SMART Infrastructure Summit 2011

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport was proud to support the SMART Infrastructure Facility in hosting the National SMART Infrastructure Research Summit. The Summit presented a unique opportunity for research leaders, policymakers and industry to forge a national framework to support Australia’s infrastructure priorities over the next ten years.

The Summit helped to develop a shared vision that will drive greater research outcomes and support evidence-based policy development, and investment in infrastructure. The program was designed to achieve three specific outcomes:

• identify major emerging infrastructure research themes;

• form strong complementary partnerships between major national research institutions both in Australia and abroad; and

• build inter-disciplinary research capabilities to meet the nation’s needs.

To actively encourage a collaborative approach, the Summit combined keynote speakers, workshops and a facilitated forum discussion which allowed the perspectives of all participants to be considered and conversations shared.

Keynote speakers included the Hon Sharon Bird MP, Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications, and Professor Brian Collins, Chief Scientific Adviser, UK Department for Transport and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Other speakers included:

The Hon Nick Greiner AC

Mr Mike Mrdak, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure and Transport

Mr Garry Bowditch, Director and CEO, SMART Infrastructure Facility, Wollongong University

Professor Martin Betts, Executive Dean, Built Environment and Engineering Faculty, QUT

Mr Michael Deegan, Infrastructure Coordinator, Infrastructure Australia

Professor Andrew Parfitt, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Information Technology, Engineering and Environment, UniSA

Mr Tony Shepherd, Chairman, Transfield Services & Member, SMART Advisory Council

Dr Alex Zelinsky, Group Executive, CSIRO Information Sciences

Download the full program.

For more information contact the SMART Infrastructure Facility, on telephone (02) 4221 5031 or via email to smart-facility@uow.edu.au

SMART Infrastructure Facility, University of Wollongong

The Australian Government has invested $35 million toward the establishment of the SMART Infrastructure Facility at the University of Wollongong. This new national infrastructure research facility will undertake nationally significant research into infrastructure to improve the way Australia plans and delivers new infrastructure.

To read more about the SMART Infrastructure Facility at the University of Wollongong, visit their website.

Australian Government infrastructure investment and reform

The Australian Government has delivered major reforms to the way Australia plans, finances, builds and uses infrastructure. Over the last 12 months, the Government has delivered:

• a single national prequalification system for the construction industry
• a national response to the review of barriers to competition and efficiency in the procurement of Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
• the Infrastructure Planning and Delivery: Best Practice Case Studies report, to encourage information sharing
• the discussion paper that will form the basis of the Australia’s first ever National Urban Policy
• the first ever National Ports Strategy document, in collaboration with Infrastructure Australia
• the National Commercial Guidelines for PPPs to encourage private sector participation in infrastructure delivery

For more information about Australian Government investment in Australian infrastructure read the Department’s Portfolio Budget Statements.