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On 12 May 2009, the Australian Government released its innovation policy agenda to 2020, Powering Ideas: An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century.

The agenda draws on the Pharmaceuticals Industry Strategy Group Final Report and other reports.

Elements of the agenda were included in the 2009-10 Budget announcements.

Release of Final Report

Senator the Hon Kim Carr issued a media release to announce the release of the Final Report of the Pharmaceuticals Industry Strategy Group (the PISG) on Friday 30 January 2009. The Final Report is available to download in PDF (3.7MB) and RTF (1.17MB). The Executive Summary is available in PDF (912KB).

On 26 May 2008, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr issued a media release to announce the terms of reference (.pdf, 16KB) for the PISG, which was tasked with examining the drivers and barriers to attracting new internationally competitive and sustainable manufacturing, R&D and clinical trials investment in the pharmaceuticals sector.

The PISG was co-chaired by Dr Brian McNamee, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of CSL and Mr Craig Pennifold, the Head of the Innovation Division, within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

On 20 October 2008, the Minister issued a media release about the PISG's Directions Paper (.pdf, 407KB). The PISG then consulted more broadly and refined its proposals to produce a Final Report.

The PISG provided its Final Report to the Minister in December 2008. The Final Report provides an overview of the Australian and global pharmaceuticals industries, a discussion of the barriers and drivers to investment in the Australian industry, and explores a strategic framework to secure a sustainable future that will deliver a net benefit to Australia.

The PISG was comprised of key industry and union leaders. It met six times: on 7 July, 11 August, 19 September, 24 October, 19 November and 5 December 2008.

Members of the PISG

Name Position Organisation
Dr Brian McNamee, AO (Co-Chair) Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director CSL Limited
Mr Craig Pennifold (Co-Chair) Head of Innovation Division Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Mr Nixon Apple Industry and Economic Adviser Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
Dr Graeme Blackman Managing Director Institute of Drug Technology Limited
Mr Dan Brown Managing Director Genzyme Australasia Pty Ltd
Mr Ian Chalmers Chief Executive Officer Medicines Australia
Dr Greg R Collier CEO and Managing Director ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited
Mr Peter Cook CEO and Managing Director Biota Holdings Limited
Mr Richard Davies then Managing Director Amgen Australia Pty Ltd
Mr Joe de Bruyn National Secretary and Treasurer Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Union
Mr Will Delaat Chair Pharmaceuticals Industry Council
Mr Charlie Donnelly National Secretary National Union of Workers
Ms Cait O'Connor National Policy and Research Officer Australian Workers' Union
Ms Alison Finger then Managing Director Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty Ltd
Ms Di Ford then Executive Director Generic Medicines industry Association
Mr Mitch Kirkman Manager - Process, Training and Quality Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd
Mr John Latham Regional Director Pfizer Australia / Pfizer New Zealand
Dr Anna Lavelle Chief Executive Officer AusBiotech Ltd
Professor Graham Macdonald Chair Pharmaceuticals Education Council
Mr John Montgomery Chief Executive Officer Alphapharm
Dr Tim Oldham President, Asia Pacific Hospira
Dr Alan Robertson Chief Executive Officer Pharmaxis Ltd
Dr Merilyn Sleigh Chief Executive Officer InAvanti
Mr Ken Windle Chairman & CEO Advent Pharmaceuticals

For more information about the Pharmaceuticals Industry Strategy Group please contact:

Pharmaceuticals Industry Strategy and Environment
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
GPO Box 9839
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Australia

Tel: +61 2 6276 1508
Email: pharmaceutical@innovation.gov.au