New Vice President, Innovation & Enterprise announced at Swinburne
![Werner van der Merwe](/content/dam/media/staff/Werner-van-der-Merwe.jpg)
Dr Werner van der Merwe has been appointed the inaugural Vice-President, Innovation and Enterprise.
In summary
- Dr Werner van der Merwe will commence as the inaugural Vice-President, Innovation and Enterprise in May 2022
- Dr van der Merwe will reinvigorate the innovative spirit at Swinburne and partner with industry to generate new revenue, drive innovation and improve the university’s overall financial sustainability
- He joins Swinburne from CSIRO, where he is currently Executive Manager, Commercialisation
Swinburne University of Technology has announced the appointment of Dr Werner van der Merwe as the inaugural Vice-President, Innovation and Enterprise.
Dr van der Merwe will be charged with reinvigorating the innovative spirit at Swinburne and partnering with industry to generate new revenue, drive innovation and improve the university’s overall financial sustainability.
Speaking of the appointment, Swinburne’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester said she was delighted that someone of Dr van der Merwe’s calibre and capability was joining Swinburne and would help build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university, one that is truly of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Swinburne is fortunate to be welcoming Dr van der Merwe at such an exciting time. Dr van der Merwe joins us from CSIRO, where he is currently their Executive Manager, Commercialisation. He also has wonderful experience at UNSW as their Business Development Manager and has had an extensive career at Sasol across multiple countries in engineering, R&D and commercialisation positions.
“At CSIRO, Dr van der Merwe has played a fundamental role in moving towards more commercial thinking. This aligns with Swinburne’s approach. We are committed to ensuring that the excellent work of our researchers is realised in the commercial world so that others can benefit from Swinburne’s research breakthroughs,” Professor Quester said.
Dr van der Merwe said that he was looking forward to joining Swinburne and supporting the vision of bringing people and technology together to build a better world.
“Swinburne has an enviable reputation in the technology and innovation space. I am looking forward to working with the team to align closely with industry and drive further innovation across a range of exciting disciplines,” Dr van der Merwe said.
Dr van der Merwe has a PhD in Engineering from the University of Pretoria, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is an INSEAD alumni. He will commence in early May 2022.
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- University
The future of fashion: Swinburne launches groundbreaking tech-focused fashion course
Swinburne University of Technology is fusing high tech and high fashion to launch a new forward-thinking Bachelor of Design (Fashion).
Thursday 25 July 2024 -
- University
Swinburne achieves first Cygnet Award through SAGE Athena Swan program
Swinburne has achieved its first Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Athena Swan Cygnet Award.
Monday 01 July 2024 -
- University
Future of National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) secured
NICA will transition from Swinburne to the Australian College of the Arts (Collarts), as part of a new agreement that secures the future of circus arts in Australia.
Monday 22 July 2024 -
- University
Swinburne among world’s top 15 universities for scientific impact
Swinburne has been ranked in the top 15 universities in the world for scientific impact across all disciplines, based on the proportion of a university’s papers that belong to the top 1 per cent most cited in the 2024 CWTS Leiden Rankings.
Friday 19 July 2024 -
- University
Opinion: The missed opportunity in the Australian Universities Accord
The Federal Government’s announcement of the Australian Universities Accord Implementation Advisory Committee is welcome, but the glaring omission of dual sector representation is a missed opportunity.
Monday 17 June 2024