Tag: Vicki Thomson
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Media release: National AI Plan will drive productivity and innovation
The Australian Government’s National AI Plan 2025 will underwrite Australia’s future and secure our place in the global AI ecosystem. The Group of Eight acknowledges the comprehensive nature of the strategy which aims to ensure that all Australians are up skilled to use AI to enhance their work and life,…
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Media release: Additional university places will secure Australia’s medical workforce
The Albanese Government’s decision to fund an additional 100 university places each year to train Australian doctors is a critical investment in the future of healthcare in Australia, and will ensure a secure supply of domestically trained medical practitioners. Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said the announcement comes…
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Media release: From Trade to Knowledge: The Australia–EU FTA Advantage
This week’s visit by European Commission Trade Chief Maroš Šefčovič marks a pivotal moment to shift the Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement beyond goods and services—towards building ‘knowledge trade routes.’ Central to this vision is securing Australia’s full participation in Horizon Europe, unlocking opportunities for research collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise.…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Professor Raina MacIntyre on the Consequences of the MRFF Funding Cap
Renowned epidemiologist, Professor Raina MacIntyre from the Kirby Institute at UNSW, tells Go8 CE Vicki Thomson how the $650 million cap on funding from the Medical Research Future Fund is not only putting at risk her own project for an AI-enabled early-warning system for pandemics – one-of-a-kind innovation in Australia…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Dr Adam McKay on the Consequences of the MRFF Funding Cap
Dr Adam McKay from the Monash Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre at Monash University tells The Group of Eight CE Vicki Thomson that missing out on MRFF funding for his research around best-practice care for people suffering traumatic brain injury, was a lost opportunity to improve the way that care is…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Dr Amanda Poprzeczny on the Consequences of the MRFF Funding Cap
Dr Amanda Poprzeczny from the University of Adelaide Medical School, wanted to fund research into obstructive sleep apnea in pregnant women – and whether treatment for the condition can improve outcomes for mother and baby. Sleep apnea during pregnancy can lead to hypertension, pre-eclampsia and potentially, pregnancy loss. But her…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Professor Simon Craig on the Consequences of the MFRR Funding Cap
Professor Craig tells Go8 CE Vicki Thomson in this Debate@Go8 Mini that without the MRFF grant for a trial – which was to run across several hospitals across Australia and New Zealand – doctors will miss out on the information that they need to properly inform their care of kids with chronic asthma in this…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Professor Graham Hillis on the Consequences of the MRFF Funding Cap
Professor Hillis also tells Go8 CE Vicki Thomson in this Debate@Go8 Mini podcast that loss of access to international trials for Australian researchers poses a risk to our ongoing international research collaboration if international partners were to give up on us – leaving us behind.
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Associate Professor Lexine Stapinski on the Consequences of the MFRR Funding Cap
The latest data shows that 1-in-3 young people at the age of 24 have an alcohol-use disorder, says Associate Professor Lexine Stapinski from the University of Sydney. To deal with that astounding finding, she wanted to develop and trial an innovative e-health treatment program, co-designed with young people and service…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Professor David Mackey AO on the Consequences of the MRFF Funding Cap
In this Debate@Go8 Mini podcast episode, Professor Mackey tells Go8 CE Vicki Thomson that the loss of this research will cost Australia much more than the cost of the MRFF grant, due to the expense of interventions that will be needed to deal with the effects of myopia on kids’ eye health as they grow…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Dr George Karystianis on the Consequences of the MRFF Funding Cap
Dr Georgios Karystianis from UNSW is now on his fourth attempt to secure a Medical Research Future Fund grant to fund his research aimed at filling serious gaps in national domestic violence surveillance, by developing new data infrastructure based on text-mining millions of police reports. The insights gained from this…
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Media release: Go8 Urges Government to Scrap MRFF Cap, Unlock $1 billion for life-saving medical research
In a week when we celebrate the vital contribution of scientific research through the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, the Group of Eight (Go8) is urging the Australian Government to act now to remove the $650 million cap on the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Go8 researchers will join Member…
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Debate@Go8 – Episode 52 – Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Rick Burr and Major General (Ret’d) Paul Symon – Part 2
Part 2 of a thought-provoking two-part episode featuring the Co-Chairs of the Group of Eight Defence & Security Committee – Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Rick Burr, former Chief of Army and Major General (Ret’d) Paul Symon, former Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service. In Part 2, these distinguished defence and…
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Media release: Australia Moves Toward Horizon Europe Membership: Unlocking Research to Improve Everyday Lives
The Australian Government’s decision to enter exploratory negotiations with the European Union for associate membership to Horizon Europe marks a major milestone in unlocking the potential of Australian research and development to deliver tangible benefits to Australians. Horizon Europe, the EU’s €95.5 billion flagship research and innovation program, is the…
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Debate@Go8 – Episode 51 – Major General (Ret’d) Paul Symon and Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Rick Burr
Part 1 of a timely and thought-provoking two-part episode featuring Major General (Ret’d) Paul Symon, former Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, and Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Rick Burr, former Chief of Army. As co-chairs of the Group of Eight Defence & Security Committee, these distinguished leaders offer a rare…
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Go8 opening statement to Senate Inquiry into quality of governance at Australian higher education providers
The Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee Inquiry into quality of governance at Australian higher education providers, Public Hearing. Opening statement from Vicki Thomson, Chief Executive, The Group of Eight Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Committee’s inquiry into quality of governance at Australian higher education providers.…
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Go8 statement on managing a sustainable international education sector
The Group of Eight (Go8), comprising Australia’s research-intensive universities supports the Albanese Government’s efforts to improve the quality and integrity of Australia’s international education sector. Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said: “A strong international education sector brings multiple benefits to Australia and is clearly in the national interest.…
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Go8 doubles down on national R&D target to drive economic prosperity
The Group of Eight comprising Australia’s research-intensive universities is calling for a whole of nation commitment to lift investment in research and development (R&D) to at least 3 percent of GDP to improve Australia’s languishing productivity. In its submission the Economic Reform Roundtable the Go8 says that while other economies…
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Debate@Go8 – Episode 50 – Professor Emma Johnston AO, Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne
We’re celebrating our 50th episode by chatting with The Group of Eight’s newest Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emma Johnston from the University of Melbourne. Professor Johnston is a world-leading marine biologist, an influential figure in Australia’s higher education sector and a prominent advocate for science and technology and women in STEM. She’s…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: European Australian Business Council Chair, Duncan Lewis AO
Australia’s former intelligence chief, European Australian Business Council (EABC) Chair Duncan Lewis told Debate@Go8 Mini podcast that the challenges to global security ‘are of a magnitude’ he’s not seen in his previous working life, and at a time this like this, western democracies need come together. Speaking after the EABC…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: EABC Chair, Duncan Lewis AO, on Horizon Europe, R&D and Productivity
Group of Eight CE Vicki Thomson speaks with Duncan Lewis, Chair of the European Australian Business Council (EABC) and Thales Australia, about the benefits of association to the world’s largest research and innovation fund. Speaking in London at the end of this year’s EABC delegation to Europe, Australia’s former intelligence…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Professor Simon Ringer, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Sydney
Group of Eight CE Vicki Thomson chats with University of Sydney Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) Professor Simon Ringer in Warsaw, on the sidelines of high-level meetings with European officials and business leaders as part of this year’s European Australian Business Council (EABC) delegation. The two discuss how university research &…
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Debate@Go8 Mini: Martin Rampl, Managing Director, Frequentis Australasia
The Group of Eight CE Vicki Thomson and Frequentis Australasia’s Managing Director Martin Rampl discuss the many mutual benefits that flow from Australia–EU collaboration, in a break from meetings in Brussels during this year’s European Australian Business Council (EABC) delegation to Europe. Recorded July 2025.
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Media release: Go8 congratulates Adelaide University Vice Chancellor Professor Nicola Phillips
The Group of Eight congratulates Professor Nicola Phillips on her appointment as Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University and looks forward to welcoming Adelaide University as a member of the Go8. Professor Phillips has served as Provost at the University of Melbourne since 2021, coming from King’s College London where she…