New CRC Association CEO announced, will begin in January

Jane O’Dwyer has been announced as the new CEO of the Cooperative Research Centres Association, beginning in the role in January.

O’Dwyer is currently Vice-President (Engagement and Global Relations) at the Australian National University. She has been at the ANU for 15 years, and her career in Australia, Japan and the United States includes political adviser, journalism, diplomacy and corporate affairs.

“I’m delighted to join the CRC Association and know I follow in the footsteps of a highly respected and active CEO in Tony Peacock. Cooperative Research Centres are a great Australian success story, and a testament to the profound national value of industry-university research cooperation,” said O’Dwyer in a statement.

“I relish the opportunity to work with the Board to write the next chapter for the CRC Association at a time when research and the development, and retention, of a highly skilled research workforce that can transition between universities and industry, will be essential to emerge from the impacts of COVID-19.”

Peacock has been in his role for a decade and announced his retirement in July. Soon after this, he criticised round 10 of the CRC-P program, which at $10 million was $15 million smaller than the round before it and only open to recycling projects, and which “blindsided” organisations who had been preparing applications for the round.

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