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Pathfinders: The Innovator’s Conference 2009 has come and gone!
Thank you to all our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and delegates for your participation, time and generosity of spirit which made the conference a great success.
The conference attracted 540 people, representing universities, industry, government and students. The three day long event provided a good forum for discussion. It was also proven that we have more than enough expertise, enthusiasm and interest to foster sharing and learning through the CRC Program and around the world.
The Conference Survey results are available here.
Note: click on “show replies” for responses to open questions
The Photo Gallery can be viewed here.
Conference PowerPoint Presentations & Audio Files are
available here.
Mark your Diary for next year’s dates in Alice Springs!
Tuesday 26 – Friday 28 May, 2010
Next year’s event will be unique and provide excellent opportunities for networking, learning and sharing.
We look forward to working on the 2010 event and welcoming you to the conference.
Delegate Comments on 2009
" want to offer my congratulations to you and the Organising committee. It was a very good CRCA Conference, possibly the best I have been to. Well done."
"It was indeed a delight for me to participate in the CRC Conference this year and a real pleasure to meet you and the many enthusiastic and energetic CRC participants. I must say that I came back full of ideas on how we can improve our own program as well as ideas for our upcoming conference."
"I did want to say that the workshops were valuable and that I liked the idea of having a public event running at the same time and give the public the opportunity to participate. The formula may have been used before, but I have never experienced it. Thank you very much for all the hard work. "
Pathfinders Leading The Way out of the Financial Crisis.
The route out of the quagmire of the global financial crisis will be the focus of Pathfinders: The Innovator’s Conference, which gets under way at the National Convention Centre in Canberra between 26-28 May 2009.
The formidable line-up of national and international speakers is expected to attract scientists, politicians, senior government officials and business leaders, who will hear presentations on how innovation can help fortify industry and governments against financial shocks.
This year, for the first time, the conference will be aligned with the Australian Science Festival.
Innovation and the Global Financial Crisis
Pathfinders comes at a time when pressure from the global financial crisis is expected to intensify in Australia. It will be the first major innovation focused conference after the Federal Budget. And it will follow the release, expected early this year, of the Australian Government’s White Paper on innovation following the Cutler review of the national innovation system. We have invited Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Minister Kim Carr to address the conference on the government’s big reform program.
Keynote Speakers
- Speakers invited to address plenary sessions include:
- the new CSIRO chief executive officer, Dr Megan Clark
- the new Chief Scientist, Professor Penny Sackett
- Mr Chris Richardson, Leading Economist, Access Economics
- Mr Jean-Claude Gavrel, Director of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence, will speak on collaboration, one of the conference’s major themes.
Australian Science Festival
The International Collaboration Cocktail Reception at the Science Festival’s Amazing World of Science Exhibition, also at the National Convention Centre, will showcase around 20 Cooperative Research Centres along with up to 30 other scientific exhibits with the OptiPortal wall as the Expo’s centerpiece.
The reception will be attended by ambassadors and other embassy staff, scientists and business leaders and will introduce many to the possibilities of international research cooperation.
Showcasing Early Career Scientists
Meanwhile, a session showcasing research by Early Career Scientists, sponsored again by CSIRO, is expected to be one of the most popular conference events.
Professional Development Seminars
Professional development seminars on Thursday May 28 will cover topics such as Commercialisation and The Translation of Science into Policy.
Awards for "Excellence in Innovation" Gala Presentation Dinner
A highlight this year will be the annual Awards Dinner which will be held in the Great Hall at Parliament House, on Tuesday May 26. Sponsored by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, the event will feature the presentation of the prestigious Awards for Excellence in Innovation by the Minister, Senator Kim Carr. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been invited to attend, and former PM Bob Hawke will deliver an address recognising 18 years since he announced the inception of the Cooperative Research Centres Program.
This year’s conference is expected to be our biggest ever, and I look forward to seeing you there.
Michael Hartmann
Chief Executive Officer
CRC Association