We have made some changes to our governance, welcoming Dr Ian Oppermann to the AURIN Board after his departure from the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) and appointing Kylie Hargreaves as the new Chair of the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC).
Dr Oppermann brings a wealth of experience in data science, technology, and innovation to his new role on our Board. He is the co-founder of ServiceGen and an Industry Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He serves on the boards of multiple deep technology start-ups and chairs the Commonwealth’s Data Standards Committee. Additionally, he is an Advisor to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. From 2015 to 2023, Dr Oppermann held the position of NSW Government’s inaugural Chief Data Scientist and was the founding CEO of the NSW Data Analytics Centre (DAC).
On joining the AURIN Board, Dr Oppermann said:
“Data is at the heart of modern research. AURIN is a critically important part of the system that makes that heartbeat for Australian researchers. A real national treasure. I am delighted and honoured to be invited to join the AURIN Board.”
Kylie Hargreaves is replacing Dr Oppermann as Chair of the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC). Ms Hargreaves is a seasoned leader with an impressive career spanning government, industry, and the not-for-profit sector. Her strategic focus on infrastructure, circularity, energy, and water aligns perfectly with AURIN’s mission to drive economic growth through innovation, data-driven policy, and sustainable development.
Her extensive experience includes roles such as Chief Sustainability Officer at National Intermodal Corporation, Deputy Secretary in the NSW Government across multiple portfolios, and Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner with Austrade in the US, UK, and Spain.
Ms Hargreaves brings substantial governance expertise through her service on numerous boards and advisory bodies. She currently serves as Chair of Seamless Australia, Deputy Chair of Regional Development Australia (Sydney), and Senior Adviser to North Harbour Clean Energy.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Ms Hargreaves stated:
“Having just stepped down after 5 years as Chair of Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP), it would seem the stars have aligned. I’m delighted to be able to increase my involvement with AURIN and support them in their vision of creating a more liveable and prosperous Australia through spatial data innovation and digital empowerment.”
AURIN looks forward to the valuable contributions Dr Oppermann and Ms Hargreaves will bring to their respective roles, further strengthening our commitment to advancing urban research and policy development in Australia.