The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, has today delivered on the first stage of Federal Labor’s election promise to restore independence to the Australian Research Council (ARC).
“I am pleased to announce the establishment of an ARC Advisory Council to provide advice to the Chief Executive Officer, Professor Margaret Sheil, on key research issues,” Senator Carr said.
“Research is not a political plaything to be toyed with at the whim of the Government.
“Research is a matter of vital national importance, the outcomes of which have a significant impact on Australia’s ongoing prosperity and standing in the world.
“It is our responsibility to seek and respect the views of those individuals most able to provide valuable insight into the issues faced by researchers and shape an environment that will deliver the best possible results for all Australians.”
Senator Carr said that the Advisory Council, to be chaired by Professor Sheil, will provide her with non-binding strategic and policy advice on: strategic issues relating to the mission of the ARC; policy matters relating to innovation, research and research training; and matters relating to the evaluation of the quality and outcomes of research and research training in an international context.
In appointing the Advisory Council members, Senator Carr honoured a commitment to consult and obtain advice from people who reflect the breadth and diversity of Australia’s research interests.
“The Rudd Labor Government is committed to improve the integrity of Australia’s research funding system and one way of doing this is to ensure that the ARC has access to high quality advice from across the research sector,” Senator Carr said.
The first ARC Advisory Council comprises individuals whose backgrounds encompass academia and/or industry and represent a broad cross-section of research disciplines.
The members of the Council, who have each been appointed for up to three years, are:
- Professor Terry Hughes, Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University
- Dr Elizabeth Jazwinska, Johnson & Johnson Research Pty Ltd
- Professor Stuart Macintyre, Ernst Scott Professor of History, The University of Melbourne
- Professor John Ralston, Director, Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia
- Professor Margaret Seares AO, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, The University of Western Australia
- Professor Arun Sharma, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research/Commercialisation), Queensland University of Technology
A biography of each member is attached. For more information, visit www.arc.gov.au.
Media contact: Patrick Pantano 0417 181936