Minister appoints SMaRT head to Board

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong has appointed UNSW SMaRT Centre Director, Professor Veena Sahajwalla, to the Government's Centre for Australia-India Relations Advisory Board.

Minister Wong said: "I announce three new appointments to the Centre for Australia-India Relations Advisory Board. I am pleased to appoint: 

• Mr Robin Khuda - Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Airtrunk
• Mr Faz Pollard - Director of Adarsh Australia
• Professor Veena Sahajwalla - Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology at the University of New South Wales

"I am pleased to reappoint four incumbent members to the Advisory Board: 

• Ms Amrit Gill - Chief Executive Officer of Theatre Network Australia
• Ms Catriona Jackson - Former CEO of Universities Australia
• Ms Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM - Founder and Director of Mind-Blowing Films
• Mr Amit Singh - Managing Partner of Mandala Partners

"Advisory Board Chair Ms Swati Dave, Ms Helen Nugent AC, Mr Steve Waugh AO and Secretary Jan Adams AO PSM will also continue their current terms on the Board.

"The Centre works across government, industry, academia, and the community to build greater understanding of the Australia-India relationship and encourage business to seize economic opportunities.

"Each member was chosen for their expertise in specific areas of interest to the Australia-India economic relationship and brings with them rich experience in their relevant sectors.

"The Advisory Board helps set the strategic priorities for the Centre’s programs and activities, supporting partnerships in business, the arts, education, health, science, technology, and sport.

"The appointments come at a time of great momentum in Australia-India relations, following Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Melbourne and the ongoing work under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to strengthen collaboration between our two nations.

Veena has been involved in many India-Australia bilateral engagements over many years (see these new stories), usually involving promoting innovation and science, as well as recycling innovations such as UNSW SMaRT Centre's MICROfactorie^TM Technologies and its Green Steel^TM Polymer Injection Technology that recover valuable materials from waste and reform them into new manufacturing feedstock and products are central to help achieve materials sustainability and for the energy system needed for the future.

Veena has also participated in many bilateral engagements about SMaRT's work on researching solutions for materials resource recovery using innovative and collaborative opportunities, which are crucial to help create circular economies while enhancing sovereign capability and reducing reliance on vulnerable global supply chains, as we highlight here in a newly published article and in SMaRT's newly published submission to Parliament's 'No time to waste' Inquiry.

The Centre for Australia-India Relations is a national platform established by the Australian Government in 2023 to support and facilitate greater collaboration and engagement with India.

The Centre works across all levels of government, industry, academia and civil society to build greater understanding of the Australia-India relationship and the opportunities flowing from our burgeoning connections.