Industry Advisory Board
Our Industry Advisory Board (IAB) convenes three times a year, comprising of 14 esteemed members from leading employer groups and various professional sectors. The IAB’s primary role is to offer expert guidance on integrating industry insights into our undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as shaping our research agendas. This collaboration ensures our educational and research initiatives remain relevant and forward-thinking, effectively bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Beyond their advisory capacity, IAB members identify and highlight key industry issues that could benefit from academic exploration or intervention. They present these topics along with their insights and recommendations, steering the School’s research focus towards practical and impactful outcomes. This proactive approach not only enhances the relevance of our programs but also fosters a productive dialogue between academia and industry.
Brendon Anderson
Research Leader, ASCA
Kari Armitage
Managing Director, Quarry Mining
Tracie Barber
Deputy Head of School Laboratory Operation and Infrastructure, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç School of Mechanical Engineering
Sam Bucolo
Excutive Diretor of the Australian Design Council
Jon Bulman
Senior Director of Operations, Finisar
Warren Canning, Chair
Adjunct Associate Professor, Five Rings Aerospace P/L
Biography:
Warren Canning has had a wide ranging career in the defence and aerospace sectors, including two and a half decades with DST; culminating as Head of the Advanced Aerospace Concepts Program Office. He is currently a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ, an Industrial Strategy Advisor to Thales Australia on Guided Weapons, Space and Hypersonics, and Chairs the Five Rings Aerospace P/L Advisory Board. Warren is a member of the Flight Test Society of Australia and remains actively engaged as a pilot and test lead in Flight Test campaigns in support of Australian industry development of new defence capabilities.
Dan Cartwright
Dan Cartwright, Business Development Manager, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Knowledge Exchange
Biography:
Dan is a seasoned business development and operations professional with over 20 years of experience in the global industrial services sector. He has a proven track record of negotiating and managing high-value contracts across diverse industries, consistently delivering innovative, value-added solutions that drive ROI and enhance customer satisfaction. Now turning to the academic sector, the focus is on successfully bridging research and industry in the intellectual property and business development space. Working on impactful IP outcomes and increased research income across faculties and schools Dan enjoys building relationships with a positive & collaborative approach.
Derrick Curran
Derrick Curran, Director – Global Engineering Devices and Masks Assembly, ResMed
Charitha de Silva
Associate Head of School (Research), ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç School of Mechanical Engineering
Luke Djukic
Chief Technical Officer, Omni Tanker
Johan Dreyer
Managing Director, NEPEAN Engineering & Innovation
Elena Estrina
School Manager, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç School of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering faculty
Chris Godfrey
Director of Manufacturing Engineering, ResMed
Steve Gower
CEO, Australian Composites Manufacturing (CRC)
Qualifications and Memberships:
- BSc(Hons)
- PhD
- MAICD
- MAIP
Areas of Expertise:
- Manufacturing automation
- Surface science
Biography:
Dr Gower has an impressive history of working on CRC Boards and within these collaborations, he brings incredible knowledge of such consortia, having been a General Manager, Director of Research, Co-Leader of two Research Programs, CEO and Non-executive Board Member at various CRCs.Â
Notably, he was a Non-executive Board Member with Advanced Manufacturing CRC as well as the Advanced Composite Structures Limited and ACS II – the management companies of the first and second funded CRC for Advanced Composite Structures respectively.
In addition to his wealth of experience with CRCs, Steve also brings to ACM CRC an abundance of knowledge in business management, having run his own consultancy for over 17 years. He has also worked in research, government and industry, so has a good grasp of how to manage the relationships between each.
As ACM CRC CEO, Steve:
- Leads the Executive Team, ensuring they’re working to achieve the CRC’s strategic goals.
- Manages the CRC’s Partners to ensure they derive value from the CRC.
- Leverages his extensive experience to develop strategies and new partnerships for the CRC.
- Deploys the appropriate policies for the CRC.
- Helps manage and participates in the CRC’s Committees.
David Kellermann
Deputy Head of School (Education), ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç School of Mechanical Engineering
Hugh Kelly
MD, AEMS
Chris Menictas
Director of External Relations, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç School of Mechanical Engineering
Cameron Ritchie
Innovation Partner, Capgemini
Angus M Robinson
Managing Director, Leisure Solutions Pty Ltd
Biography:
An exploration geologist by profession, Angus has worked in the metallics and coal mining sectors, in senior executive roles in tourism attraction and technology park management, in technology diffusion projects with The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering at USYD, and in ‘hi-tech’ manufacturing as the chief executive of the former Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association. In recent years, he has worked with the former Advanced Manufacturing CRC on additive manufacturing development and has also served on the Board of the Robotics Australia Group. Angus is co-convenor of ‘Manufacturing on the Move’, a LinkedIn discussion group.
A longstanding Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Angus is currently active in the Social and Environment Society and represents the AusIMM as a member of the ‘Smart Manufacturing’ ME-095 Committee of Standards Australia. He also serves as an advisor to EnviroMETS Qld Ltd.
Mark Sterbic
Senior Business Development Manager, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç School of Mechanical Engineering
Robert Taylor
Deputy Head of School (Research), ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç School of Mechanical Engineering
Jason Thelander
General Manager, Memjet Technology