NSSN welcomes new university members

The NSW Smart Sensing Network welcomed its newest members in a launch event at the Powerhouse Museum yesterday. The growing network now includes Macquarie University, the University of Newcastle, the University of Technology Sydney and University of Wollongong, in addition to its founding partners UNSW and the University of Sydney.

NSSN Board Chair, Dr Susan Pond AM, welcomed guests and introduced the network's new board members:

  • Nick Campbell, Chair, Capital Hill Advisory

  • Simon Hunter, Executive Director, Infrastructure NSW

  • Dr Marlene Kanga AM

  • Peter Runcie, New Industries and Platforms Leader, CSIRO Data61

  • Dr Paul Scully-Power AM

  • Jo White, Director, Science Strategy at NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

The network's new Chief Operating Officer, Nicholas Haskins, also welcomed new members and outlined how the expanded consortium would function as an integrated and collaborative network.

The NSW Smart Sensing Network was established in 2016 to bring together smart sensing expertise across academia, industry and government to deliver economic and social benefits for New South Wales. Funded by the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, the network has completed a number of pilot projects across its five key themes of built environment, environment & agtech, manufacturing, medtech, and resources & energy.

The network is ready to tackle new challenges facing NSW and is working with both government and industry to develop solutions. The need for such a network is clearly evident. In a recent Deloitte report on industry 4.0 – the term used to describe the changes to industry and society that internet-connected sensors and automation will enable – it was revealed that while 71% of Australian executives are confident that their workforce can adapt to the changes arising from new sensor technologies and automation, only 2% of Australian executives are highly confident that they can fully harness the perceived advantages.

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