Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, today announced the members of the Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council, which meets for the first time in Canberra.
"The onset of the global economic crisis has made it more important than ever that Australia has a strong and globally competitive manufacturing industry," Senator Carr said.
"The future of Australian manufacturing is not in low-tech, high-volume sectors where we struggle to compete with low-wage economies.
"Our future is in high-tech, high-skill and high-wage manufacturing where we are competitive and where we have world-class capabilities and technology.
"This council has been established to help build that future," Senator Carr said.
The council will focus on Australia's most innovative manufacturers – those that use advanced materials and processes to add exceptionally high value. Examples include the scientific and medical instruments industry, ICT, renewable energy, specialist engineering, and aerospace.
It will also look at the growing area of manufacturing services and the opportunities for Australian manufacturers in the global response to climate change.
"The council will help develop strategies for boosting Australia's competitive advantage and exploiting existing opportunities in manufacturing," Senator Carr said.
Council chair Philip Binns has extensive experience in many areas of high-tech, precision manufacturing, from product development to sales and exports. He is general manager of Varian Australia, which exports around 95 per cent of the output from its Melbourne facility.
"Council members will work with companies, researchers, government and unions to increase the manufacturing sector’s capacity to take advantage of new technologies and new opportunities," Senator Carr said.
The Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council is the second of several Industry Innovation Councils to be established.
* A list of council members is attached.
* A copy of the Minister's speech is available here.
* Photos of the event will be shortly available here.
Media contact: Patrick Pantano, Minister's Office, 0417 181 936
Members of the Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council
|
Mr Philip Binns (Chair) |
Managing Director, Varian Australia Pty Ltd |
|
Mr Pat Boland |
Joint Managing Director, ANCA |
|
Mr Lyle Bruce |
Chief Executive Officer, GroundProbe Pty Ltd |
|
Ms Sharan Burrow |
National President, ACTU |
|
Mr Peter Cockbain |
Past President, Engineers Australia |
|
Dr Calum Drummond |
Chief, CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering |
|
Mr Brad Dunstan |
Chief Executive Officer, VCAMM |
|
Dr Bronwyn Evans |
Senior Vice President, Cochlear Ltd |
|
Dr Michael Green |
General Manager, Manufacturing Innovation Branch, Manufacturing Division, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research |
|
Mr Bruce Grey |
Group Managing Director, Bishop Technologies |
|
Prof Erol Harvey |
Research Leader, IRIS (Swinburne) and CEO of MiniFab Pty Ltd |
|
Mr Erich Hofmann |
Managing Director, Hofmann Engineering Pty Ltd |
|
Mr Paul Howes |
National Secretary, Australian Workers Union |
|
Mr Dave Oliver |
National Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union |
|
Mr David Malloch |
Chief Executive Officer, Malloch Digital Design |
|
Mr Tony Quick |
Director and General Manager, GKN Aerospace Engineering |
|
Prof Elizabeth Taylor AO |
Executive Dean, Sciences, Engineering & Health, CQU |
|
Ms Diane Tompson |
Managing Director, Powercom Group |
|
Ms Sylvia Tulloch |
General Manager, Dyesol Industries Pty Ltd |
|
Mr Gary Zamel |
Managing Director, Latitude Investments Pty Ltd |