Jane O’Dwyer to lead CRC Association

O’Dwyer is currently Vice-President (Engagement and Global Relations) at The Australian National University. She will succeed Tony Peacock, who has led the CRC Association for the past decade.

“We are delighted to have Jane join us after what was a highly competitive process,” said CRC Association Chair, Belinda Robinson. “Her leadership skills, energy and unique experience across peak bodies, industry, academia, media and politics, make her an ideal fit to lead the organisation in its next chapter. Along with my colleagues on the Board, I’m looking forward to working with Jane to support and represent our members and advance the benefits of cooperative research in Australia.

“I would also again like to thank Tony and recognise the tremendous work he has done for the CRC Association and the Australian innovation community. He has been very well respected by our members and stakeholders and I would like to wish him and his wife Ros the absolute best for his next chapter.”

O’Dwyer joins the CRC Association after a more than 25-year career that has spanned Australia, Japan and the US. Commencing her career as a political advisor, O’Dwyer held key roles in the Australian Local Government Association and Sports Medicine Australia. She joined ANU more than 15 years ago after four years in Japan, and has been a close and trusted advisor to three consecutive ANU Vice-Chancellors across media and public affairs, policy, international relations and global engagement. She spent three years in the US, where she established the ANU North America Liaison Office attached to the Australian Embassy in Washington DC.

O’Dwyer holds a Bachelor of Arts (Curtin), Masters degrees in Management (ANU) and Journalism (Wollongong) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is Deputy Chair of the Canberra Writer’s Festival and a Director of the Canberra Convention Bureau.

“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,” said O’Dwyer. “Cooperative Research Centres are a great Australian success story, and a testament to the profound national value of industry-university research cooperation.

“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.

“Cooperative research is critical to Australia’s future.”