Abby brings to the ACM CRC Board a deep knowledge of complex, heavily regulated and infrastructure-intense industries, business models that deliver growth in the face of industry disruption, boardroom experience required for successful digital transformation, OH&S injury and cost management and expertise in Audit and Risk. 

Abby’s experience and strong skills and capabilities in audit and risk, digital transformation, innovation strategic repositioning and government and stakeholder partnerships are well suited for her role as the ACM CRC Chair.

In this role as ACM CRC Chair, Abby:

• Leads the Board, ensuring they’re working to achieve the CRC’s strategic goals.
• Chairs all Board and Member meetings.
• Chairs the Nomination & Remuneration Committee.
• Helps manage audit and risk as a member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
• Creates a governance and management environment characterised by accountability, trust, and respect.
• Ensures appropriate policies for the CRC.
• Uses her deep understanding of innovative and digital technology to help drive digital transformation and innovation across the CRC with minimal risk.
• Drives the strategic repositioning of the CRC leveraging her exceptional skills in strategic analysis and leadership of complex businesses undergoing significant change.
• Draws on her clear thinking to facilitate systemic problem-solving and effective decision-making through collaboration. 
• Helps build and manage government and stakeholder partnerships.

Catherine is an experienced Non-executive Director having served on a significant number of boards for over 20 years. A large part of her board portfolio is with national Research and Development Corporations (RDC) and CRC organisations, including current roles with RACE for 2030 CRC, Wine Australia (an RDC, Regulator and international marketing body), and Australian Eggs RDC.

Catherine is also Chair of the Environmental Protection Agency SA, a director of Grains Australia Limited and the Deputy Chair/Commissioner of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

In this role as an ACM CRC Independent Director, Catherine:

• Works with the Board to achieve the CRC’s strategic goals.
• Chairs the Audit & Risk Committee.
• Assists with CRC strategy, research and development, evaluation and achieving commercial outcomes.
• Provides independent strategic governance and risk management advice.
• Helps maintain a governance and management environment characterised by accountability, trust and respect.

Shireane is a highly accomplished leader in the acquisition and sustainment of complex, high technology defence systems, and in aerospace, maritime and land environments.

An Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia, she leads national working groups in Cyber Engineering and is an active mentor and STEM supporter who is committed to shaping new talent and professional expertise in emerging fields of engineering.

In this role as an ACM CRC Independent Director, Shireane:

• Works with the Board to achieve the CRC’s strategic goals.
• Offers strategic leadership experience and expertise, particularly in complex technical, commercial and personnel situations.
• Helps maintain a governance and management environment characterised by accountability, trust and respect.

Craig was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of CSIRO from 2010 to 2018 and previously served two decades as an officer of the Royal Australian Navy. 

He brings to the ACM CRC Board extensive experience in research and commercialisation strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship across a wide range of global projects and industry sectors.  

He is skilled in business sustainability in complex social, stakeholder and environmental settings, has an MSc (RRMC, Canada) and MBA (MGSM) and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

He is Chair of ASX Listed Silex Systems Limited (SLX), Global Laser Enrichment LLC (a joint venture between Silex and Cameco) and the Australian Research Data Commons, and is a Non-executive Director at Sydney Water. He has also undertaken other such board positions across his career.

In this role as an ACM CRC Independent Director, Craig:

• Works with the Board to achieve the CRC’s strategic goals.
• Chairs the Research, IP & Commercialisation Committee.
• Offers research, commercialisation, innovation and entrepreneurship advice based on his extensive experience.
• Helps maintain a governance and management environment characterised by accountability, trust and respect.

Ian has extensive experience in innovation and science policy, programs, and commercialisation. He spent eight years as the Cabinet Minister, responsible for innovation and science in the Howard and Abbott governments. And, after leaving politics in 2016, he chaired the Innovative Manufacturing CRC, was a board member of the METS Ignited Growth Centre, and is currently a board member of CSIRO.  

Originally a farmer by profession, Ian has extensive experience in innovation and science policy, programs, and commercialisation. 

He’s also a Non-executive Director of Woodside Energy, Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Honorary Fellow of Qld Academy of Arts and Science, and involved in several not-for-profit organisations.

In this role as an ACM CRC Independent Director, Ian:

• Works with the Board to achieve the CRC’s strategic goals.
• Offers great knowledge in science, innovation, and commercialisation, and in CRCs from having chaired the Innovative Manufacturing CRC.
• Helps maintain a governance and management environment characterised by accountability, trust, and respect.

Professor Prusty, a distinguished academic at The University of New South Wales (UNSW) School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, serves as the Research Director for ACM CRC. He is the visionary behind the establishment of the ARC Training Centre for Automated Manufacture of Advanced Composites (AMAC) and spearheaded the successful bid for the ACM CRC. 

Renowned nationally for his teaching excellence, Professor Prusty specialises in the nano, micro and macro-mechanics of composite materials, finite element analysis, and automated fibre placement for composite structure design and manufacture. 

Bridging academia and industry, he champions innovation in composite materials research, propelling the ACM CRC to the forefront of advanced manufacturing in Australia.

In this role as ACM CRC Director of Research, Ganga:

• Delivers oversight over, and coordinates, all four Research Programs. 
• Aligns the CRC’s Research Programs with industry partner projects and CRC commercialisation initiatives.
• Works with the CEO to optimise CRC outcomes.
• Drives international research linkages.
• Contributes to Australia’s national innovation engagement across all sectors.
• Works with the Education and Training Program Leader in establishing the CRC’s industry-focused HDR program.

Steve has an impressive history of working on CRC Boards and within these collaborations, he brings incredible knowledge of such consortiums, having been a General Manager, Director of Research, Co-Leader of two Research Programs, CEO and Non-executive Board Member at various CRCs. 

Notably, he was a Non-executive Board Member with the Advanced Composite Structures Limited and ACS II – the management companies of the first and second funded CRC for Advanced Composite Structures respectively.

In addition to his wealth of experience with CRCs, Steve also brings to ACM CRC an abundance of knowledge in business management, having run his own consultancy for over 17 years. He has also worked in research, government and industry, so has a good grasp of how to manage the relationships between each.

In this role as ACM CRC CEO, Steve:

• Leads the Executive Team, ensuring they’re working to achieve the CRC’s strategic goals.
• Manages the CRC’s Partners to ensure they derive value from the CRC.
• Leverages his extensive experience to develop strategies and new partnerships for the CRC.
• Deploys the appropriate policies for the CRC.
• Helps manage and participates in the CRC’s Committees.

For 20+ years, Russell has led research projects and teams devoted to the development of new materials for advanced composites and coatings with various international and national partners.

As Industrial Composite team leader at CSIRO and Professor and Carbon Nexus Research Group Leader at Deakin University, Russell has a strong understanding of high-profile industry partners such as Boeing Research and Technology (USA), Petronas Research (Malaysia), GE (USA), Vestas (Singapore/UK and DK) and Orica/Minova (Australia). 

He’s also led multiple research projects with Australian SMEs, helping them with various materials-related challenges, from new resin systems through to improving application processes of aerospace coatings for enhanced adhesion.

In this role as ACM CRC Leader of Research Program 1, Russell:

• Undertakes strategic and resource planning, sets and monitors research projects, milestones and outcomes, and leads and coordinates research activities with industry, research providers and other participants.
• Works with the Director of Research to maintain and grow industry and academic collaborations.
• Works with the Education and Training Program Leader to ensure a high level of HDR and other student engagement.
• Manages the Project Agreements and maintains oversight of the commercial and technical outputs of the project outcomes. 

Garth is an Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering with the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of New South Wales. He has an extensive track record of translational and applied research in the field of composite materials and structural mechanics, with a particular focus on development of new products and processes with industry.

In addition to his role as Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering at UNSW Sydney, Garth also serves as the Deputy Head of School (Education) responsible for the delivery of four undergraduate and five postgraduate coursework programs to around 2500 students annually.

In this role as ACM CRC Leader of Research Program 2, Garth:

• Undertakes strategic and resource planning, sets and monitors research projects, milestones and outcomes, and leads and coordinates research activities with industry, research providers and other participants.
• Works with the Director of Research to maintain and grow industry and academic collaborations.
• Works with the Education and Training Program Leader to ensure a high level of HDR and other student engagement.
• Manages the Project Agreements and maintains oversight of the commercial and technical outputs of the project outcomes. 
• Monitors new technical developments in the automation of composite manufacturing to ensure CRC partners are fully informed in new technologies.

Anna is a leader in industry-driven research and in the application of science at large-scale facilities to solve manufacturing problems. She focuses on developing commercial and scientific research programs to use neutron and synchrotron technology to support Australian and global industry. 

She has ongoing commercial and scientific collaborations in characterisation, improvements, and assessment of manufacturing processes with several key industry organisations.

Anna has made significant individual contributions to the field of materials engineering and manufacturing that has led to high-value improvements to characterisation of manufacturing processes at large-scale facilities in Australia and overseas, resulting in direct impacts on the aerospace, defence, pipelines, civil and rail industry sectors.

In this role as ACM CRC Leader of Research Program 3, Anna:

• Undertakes strategic and resource planning, sets and monitors research projects, milestones and outcomes, and leads and coordinates research activities with industry, research providers and other participants.
• Works with the Director of Research to maintain and grow industry and academic collaborations.
• Works with the Education and Training Program Leader to ensure a high level of HDR and other student engagement.
• Manages the Project Agreements and maintains oversight of the commercial and technical outputs of the project outcomes. 
• Monitors new technical developments in the automation of composite manufacturing to ensure CRC partners are fully informed in new technologies.

Michael is the Co-Director of the Centre for Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing at The University of Queensland.

In this role as ACM CRC Leader of Research Program 4, Michael:

• Undertakes strategic and resource planning, sets and monitors research projects, milestones and outcomes, and leads and coordinates research activities with industry, research providers and other participants.
• Works with the Director of Research to maintain and grow industry and academic collaborations.
• Works with the Education and Training Program Leader to ensure a high level of HDR and other student engagement.
• Manages the Project Agreements and maintains oversight of the commercial and technical outputs of the project outcomes. 
• Monitors new technical developments in the automation of composite manufacturing to ensure CRC partners are fully informed of new technologies.

Stuart is the Associate Dean (Manufacturing, Materials and Mechatronics) within the School of Engineering, RMIT University and the Boeing Professor of Aerospace, a role he has held since 2015.  

Professor Bateman was formerly the Director of the ARC Training Centre in Lightweight Automotive Structures and prior to joining RMIT held multiple research and research management positions at CSIRO for over 18 years.

Professor Bateman’s research interests include the development high performance and functional polymeric materials, adhesives, and coating and in the area of additive manufacturing of ultra-performance polymer composites.  

He also coordinates and delivers Postgraduate Courses in the area of Innovation and Technology Management.

In his role as Acting ACM CRC Education & Training Program Leader, Stuart manages the education and training program which seeks to increase industry engagement, research capability and skills by:

• Delivering a new cohort of industry-ready Higher Degree by Research (HDR)  students, to help transform industry.
• Achieve a proactive gender balance focus through the HDR Program.
• Enhance trade skills via the development and delivery of targeted industry training packages.

Iain has held numerous roles with responsibility for R&D, commercial sales and marketing, commercialisation, and IP management of research outcomes. His previous role was with the University of New South Wales, constructing and closing a diverse range of multi-partner industry and academic engagements related to the composites sector. 

He is experienced at technically and financially leading translational research outcomes collaborating with SMEs to large scale industry partners with several sectors.

Iain brings to the CRC extensive patent and IP management experience arising from a portfolio of over 150 patents. 

He’s held commercial business development and systems engineering roles at leading companies as well as senior consulting roles at notable organisations.

In this role as ACM CRC Business and Commercial Manager, Iain:

• Manages all CRC business operations and commercial elements of collaborative projects.
• Assists with project collaborations to define intellectual property and translational commercialisation/licencing outcomes.
• Drafts Project Agreements and oversees the commercial and financial tracking of project outcomes.
• Collaborates with industry and academic stakeholders to plan, track and achieve the CRC’s industry development and economic growth goals.
• Oversees the operational and governance compliance obligations of the CRC.

Connie is a dynamic and multifaceted professional with nearly two decades of experience in neuroscience clinical research, project and program management, and executive support. 

Connie's journey through the realms of neuroscience clinical research has honed her project and program management skills, allowing her to grasp complex, multifaceted initiatives with ease. Her meticulous attention to detail and relentless commitment to achieving milestones make her perfect for this role.

In this role as ACM CRC Executive Assistant and Events Coordinator, Connie:

• Helps to streamline CRC operations.
• Manages critical tasks helping to enhance overall efficiency.
• Plans and delivers memorable and impactful events.
• Supports the CEO and Executive Team with day-to-day business as usual activities.

Jonas brings to ACM CRC over 10 years of experience in office management, finance administration and marketing, committed to building strong relationships and ensuring ongoing communication.

With a background in office management, Jonas is highly experienced in streamlining administrative processes and ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of the office.

He has spearheaded impactful marketing campaigns, coordinated successful events, and implemented effective social media strategies across the Asia Pacific region. He is also well versed in coordinating office projects, staff activities and admin/finance support, and seeks the continuous improvement of office processes and procedures.

In this role as ACM CRC Business and Commercial Manager, Jonas:

• Leverages his extensive office experience to keep the CRC’s daily operations on track.
• Supports the CRC CEO with managing events and other marketing activities.
• Assists with internal and external communications needs.

Alex is a final year Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate in with ACM CRC research partner, UNSW Sydney.  He has a deep passion for composite materials and advanced manufacturing and an ambition to become a leader in the automotive and aerospace industries.

In collaboration with the CRC’s Director of Research, Professor Gangadhara Prusty, Alex recently published a paper on “Manufacturing feasibility of a bend free ellipsoidal composite pressure vessel using automated fibre placement”.

His research and industrial interests include: automated fibre placement, composite pressure vessels, advanced composites, and hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles.

Chris is PhD candidate with ACM CRC research partner, UNSW Sydney, prior to which he completed his Bachelor of Engineering.

He has always been fascinated with understanding how things work, and strives to work in the automotive industry following his PhD completion.

His specific areas of interest include mould-free composite manufacturing, out of autoclave manufacturing, and hybrid composites.

Van is PhD candidate with ACM CRC research partner, UNSW Sydney. Prior to this, he completed his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Architecture in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

Van was subsequently granted a full scholarship to pursue both a Masters and a Doctor of Engineering degree at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, where his thesis work involved applying and developing probabilistic machine learning models for assessing the reliability of structural design and topology optimisation.

Van is involved in the HERA project, and is excited to be a part of something so high-tech.

His specific areas of interest include: probabilistic machine learning models for reliability-based design and topology optimisation; physics-integrated deep learning for reliability estimation of dynamical systems; Bayesian optimisation and swarm intelligence for solving large-scale and complex engineering problems; active learning for Gaussian process-based global sensitivity analysis; Bayesian model updating and solutions for non-convex inverse problems; and topology optimisation, simulation technology & 3D printing.