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