Neville Stevens to chair CRC Committee

Former senior Commonwealth public servant, Neville Stevens, AO has been appointed chair of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Committee.

The CRC Committee advises the government on the research collaboration program.

Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, said Stevens’ broad range of public sector executive experience made him well suited to the role.

“Mr Stevens has wide experience and strong strategic management skills as well as an excellent understanding of what drives the commercialisation and use of research, particularly in the information technology and communication sectors,” Senator Carr said.

“His experience will be a valuable addition to the breadth of skills and expertise already represented on the CRC Committee.”

The committee provides the Minister with advice on the selection of applications for CRC Program funding, as well as monitoring and reviewing the performance of individual CRCs and the program overall.

Stevens is chairman of NICTA and ac3. He has considerable experience as secretary of Commonwealth departments, including communications, IT and the arts from 1993 to 2001.

Stevens took up his five-year term on 18 July 2010, succeeding Dr Peter Jonson whose appointment ended on 17 July 2010.

“Dr Jonson has made an outstanding contribution to the CRC Committee and to the promotion of high-quality, collaborative and end-user-focused research,” Senator Carr said.

“He led the CRC Committee during the implementation of changes to the CRC Program following the O’Kane Review in 2008.”