Innovators added to economic think tank
BYLINE: CHRISTOPHER RUSSELL
THE pursuit of innovation will be enhanced by three new appointments to the Economic Development Board, the State Government believes.
Two are business leaders with science and technology credentials and one is from the finance sector.
Justin Milne, a former South Australian, who is group managing director of Telstra's BigPond internet service, has been appointed to provide guidance on infrastructure.
Leanna Read, the managing director and chief executive of TGR Biosciences, was selected to help identify commercial potential in research projects.
Announcing the appointments, Premier Mike Rann said South Australia's ''economic development future depends on innovation in both the emerging technology sectors and new approaches to our traditional industries''.
The third new board member, Kevin Osborn, will look at making Public Service finances more efficient as well as promoting venture capital and business investment.
Mr Osborn is a director of Adelaide Bank and ABB Grain and was regional chief executive for Australia, New Zealand and Singapore of Bank One, a leading U.S. bank.
''His strong commercial acumen and financial management skills will be a great asset to the board,'' Mr Rann said.
The Economic Development Board is an advisory body established in 2002 by the State Government to draw on the expertise of some of the state's highest-calibre business leaders.
Board chairman David Simmons said the three new members were welcome additions.
''One of the key projects we have going is a review of the budgeting processes within government and we think Kevin Osborn will be very useful in that area,'' he said.
''The Government has mandated that an innovation statement will be produced and Leanna Read will have some serious input into that.
''With Justin Milne, one of the key things you look at in terms of whether an economy or a state is competitive, is whether the communications infrastructure is right up there. ''The reality is in SA, we're not really punching at our weight, so Justin and his knowledge of communications infrastructure, will be invaluable.''
Mr Milne, a graduate of Flinders University, has been instrumental in driving BigPond's service provision, brand and content.
Dr Read said her appointment, and that of Mr Milne, ''reflects an increasing focus of the Government on innovation, which is very pleasing. It's a way of taking businesses and the economy of SA into the challenges of the 21st century''.
She also sees a personal role in helping to link university research, the Public Service and commercial companies. Dr Read has professorial appointments at Flinders University and the University of SA and works closely with the University of Adelaide.
She led successful research and commercial ventures in child health and in tissue culture before heading up TGR, which develops human healthcare products.
''We have a very strong science base to build on, especially in the life sciences. That has been the case traditionally and still is,'' she said.
Problems facing SA included a skills drain interstate, especially to Queensland where research-based industry was being aggressively encouraged. This included state and federal funding and bequests of very large sums of money to create new institutions.
''But SA on the industry front is doing very well for its population size. We've spun out a lot of good listed companies,'' Dr Read said.
The Economic Development Board was chaired by mining executive Robert de Crespigny until he stepped down last year when he moved abroad. Mr Rann said the board had assisted the state gain investment in mining and win lucrative defence contracts.