Overseas experts named to Innovation Australia board

The federal government has appointed two overseas experts to the board of Innovation Australia to provide outside perspective on the National Innovation and Science Agenda.

The USA’s Elizabeth Comstock and Israel’s Saul Singer will both serve on the board through to 2019.

Comstock is currently vice chair of industrial giant General Electric, where she is driving the company’s digital transformation. She is also a member of Nike’s board.

Singer is the co-author of Start-up Nation: The story of Israel’s economic miracle. Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt, said Singer will bring his experience with Israel’s strong innovation culture to Australia.

Innovation Australia is currently transitioning to Innovation and Science Australia. The new body will have responsibility for providing whole-of-government advice on all matters relating to science, research and innovation.

With the new appointments, the Innovation and Science Australia board will have 10 members. Existing members include chair Bill Ferris, founder and co-chair of CHAMP Private Equity Group, and deputy chair Alan Finkel, Australia’s Chief Scientist.

Image courtesy of Christian Heilmann under CC