National Information Communications Technology Australia (NICTA) has officially admitted the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government as members of the organisation.

 

NICTA CEO Hugh Durrant-Whyte said he was excited about NICTA’s growing reputation as a national ICT Research Centre of Excellence and its ability to attract the best academic institutions and researchers. “We warmly welcome the Victorian Government’s and University of Melbourne’s desire for a more formal involvement with NICTA”

 

The announcement came as the NICTA appointed Professor Simon Kaplan, the Executive Dean of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, as the organisation’s Director of its Queensland Research Laboratory.


“I am looking forward to leading the exciting research endeavours underway at NICTA’s Queensland Research Laboratory,” said Professor Kaplan. “Information and communications technologies are increasingly important drivers of Australia’s economic and social prosperity, so I am delighted to be part of an organisation which is dedicated to both ICT research excellence and national wealth creation.”

 

Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NICTA’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Simon to NICTA. He brings a distinguished record of achievement in computer science research, education and leadership. I am sure the Queensland Lab will flourish under his leadership.”

Professor Kaplan will take up his position at NICTA from 4 July, 2011. He will act in the position part-time in a transitional capacity from the middle of next month.