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Recent appointment: Paula Jones as Director Research and Innovation, University of Newcastle

Welcome Dr Paula Jones, commencing as the Director of Research and Innovation. Dr Jones’s professional experience includes working for over 15 years in international, national and industry research and development.  This has included roles as General Manager R&D Investment and then Chief Operating Officer with the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC (Cotton CRC), Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra, National Research and Bid Manager at integratedliving and an Australian Project Representative with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  Dr Jones was recognised for excellence in research management in 2012 when she was awarded the Australian Cotton Industry Researcher of the Year.
The Director, Research and Innovation is a key leadership position. Reporting directly to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation, the Director has oversight of research performance across the University, developing and implementing initiatives aligned to the University’s New Futures Strategic Plan 2016-2025.

Leading a large and diverse team, this role is responsible for managing and directing all aspects of planning, policy, performance and operational support for research and innovation activities. The ability of the Director to connect operational activities to strategic outcomes is critical to success. The Director will ensure the team delivers a high standard of customer service and engagement with researchers and other internal and external stakeholders.
The position directs ongoing improvement and strategy renewal to ensure that the University is well placed to respond to a changing higher education landscape and take advantage of new opportunities to strengthen research performance and impact.

The University of Newcastle, Australia (UON) is renowned for the quality and breadth of its research, and a commitment to research translation and world class innovation. UON is placed in the top 8 Australian universities for research quality which is ‘well above world standard’ (ERA 2015) and it is also ranked in the top 10 for research funding by the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council.

 

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