Smart Internet makes key appointment to strengthen ties with industry

Sydney - 30 June 2005 - Dr. Dean Economou has been appointed Domain Director, Health and Media Services at Smart Internet Technology Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) - an incorporated joint venture between industry, academia and Governments. Economou’s brief will be to strengthen links with industry including, small to medium Australian technology companies, for the development and commercialisation of ICT solutions targeting the needs of Australia in health, education and entertainment.

Prior to joining the Smart Internet CRC, Economou founded the CeNTIE project, and was Research Director for Networking Technologies at the CSIRO. He also co-founded QPSX, a start up which evolved from an honours thesis at the University of Western Australia into a company supplying major telecommunications carriers in Europe and North America in the space of five years.

Dean Economou commented, “By my reckoning, QPSX generated several billion dollars of economic activity despite being under-financed and run by inexperienced management. A CRC like Smart Internet would have helped us to avoid many of the mistakes we made along the way.”

Economou started from a foundation in electrical and electronic engineering, and then moved to a research role into advanced networks and time spent studying high technology marketing at UC Berkeley. He found his vocation was when he became involved in networked applications and discovered their value in the media, health and education sectors. This sound background in technology and research augmented by marketing and commercialisation experience, means that he is a public speaker in high demand, who can communicate the benefits of technology to a wide audience.

“Not only am I a technology innovator myself, but I have a good understanding of how the innovation may transform the markets I am specialist in,” said Economou. “My experience in organisations is in both the private and public sectors for Australian ICT: companies like Jtec, multinational vendors and government bodies such as the CSIRO.”

Another key appointment is that of David Standen, who joins Smart Internet CRC as an independent member of the board. As a senior member of Macquarie Bank’s board of directors and in his prior role as head technology partner at law firm Gilbert & Tobin, Standen gained considerable operational experience in the technology sector. What he brings to the party is a true understanding of how to get the best from indirect channels, joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Darrell Williamson, CEO, said, “Smart Internet CRC’s mission is to capitalise on the outcomes of world class Internet research and development for Australia. The significant contribution that Dean Economou and David Standen will make to the organisation will deepen our knowledge of the commercial markets we are targeting and improve our ability to convert IP into a commercial return for our participants.”

- Ends -