Connecting Businesses in the Innovation Community

Australians have always been inventive and resourceful to survive in a harsh geographic environment. But the goalposts have shifted. Australia is now part of the connected global economy and we need to explore and build capacity to solve global problems to withstand the competition on our own shores and to exploit vast opportunities beyond our shores.

Structured innovative thinking and practice is a new discipline which applies equally to business, art, education, social services and governments. We cannot solve new or future problems with old methods and thinking. We need to embrace open innovation and collaboration and, to be the best; we need to learn from the best, acquire global practices then create our own ‘next practices’. Importantly, we need to learn fast and keep learning. For the national innovation system to succeed a free flowing dialogue must be open between businesses in diverse industries and between professionals in diverse disciplines where we can learn from each other.

Consequently, developing organisational and national innovation capability requires ongoing communication through focused forums, and connecting across the innovation space.

Therefore, I am pleased to support the vision and program of InnoFuture 2008 a s an important initiative driven by business, for business. It is truly a world-class knowledge forum designed for managers and thinkers from across an entire enterprise. It embraces leading global innovation practices and systems for more effective innovation in the context of major global trends of sustainability and social innovation. Importantly, InnoFuture provides inspiration and the all-important network for the innovation community to connect locally and globally.

I invite you to be part of the Australian Business Renaissance through a relentless pursuit of innovation excellence!

Enjoy the innovation journey!

Terry Cutler, Chairman, Review of the National Innovation System

TERRY CUTLER BA(Hons), PhD, DUniv, FAIM, FAIPA

National Innovation Review, Chair

Dr Terry Cutler is an industry consultant and strategy advisor in the information and communications technology sector. Terry Cutler has authored numerous influential reports and papers on the Digital Economy and innovation.

He is currently, amongst other positions, a Director of CSIRO, Chairman of the Australasian CRC for Interaction Design, a Director of the Innovation Xchange Australia Limited, and he Chairs the Advisory Board of the Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation.

Terry Cutler's career started with Telecom Australia, now Telstra. During the 1980's he was part of Telstra's top management team, heading up major corporate restructuring around a customer focus. As Executive Director Corporate Strategy he oversighted Telstra's handling of major regulatory change and the introduction of competition.

Terry Cutler has had a longstanding engagement with public policy. Apart from his present appointments, from 1996 to 1997 he was Chairman of Australia's Information Policy Advisory Council. When Chairman of the Industry Research and Development Board from 1996 to 1998, Terry Cutler spearheaded key initiatives in promoting venture capital and industry innovation and oversaw the licensing of the initial Innovation Investment Funds. In 1999 Terry chaired Australia's National Bandwidth Inquiry.

Terry Cutler has had a longstanding engagement with cultural institutions. He was President of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image from 2002 to 2005. He served as Chairman of the Australia Council from 2001—2002, having previously chaired its New Media Arts Board. He also has previously served as a director of Cinemedia, Film Victoria, Opera Australia, the Council of the Victorian College of the Arts, and the Library Board of Victoria.

Terry Cutler is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Public Administration, a Member of the Institute of Company Directors, and the Australian Society of Authors. In 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Queensland University of Technology and in 2003 was awarded Australia’s Centenary Medal.