Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, today announced the membership of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Industries Innovation Council with Mr Phillip Butler appointed as the Chair.
Mr Butler is the Managing Director of Textor Technologies, a leading Australian company at the forefront of non woven textile technology.
The establishment of the Council is an important component of the Commonwealth Government’s $401 million TCF innovation package as announced in the 2009 Budget.
“Innovation is a key driver of productivity, competitiveness, skills and sustainability for the Textile, Clothing and Footwear industries,” Senator Carr said.
“TCF industries employ over 47,000 Australians and are underpinning regional economies around the country.
“Mr Butler is well regarded and a highly successful innovator within the TCF industries. I am delighted he has agreed to chair the Council.”
Mr Butler has accepted Minister Carr’s invitation and looks forward to working with other Council members in providing strategic advice on innovation priorities and championing innovation across the TCF industries.
The Council membership represents a wealth of TCF industries experience and will look at a number of innovation issues, working closely with businesses, unions, researchers and government.
Some of the Council’s additional tasks will include providing advice on the introduction of a voluntary ethical quality mark, voluntary national sizing standards for clothing and footwear and a national anthropometric (human measurement) database.
The TCF Industries Innovation Council is the fifth Council to be established by the Commonwealth Government. In his review of the Australian TCF Industries, Professor Roy Green recommended the establishment of a TCF Industries Innovation Council. The first four Councils focus on innovation issues in the automotive, built environment, future manufacturing and information technology industries.
A sixth Council was also recently announced to focus on steel industry issues. For further information on Industry Innovation Councils, visit the Innovation website.
TEXTILE, CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR INDUSTRIES INNOVATION COUNCIL
CHAIR
Mr Phillip Butler Director, Textor Technologies
MEMBERS
Mr Phil Butt Managing Director, J. Robins & Sons
Ms Bronwyn Darlington Managing Director, Rise Up Productions
Mr Ross Fitzgerald General Manager - Sales, Steel Blue
Mr John Garrett Director, Godfrey Hirst Australia
Mr Michael Gerakios General Manager - Global Filtration, Albany Filtration Technologies
Mr David Kesby Group General Manager, Cue Design
Mr Mike Lawson General Manager, Competitive Industries Branch,
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Mr Daniel Leipnik Chief Executive Officer, The Specialty Group
Dr Steve Morton Group Executive, Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals, CSIRO
Professor Marie O'Mahony Professor of Advanced Textiles and Fashion Design,
University of Technology - Sydney
Ms Michele O'Neil National Secretary, Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia
Mr Lindsay Packer Managing Director, Packer Leather
Mr Andre Reich General Manager - Apparel, Footwear, Beauty, KMART
Mr Brian Rush Managing Director, Australian Defence Apparel
Mr Charles Szakiel Managing Director, Tascot Templeton Carpets
Mr Barry Tubner NSW, South Australia and Tasmania Branch Secretary,
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia
nb. Two additional members are yet to be confirmed.
Media contacts: Catriona Jackson, Minister’s office, 0417 142 238
Steve Payne, department contact, 02 6213 7500