Connecting Academia with Industry - Collaboration

Dr Dagley was appointed as Chief of Science Engagement and Partnerships Division at DST (Australian Government Department of Defence Science and Technology) in July 2017 following a career of over 20 years as CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Polymers, widely accepted as one of the most scientifically and commercially successful CRCs within the CRC program. Cooperative Research Centres rely on collaborations between industry partners, research organisations and universities for their success, and Dr Dagley is uniquely placed to talk about key factors for success in this type of collaborative environment.

Dr James is the Business Development Manager, Food and Agriculture, at the Food Innovation Centre, Monash University. Dr James has had 20 years’ experience in the commercial application of research, working in a contract research company and as an independent consultant. His experience includes development of novel products and processes, business development and management of contracts and intellectual property. In his current role, Dr James is responsible for establishing industry-university partnerships, and will be able to talk about key factors for success from a university perspective.

Mr Bowser officially retired in July 2018 from his role as Head of Australian Operations and R&D for Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Australia’s Controlled Substances Division (formerly GSK at Port Fairy) and established Impact Science Consulting, which provides services to established and new industry and academic partners in pharmaceutical natural products and synthetic biology. The main aim of Impact Science Consulting is to attain maximum value from Academic-Industry collaborations. Mr Bowser has participated in several academia-industry collaborations over many years, and can bring his experience of collaborations from an industry perspective.