AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES FIRST RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP WITH THE AURORA FOUNDATION

The Australian Business Foundation today launched its program of Research Fellowships to be awarded to outstanding researchers pioneering well-substantiated ideas to advance Australia’s economic and social development.

“The Foundation’s first Research Fellowship sponsored by the Aurora Foundation was today awarded to Associate Professor Marcus Foth, from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and will focus on Innovation and Cultural Industries.

Chief Executive of the Australian Business Foundation, Narelle Kennedy said the Research Fellowship program is the latest initiative by the Australian Business Foundation to fulfil its mission as an advocate of well-researched, leading edge ideas, looking beyond mainstream thinking.

“The program has been designed to foster scholarship and investigation into the emerging issues likely to impact on Australia’s business capabilities and global competitiveness.

“Each Fellowship program runs over twelve months and is awarded to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated intellectual leadership in their field of expertise.

“Dr Foth’s Fellowship will focus on how cultural institutions, design and arts organisations can drive innovation and sustainability in their operations, leadership and management skills and in community engagement,” Ms Kennedy said.

Chairman Dagmar Schmidmaier AM said the Aurora Foundation was delighted to partner with the Australian Business Foundation and to award Dr Foth this exciting Fellowship.Established in 2001, the Aurora Foundation delivers leadership programs for the library profession, associated information and cultural communities across Australia and New Zealand.

“Dr Foth is an ideal candidate for this first Fellowship as his expertise spans computer science, the built environment and the social sciences.

“This provides a powerful cross-disciplinary perspective that allows exploration of how cultural institutions and libraries can contribute to innovation in the 21st Century,” Ms Schmidmaier said.

“The Australian Business Foundation’s Research Fellowship program allows high achieving individuals to continue research and learning in their chosen field while providing opportunities and exposure for wider public discourse and debate to capture new opportunities for Australia’s long-term advantage,” Ms Kennedy concluded.