Don\u2019t miss this opportunity to discover exclusive insights from speakers from across academia, industry, and government all in one morning.\u00a0innovationCAFE is\u00a0a unique opportunity to interact with\u00a0experienced industry leaders<\/a> \u00a0and discover forecasts, strategies, opportunities and practices to help transform your organisation as Australia transitions to an innovation-led economy.<\/p>\n Need more convincing?\u00a0Discover our top eight reasons why to attend innovationCAFE here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Book and secure your ticket today for your relevant state below:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.innovation.cafe\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/06\/Mark-CullyBW-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>To begin with, the first topic discussed will revolve around productivity and will be presented by Mark Cully<\/a>. Mark is\u00a0the Chief Economist in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. He leads a group of about 100 professional and passionate analysts and specialists \u2013 in economics, statistics, evaluation, data visualisation, and events and project management. Their\u00a0aim is to be influential in shaping industry policy in Australia \u2013 for the greater good.\u00a0Mark has led this type of venture for over 20 years, in government, in academia and in a not-for-profit company, and in two countries, Australia and the United Kingdom. He will be delivering insights into the theme of productivity<\/a> and will be exploring the following areas: working closer with the university sector, considering an appropriate balance between access to ideas and products, and developing innovation-led growth and investment.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.innovation.cafe\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/06\/KathyConnellBW-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Following Mark, Kathy Connell<\/a>, Director of New Ventures, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) for Johnson & Johnson Innovation, will be discussing the subject of commercialisation. Kathy has a clinical background and started her commercial career as the VP of Global Business Development for an Australian biotechnology company. Prior to joining Janssen, Kathy worked for Sanofi engaged in in-licensing late stage pharmaceutical assets.\u00a0\u00a0Drawing from her working experience, Kathy will provide astute insights into the subject of commercialisation<\/a> and moving from an idea to a business.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.innovation.cafe\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/06\/thomas-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Lastly, innovation culture<\/a> will be explored in detail by Dr Thomas Barlow.<\/a> For a decade, Thomas Barlow has been the leading independent advisor to Australian universities on research strategy. He is the publisher of the Barlow Report, a biennial resource that is widely subscribed to within the Australian higher education system. He has served as an advisor on knowledge investment and research policy for a range of technology-intensive companies and government agencies at both state and federal levels. Between 2002 and 2004, he was the senior science advisor to the Minister for Education, Science and Training in the Australian Government.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.innovation.cafe\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/07\/Jonathon-Wolfe_10-768x512-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Throughout the day, workshops and panel discussions will be facilitated by Jonathon Wolfe<\/a>, the director of Wray Solutions. Jonathon has worked for nearly 25 years in industry as the CEO of start-up and fast growth businesses. Jonathon works internationally and across Australia advising senior leadership teams on organisational transformation, focussing on developing innovation systems, proactively meeting market disruptions, the nurturing of leadership capacity and how to develop and engage a whole workforce in the transformation.<\/p>\n