Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, announced the establishment of the Steel Industry Innovation Council (Steel Council) on 30 July 2009.
The establishment of the Steel Council recognises the importance of the Australian steel industry to the Australian economy.
The Steel Council will work closely with the Steel Supplier Advocate to maximise opportunities for the Australian steel industry to participate in major projects in Australia and overseas.
The Steel Council will play a key role in supporting the long term sustainability and competiveness of the Australian steel industry and provide strategic advice to the Minister on these matters. As part of this role, the Council will champion innovation within the Australian steel industry and promote improvements in the steel ‘value chain’.
The Steel Council comprises leaders from the steel industry, unions, fabricators and the research and academic sectors.
Membership of the Steel Industry Innovation Council
Members of the Steel Industry Innovation Council are appointed by the Minister. Current members include:
| Mr Mark Paterson AO, Chair |
Secretary, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research |
| Mr Paul O’Malley |
Managing Director and CEO, BlueScope Steel Ltd |
| Mr Geoff Plummer |
Managing Director and CEO, OneSteel Ltd |
| Mr Paul Howes |
National Secretary, Australian Workers' Union |
| Mr Julius Roe |
National President, Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union |
| Mr Don McDonald |
CEO, Australian Steel Institute |
| Dr Steve Morton |
Group Executive, Manufacturing, Materials & Minerals, CSIRO |
| Professor Lyndon Edwards |
Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation |
| Professor Gerard Sutton AO |
Vice Chancellor, University of Wollongong |
Meetings
The Steel Industry Innovation Council is expected to meet 2-3 times a year. The first meeting of the Steel Council was held on 5 November 2009. The next meeting is planned for March 2010.
Initial Activities
The Steel Industry Innovation Council has provided advice to the Minister on the appointment of a Steel Supplier Advocate. The Minister announced that Mr Cyril Benjamin would be the Steel Supplier Advocate on 20 November 2009.
The Steel Council is commencing an industry capability study to support work by the Steel Supplier Advocate to increase access by Australian suppliers to major infrastructure projects. The Steel Council is also working to identify priority opportunities for the Advocate to work with Enterprise Connect and the Industry Capability Network.
The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research provides secretariat support to the Steel Council and Steel Supplier Advocate.
Contacts
Steel Secretariat
GPO Box 9839, Canberra ACT 2601
Ph: 61-2-6213 7179
Email: steelcouncil@innovation.gov.au
Steel Supplier Advocate
Ph: 0407 891 474
Email: steelsa@innovation.gov.au