Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council forms

A group of Australian companies has joined forces with global technology giants to launch Australia’s first industry-led Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council. The group is a private sector initiative aimed at refocusing Australia’s approach to investment and industry to deal with contemporary global dynamics.

Founding members include: Andrew Liveris, Global CEO of the Dow Chemical Company; John Pollaers, Pacific Brands CEO; and Chris Roberts, CEO of Cochlear. These members formally launched the initiative at an inaugural meeting supported by the Australian Industry Group.

According to Pollaers, the private sector is in the best position to present a coherent view of Australia’s competitive advantages. “We’ve allowed some of these advantages to languish or be compromised,” Pollaers said.

“This group will provide the leadership to advance Australia’s world-class potential in high-value manufacturing and help to redefine manufacturing in the public imagination.

“Australia can benefit from this country’s highly skilled and trained workforce, like Germany and Singapore, and be as competitive as the US on input costs,” Liveris said. Liveris was co-chair of President Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership and was recently appointed chairman of the US Business Council.

“Australia has the ingredients for a dynamic advanced manufacturing economy - we just need to foster the right environment.”