NICTA appoints commercialisation leader

NICTA, Australia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Research Centre of Excellence, has appointed Rob Fitzpatrick as director of commercialisation to build and drive NICTA’s use-inspired research towards a range of commercial outcomes that benefit Australia.

Fitzpatrick has an extensive background in business and technology in ICT globally, including management, consulting, start-ups and business development for large corporates.

Fitzpatrick is well regarded within industry, specifically for his roles as part of the team that set up and ran online grocer ShopFast and as a consultant with management consultancy McKinsey & Company consulting to clients in Australia, Europe, the US and Asia.

Technology start-ups he has been involved with include a sports social networking entity with operations in three continents and an integrated technology application which makes print media interactive and measurable via mobile internet access.

“NICTA gives me the opportunity to work with some of Australia’s and the world’s leading ICT researchers,” Fitzpatrick said. “Use-inspired research in the ICT space will differentiate our future and provide an opportunity to strengthen Australia’s position on the global map.

“Australia is regarded as a smart nation with strong skills in research which are well sought after by European and US companies. I am looking forward to being part of NICTA and helping it achieve the goal of being a top 10 global research institution by 2020.”

Fitzpatrick will direct NICTA’s commercialisation activities, developing the business skills of NICTA’s research project teams and, where appropriate, linking those projects with industry partners.