Dr Jim Nyland
Dr Jim Nyland
13 July 2010

University of Queensland Business School (UQBS) is partnering with Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, to provide innovation leadership training.

In the next two years, CSIRO's key business development managers will take part in an elite professional development program, specifically tailored to equip them with the skills required to lead the organisation's external engagement.

UQBS and CSIRO collaborated closely to develop a practical and tailored program, derived from the School's highly successful Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership.

Incorporating live CSIRO case studies have contributed to the personalised nature of the program, according to UQBS Director of Corporate Education, Dr Jim Nyland.

"Each course in the program will be delivered via intensive, five-day residential programs, with case studies and extensive class interaction allowing participants to apply leadership and strategy lessons," Dr Nyland said.

"CSIRO has been very clear in their desire to train leaders within the organisation who can both develop and execute innovative strategies for achieving outcomes in the short and long term.

"Our course is based on international best practice in innovation leadership and will equip CSIRO's business development managers to develop and implement high impact changes which connect futures thinking with strategy as a way of providing clear direction and purpose for the organisation."

CSIRO is one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world, with more than 6500 staff working on thousands of research projects.

With the organisation's future growth firmly in mind, CSIRO Executive Director, Development, Dr James Bradfield Moody, instigated the training program which was competitively awarded to UQBS.

"Strategic innovation leadership is essential for structuring CSIRO's development pipeline and ensuring we deliver tangible outcomes for the Australian public and the international community," Dr Moody said.

"UQ Business School has responded to our needs with a leading-edge program, which I believe will transform the way our managers think, and lead to an immediate transformation within the organisation. We’re about to embark on a very exciting journey."

CSIRO is one of 12 strategic regional, national and international partners for whom UQBS provides professional development programs, including Laing O'Rourke, Thiess, NZ Telecom and the Queensland Government.

"As one of the premier Business Schools in the Asia-Pacific, UQ Business School is highly selective of its partner organisations," Dr Nyland said.

"We saw CSIRO as a very significant and logical partner given their international standing and our expertise in innovation."

The CSIRO program begins on July 12 with the course, "Strategy: From Analysis to Successful Outcomes". The course will be delivered over five days by leading practitioner, Dr Kevin Hendry, and UQBS innovation expert, Dr John Steen.

UQBS offers the postgraduate Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership to managers interested in furthering their leadership training as part of its Corporate Education programs.

Media: Cathy Stacey, telephone (07) 3365 6179, mobile 0434 074 372, email c.stacey@business.uq.edu.au; and Dr Jim Nyland (07) 3346 7111, email j.nyland@business.uq.edu.au