Let's talk about the letter N
Image: NSSN Board Chair Dr Susan Pond AM and the Hon. Gabrielle Upton MP at the Towards a Waste-Free Future: Technology Readiness in Waste and Resource Recovery seminar at Sydney Startup Hub, March 2021.
In this article, NSSN Board Chair Dr Susan Pond AM, recounts the origin story of the NSW Smart Sensing Network and gives her perspective on the Network’s value for NSW and beyond.
The NSW Smart Sensing Network works for the benefit of NSW, works on Smart Sensing, and works as a Network. All three components are essential and equal ingredients to our success.
But perhaps we do not spend enough time thinking about the second N in our acronym NSSN - N for Network - and why it is so important.
Our NSSN story goes back to 2016 when Professor Mary O’Kane, the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, decided to act by closing what she called “gaps in the data available to the NSW Government and public on a range of important science and engineering policy issues, gaps that could be solved by smart sensors and smart sensor networks”.
The rationale for closing the gap was as clear then, as it is now. Smart sensing will help the State government deliver better, cheaper, and more efficient public services. Smart sensing will enable industry to make more informed decisions, which in turn will improve efficiency, productivity, management, and quality control.
Image: NSSN Co-Director, Professor Benjamin Eggleton and other delegates from across the NSW sensing ecosystem network at the inaugural NSW Sensing Industry Connect event at the University of Sydney, March 2020.
Smart sensing is the key to a multitude of advanced applications that underpin billions of dollars of economic activity in Australia and trillions worldwide. Universities in NSW have world-leading research expertise in sensing sciences and technologies. Finally, many leading SMEs and global companies in sensing technology and services are based in NSW creating solutions that not only add to the State’s economy but also penetrate the global market.
Image: NSSN COO Nicholas Haskins delivering the closing remarks at the NSW Sensing Industry Connect event at the University of Newcastle, May 2021.
Mary’s first step in facilitating the formation of the NSSN was to lay the cornerstones of the Network by making an introduction between our founding co-Directors, Professors Justin Gooding from the University of NSW, and Benjamin Eggleton from the University of Sydney, and inviting their respective Universities to partner as the host institutions. Amazingly, even though both are global leaders in their respective fields of chemical and physical sensing, Justin and Ben had not met until then.
Professor O’Kane invited me to Chair the NSSN and bring with me an extensive network, built up over the years I have spent working in academia, government, and business and at the intersections between them.
Our first operational appointment, Dr Donald McCallum, is a skilled networker, as is our Chief Operating Officer, Nicholas Haskins. Appointed in May 2018, Nick’s previous role was as General Manager of the Worldwide Universities Network.
The Press Release issued by the Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer on 24 August 2016 announcing the NSSN read as follows “The establishment of the Network is a good example of the State Government and industry using universities as problem solvers. Researchers, when thrown complex applied problems, are good at breaking them down to identify and solve the underlying fundamental problems. By capitalising on the very strong problem-solving abilities of our universities and research organisations we will realise big improvements to our way of life – and that inevitably includes reaping economic wins”.
In other words, the NSSN was established from the outset as a Network - of people, institutions, and companies - with intellectual assets that when linked up solve problems, find new ideas and opportunities, bring new products to the marketplace, and create prosperity.
Fast forward five years to the present day and finds a Smart Sensing Network in NSW that:
Is responsive, driven and informed by problems identified by the end-user.
Has the strong support of eight NSW and ACT University Members of the NSSN, and the prospect of welcoming at least two more.
Positions our researchers to do what they do best and assist government, to solve some of its wicked policy problems.
Has a prodigious number of unique contacts in its relationship database that spans industry, government, and academia.
Responds to the challenges being faced by industry and provide great opportunities for the commercialisation of the advances in sensing technologies that flow from the Network’s research projects.
Has transitioned the governance structure from a Steering Committee to an independent Board made up of seven members spanning expertise in public policy and government, research & development, and industry.
Has delivered $5,130,418 in completed projects, $16,686,444 in currently active projects and a healthy pipeline of well-advanced opportunities.
Has laid the path for the formation of more NSW Networks - Defence Innovation Network in 2017, NSW Circular in 2019, and the nascent NSW Decarbonisation Hub and NSW Space Research Network, all driven by Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte who was appointed as NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer in 2018.
Is now embedded in the NSW Government Network Policy Model through the NSW Research Attraction and Acceleration Program.
Has just welcomed its new co-Director from UNSW, Professor Julien Epps, who replaced Professor Gooding in July this year. Justin’s leadership legacy will live on through his development of future leaders in smart sensing and in innovation networks.
The NSSN will drive even greater impact over the next five years as we continue to harness the power of going far by going with others. This is the power of Networks.
NSSN Board Chair Dr Susan Pond AM is a senior leader in business & academia, recognised for her national & international contributions in medicine, science & technology. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW (FRSN), the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering (FTSE), and The Australian Academy of Health & Medical Sciences (FAHMS).
In April 2021, Dr Pond was elected as President of the Royal Society of NSW. In this role, she leads the oldest learned society in the Southern Hemisphere and works to amplify the Society’s impact as a leading, independent source of knowledge and debate.
Learn more about Susan here.