Sunday 27 March 2011
New Innovation Coach for Central Queensland
The Queensland Wide Innovation Network (Q-WIN) is pleased to welcome Helen Newell as the new Innovation Coach for Central Queensland (CQ). Helen is employed by the Australian Institute for Commercialisation (AIC) and based at the Rockhampton DEEDI office to deliver Q-WIN’s Innovation Coaching program, a joint initiative between the AIC and Queensland Government.
The Innovation Coaching program assists businesses to solve problems, identify new opportunities and improve their profitability. Helen will work mainly with SMEs (with turnover greater than $1 million) across a range of industries in CQ to help them create value from their ideas and intellectual property.
Helen joins the AIC from Trade & Investment Queensland (a division of DEEDI). Helen has developed extensive networks across industry sectors in the CQ region though her previous work in industry development and management positions in a range of private and public sector organisations, including the university sector.
Helen believes that a key role of the Innovation Coach is understanding where the client is on the ‘commercialisation continuum’, and then cutting a pathway to the best expertise available through AIC’s extensive networks. Collaboration with other agencies including DEEDI, AusIndustry, Enterprise Connect and Austrade are essential to driving the best outcome for clients.
Helen is looking forward to working with businesses across CQ to support them along their innovation journey: “There are so many exciting developments in CQ, as well as a number of challenges and as Innovation Coach I aim to work with industry to make the most of opportunities in the CQ region.”
To find out more about the Q-WIN program and Innovation Coaching please visit www.ausicom.com/innovation-coaching or contact Helen Newell on 07 4938 4220 or e-mail helen.newell@ausicom.com.
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