1975.

From that time he has accumulated a wide variety of experience principally in academic and student administration and has taken a leading role in institutional planning and policy.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, as Director of Planning Services, Peter played a lead role in establishing and developing a formal planning process at UWA, and in the design and development of the University’s budget model, organisational structures, and decision-making processes.

From 1993, following appointment as Deputy Registrar, he was designated Coordinator of Planning and Policy within the University and authored many of the University’s major policy documents, including its Strategic Plan, Operational Priorities Plan, Quality Portfolios and Educational Profiles. He has also been closely involved in national policy developments in areas such as quality assurance, performance indicators and funding policy.

Peter took up the position of Executive Director (Academic Services) and Registrar in January 2000 and, as a member of the Executive, has continued to take a leading role in University and sector planning, authoring many of the University’s major policy documents and submissions to Government on higher education issues.

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 19 Professor Alec Cameron Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Beginning his appointment in January 2013, Professor Alec Cameron is one of the newest additions to the UWA Vice-Chancellery. Commencing as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), he was subsequently appointed as Acting Senior Deputy-Vice Chancellor from July 2013 until 31 March 2014. Prior to joining UWA, Professor Cameron was President of the Australian Business Deans Council. He has also been the driving force behind the Australian School of Business, after being appointed the School’s inaugural Dean in 2006, and overseeing its emergence from the integration of academic units at the University of New South Wales.

Professor Cameron has also previously held the position of Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Resources and Infrastructure) at UNSW, and several senior corporate positions in the IT and telecommunications industry - including at Sun Microsystems Australia, Alcatel Australia, COMindico, and Telstra.

A Rhodes Scholar, Professor Cameron holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with First Class Honours. He also holds a University Medal from the University of Sydney, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in robotics from Oxford University, and a Master of Science degree in the Management of Technology from Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU).

In December 2012, The Professor Alec Cameron Prize for Excellence was established at UNSW in honour of his significant contribution to the institution and community.

Ms Gaye McMath Chief Operating Officer Gaye McMath is the Chief Operating Officer at The University of Western Australia(UWA). She sits on various University Boards including The Perth International Arts Festival, The University Club and University Hall.

Gaye is responsible for the University services of Financial Services, Human Resources, Campus Management and Venues Management.

Ms McMath was previously employed with BHP Billiton where she held a range of senior executive positions in finance, strategic planning and commercial management in the steel, mining and treasury divisions. She was also a BHP nominated director on a number of domestic and international mining and infrastructure subsidiary and joint venture boards.

Prior to her current role she was the Executive Director Finance and Resources and Chief Financial Offcer at UWA and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Resource Management) and Chief Financial Officer at Murdoch University. She was also a director on various University related companies associated with education, research, commercialisation of intellectual property, property development and aged care.

Gaye has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Melbourne, a Masters of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. She is a fellow of CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Gaye is currently a non-executive Director of the Western Australian Treasury Corporation and Gold Corporation. She is a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors (WA Division), The Anglican Church Perth Diocesan Trust and the Committee for Perth.

For contact details and more information, please visit the UWA website: http://www.uwa.edu.au/

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 20 Research with Impact

This month we Saving Lives at Birth further highlight discoveries that The delivery of an old drug in new ways has of the injected liquid formulation, which have benefited the potential to save the lives of thousands is problematic in resource poor countries. the health of of mothers in the developing world at Inhaled oxytocin can be administered by risk of bleeding to death after childbirth. non-medically trained staff. Australians. Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (MIPS) researchers led by Dr Michelle The technology has now cleared a number McIntosh are developing oxytocin as of the critical pre-clinical hurdles that are an inhaled, acute use medicine for the required prior to progression into the treatment of post-partum haemorrhage clinic. The project has been supported by which kills 150,000 women annually in funding agencies including the Bill and resource poor countries. The inhaled form Melinda Gates Foundation, Saving Lives at of oxytocin is stable at room temperature Birth, the McCall MacBain Foundation, the and readily administered, in contrast to Planet Wheeler Foundation and the Helen the current need for refrigerated storage McPherson Smith Trust.

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 21 Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) has been an important clinical diagnostic tool since the 1980s, with the current global market estimated to be around US$4.5 billion p.a. from the sale of around 3500 systems annually. Technology that improves the clarity of images from MRI machines resulted from a project led by Professor Stuart Crozier. The electromagnetic noise compensation technology is now incorporated into two-thirds of the world’s high field MRI systems sold since 1996 and facilitates vastly improved diagnostics. An estimated 8 billion patients worldwide have benefited from this improved technology.

The creation of the Glycemic Index Principal Researcher, Professor Jennie Brand-Miller’s groundbreaking work into human nutrition has led to the development of the University of Sydney Glycemic Index Research Service (SUGiRS), established in 1995 to provide a reliable commercial GI testing laboratory for the local and international food industry. Foods that meet nutrition guidelines and have been GI tested can carry the GI symbol, which is administered by the Glycemic Index Foundation, supported by the University of Sydney and JDRF (Australia). The GI ranks carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Research on the nutritional aspects of food carbohydrates has been internationally recognised. Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) refer to the GI in making nutrition recommendations.

Consumers save over $1 billion annually with dental discovery - Recaldent™ products have revolutionised dental practice

A leading figure in oral health science with more than 30 Recaldent™ is now in products that have generated over $2 years’ experience in dental research, management, and billion in sales since 2003, while its use is estimated to save commercialisation of innovations, Professor Eric Reynolds consumers over $1 billion in dental treatment costs per year. was one of the first to identify the molecular processes enabling the repair of early tooth decay without the need for invasive treatment.

This was followed by the discovery of a milk compound called Recaldent™ that repairs the effect of acid on teeth and reduces the risk of disease.

Hailed as a major global breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of early tooth decay, Recaldent™ enhances the uptake and incorporation of fluoride into tooth enamel and the repair of early stages of disease.

“Regular use of Recaldent™ products has the potential to significantly repair early stages of tooth decay,” Professor Reynolds says. Photo credits: Chris Owen

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 22 Calendar of Events Event/Meeting/Courtesy Call Date Venue Remarks/Details Go8 Briefing for Go8 Universities 15 August Santiago Briefing for Go8 staff prior Latin America Managers to LAE exhibition Latino Australia Education (LAE) 16 August – tbc The Go8 will have a booth Student Exhibitions in 4 September and make presentations at all Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, exhibitions. Bogota, Quito, Mexico City Go8 postgraduate coordinators 18-19 August Adelaide workshop Go8 DoGS 19 August Adelaide Go8 Marketing Directors 11-12 September UQ Go8 Research Director’s Meeting 16-17 September ANU Go8+ Deans of Engineering 2-3 October UQ Go8 International Strategy Group 7 October Brisbane Meeting Go8 Mobility Managers 7 October Brisbane Meeting AIEC – Australian International 7-10 October Brisbane Education Conference Go8 Social Inclusion Strategy Group 24 October Adelaide Go8 Directors October Visits to all Go8 universities for Latin America visit to Australia Go8 Deans of Business 13-14 November Shanghai Joint Go8 Business alumni meeting Go8 Directors 17 Nov Melbourne of Statistics and Planning LAE – Go8 Scholarship events in November – tbc tbc tbc Latin America Go8 Alumni and Networking function tbc tbc in Brazil

August 2014 Newsletter PDF Version page 23