Professor Trevor Cairney
Director, Centre for Regional Research & Innovation (CRRI)
University of Western Sydney

Professor Trevor Cairney is Director of the Centre for Regional Research and Innovation (CRRI) at the University of Western Sydney. CRRI undertakes a variety of economic and social research that seeks to extend our understanding of how regional development can be enhanced. It does this by considering:

• Regional competitiveness - the role that innovation and knowledge play in developing regional economic, social and cultural distinctiveness and potential;
• Education and training - the role that education, training and lifelong learning fulfil in developing a region's base of skilled and knowledgeable people;
• Community development - the role that community learning and social networks play in enhancing regional capacity for change and development.

He recently completed a major audit of industry Information Technology capacity in Outer Western Sydney with his colleague Gavin Speak and is directing a new project that is examining the potential application of high performance computing for small to medium enterprises. This project will result in the development of an industry strategy for Greater Western Sydney. He is also directing a major project for the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training that is examining the impact of the Knowledge-based Economy on the nature of work and training for the a number of industry sectors including Information Technology.

Professor Cairney is a director of 4 companies and boards:

• chair of the Board of CADRE Pty Ltd (a software and online development company)
• elected board member and Vice President of the State Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• governor of DROMKEEN Museum (Vic)
• board member of the Australian Centre for Advanced Computing and Communication (AC3)

t.cairney@uws.edu.au

www.uws.edu.au