NICTA CEO resigns
NICTA CEO resigns
Mar 01, 2005: National ICT Australia's CEO and President, Dr Mel Slater has tendered his resignation from the research organisation and will leave his post at the end of May.
Less than two years after his arrival form the US to help establish Australia’s ICT Centre of Excellence, Dr Slater indicated that personal considerations had shaped his decision to return to the United States.
“My decision to resign is driven by personal reasons, and it is with heartfelt regret that I must return to the United States. However, I would not be doing this if I was not supremely confident that a strong foundation has been laid for NICTA’s continued success.
“NICTA is well on track to receiving significant recognition both as a leading international ICT research institute, and as a leader in helping to provide significant economic benefit for Australia. This can be attributed, in whole, to the incredibly passionate and brilliant team of researchers, educators, marketers, professional staff and administrators that have joined and contributed their talents to NICTA. I am immensely proud of the people at NICTA and take great pride in what they have accomplished to date."
Dr Slater acknowledged the leadership provided by his executive team, and said that while leaving the organisation was difficult, the fact that he is leaving it in such good shape softens the blow.
"Setting up an organisation of several hundred people of this quality, from scratch, is a very difficult task. I was convinced when I joined NICTA that this unique world class initiative would in time provide great benefit to Australia and I am even more convinced now."
Dr David Skellern, a member of the NICTA Board, has been appointed to the position of Deputy CEO until May 31. After May 31 Dr. Skellern will assume the position of interim CEO until a new CEO is appointed.
Reflecting on NICTA’s start up phase Dr Slater noted that the, “Timing for starting NICTA could not have been more fortuitous. When the world economy entered a slump in information and communication technologies, Australia had the foresight to invest in its future. At a time when leading researchers around the world were questioning the opportunities in front of them, NICTA had the opportunity and the funding to lure many of the world’s leading researchers in information and communication technology to Australia.
“In the next several years as this investment percolates and matures, ideas will continually emerge from NICTA’s laboratories. Moreover, additional highly trained researchers will be trained as a result of the collaborative efforts of NICTA and its member and partner universities. As these ideas and people are produced within Australia, the world’s ICT economy will be reviving and as a result, Australia will be in a strong position to claim its share of the world’s ICT markets.”
Dr Slater concluded by urging, “Australia to stay focused, be patient and be ready to play a leadership role as the world’s ICT economy revives over the next five to seven years.”
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