CSIRO gains biotechnology expert as board member
04 Dec 2015
Media release Professor Edwina Cornish AO, Provost and Senior Vice-President of Monash University has been appointed as a member of the CSIRO Board for five years.
Announcing her appointment today, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne, said Professor Cornish’s vast experience in the interface between government, research, science and the higher education sector would be of great value to the CSIRO Board.
“Innovation is a central element of the Government’s economic agenda,” Mr Pyne said.
“Professor Cornish’s experience in innovation, collaboration and commercialisation will be of tremendous value to CSIRO as it builds on its strategic goals and forges greater collaboration between science and industry.”
Mr Pyne said Professor Cornish was an experienced board member and would bring strong business, industry and financial skills to the CSIRO Board.
Her expertise included large organisation management and development, commercialisation of research and broad knowledge of innovation and higher education research issues.
Professor Cornish played a key role in building one of Australia’s first biotechnology companies, Florigene Limited, which developed and successfully commercialised the world’s first genetically modified flowers under her leadership.
In 2014 she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, in part for her advances in biotechnology and horticultural genetic modification.
“Professor Cornish’s appointment means the board gains a brilliant and dedicated academic and administrator,” Mr Pyne said.
“I warmly congratulate Professor Cornish on her appointment and look forward to working with her in the future”
Professor Cornish’s appointment to the CSIRO Board commenced on 26 November 2015.
Professor Cornish’s biography is attached. For further information, visit www.csiro.gov.au
Biography – Professor Edwina Cornish
Professor Edwina Cornish is inaugural Provost at Monash University. As the chief academic officer the Provost and Senior Vice-President is responsible for setting the University's academic strategy and priorities with a view to improving education, research and the financial performance of the University; oversight of faculties, academic related portfolios and University-wide centres and institutes; leading academic staffing strategies, including recruitment, probation, performance management, promotion, reward and recognition and fostering interdisciplinary areas of excellence and collaboration.
Professor Cornish was appointed to the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Monash University in February 2004. In August 2009 she also appointed Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. In 2012 she was appointed to the role of Provost and Senior Vice-President of the University.
She is an experienced board member and current board memberships include the Museums Board of Victoria, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay-Monash Research Academy and the ClimateWorks Australia Board. Former board memberships include on the Board of the Australian Research Council (2001-2004) and the AusIndustry Board (1994–1996). Professor Cornish has also served on the Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council (appointed in 1996) and the Victorian Government Science and Engineering Technology Taskforce.
Professor Cornish played a key role in building one of Australia's first biotechnology companies, Florigene Limited. Under her leadership the company established global research and development and marketing operations and successfully commercialised the world's first genetically modified flowers.
Professor Cornish holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biochemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology from the University of Melbourne. Professor Cornish is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
Recognition of Professor Cornish’s work includes being awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in biotechnology and university administration in 2001. In 2013 she was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for providing inspirational leadership as a pioneer in the biotechnology industry and as a transformational leader at Monash University. In 2014 Professor Cornish was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to higher education, to advances in biotechnology and horticultural genetic modification, and through fostering of partnerships with government, industry and the co