NICTA, Australia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Research Centre of Excellence welcomed two new Board members, Mr Loftus Harris and Dr Chris Beare, at its Annual General Meeting last week.
NICTA’s Board also farewelled two members, Mr Su-Ming Wong and Ms Kelly Jones.
“Integral to NICTA’s role is to generate world-class research to facilitate commercialisation,” NICTA Chairman Mr Neville Stevens AO said. “The experience and advice Mr Wong and Ms Jones have shared with NICTA has been invaluable to NICTA and our research team.”
Mr Wong was a founding Board member and chaired the Board’s Commercialisation Committee. Ms Jones was also a member of that Committee.
The Commercialisation Committee has guided NICTA’s commercialisation and business development efforts, including its first spin-out, Audinate. Audinate has recently announced a $AUD4 million investment round led by Innovation Capital and supported by existing shareholders Starfish Ventures and NICTA.
Mr Stevens thanked both retiring Board members for their contribution to NICTA.
New Board member Dr Beare has over 20 years experience in directorship and chairman roles with companies such as Dexus Property Group, m.Net Corporation, BBB Capital, Eccosphere, CSIRO, Cisco Systems and technology venture capital company Accede Capital.
He has maintained a portfolio of part-time business interests which involve technology, start-up companies and companies changing their management culture.
Previous positions include Director Business Development, Cisco Systems; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Radiata Inc; Director and Senior Advisor to the Board, SG Australia; Joint Chief Executive, Hambros Australia and General Manager and Executive Director, Advent Management Group.
Dr Beare holds a MBA from Harvard Business School and Ph.D in Electrical Engineering from Adelaide University. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Beare will become the chair of the Commercialisation Committee.
Mr Harris has in-depth experience of government, business development, export promotion, innovation, investment, regional economic development, major projects and business and government interactions in Australia and internationally.
He has been Chief Executive Officer of three government departments, including 10 years as the Chief Executive Officer of the lead government business agency in New South Wales.
Mr Harris currently holds directorships for companies including Delta Electricity, Port of Brisbane Corporation and the Australian Institute of Export.
Previous positions include Director General, NSW Department of State and Regional Development; Director General, Queensland Department of Tourism, Small Business and Industry; Director General, Queensland Department of the Premier, Economic and Trade Development; Executive Director, Trade and Investment Development, Queensland Department of the Premier, Economic and Trade Development and an Australian Senior Trade Commissioner.
Mr Harris is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a graduate of the University of Queensland.
Mr Harris will join the Audit and Finance Committee.
Mr Harris and Dr Beare join the nine existing members of the NICTA Board: Mr Neville Stevens AO (Chair), Dr David Skellern (CEO), Professor Michael Brooks, Ms Jennifer Clark, Professor Paul Greenfield AO, Emeritus Professor Graham Hellestrand, Mr Brand Hoff, Mr David Karpin AM and Dr Michael Sargent AM.
Document(s): 
NICTA Appoint Two New Board Members (pdf, 26KB)
Contact: Kelly Mills
Phone: +61 2 8374 5489
Email: kelly.mills@nicta.com.au