Media Release

Professor Edwina Cornish Full Image (133.6K)

Thursday, 2 October 2003

The University of Adelaide's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Edwina Cornish, has been appointed to the equivalent role at Monash University in Victoria.

A leading biotechnologist, Professor Cornish has been DVCR at the University of Adelaide since February 2000. She joined the university from Melbourne-based biotechnology company Florigene Ltd.

"Over the past three years, Professor Cornish has played a leading role in the advancement of research and research education programs at the University of Adelaide, and in South Australia's research community generally," the Vice-Chancellor, Professor James McWha, says.

"Her contribution to this university, particularly through her leadership on a number of collaborative research ventures and in research commercialisation, will have a lasting impact on the University of Adelaide in the 21st century," he says.

Professor Cornish's key achievements in her time at Adelaide include:

• a 33% increase in research revenue (from $59.3 million to $78.9 million);
• an increase in enrolment of domestic research students;
• a restructure of commercialisation activities at the university;
• a restructure of the Faculty of Sciences; and
• improved collaboration with other South Australian and national research bodies.

Major research ventures established during Professor Cornish's research administration include:

• the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics;
• Australian Grain Technologies Pty Ltd;
• the National Stem Cell Centre;
• eight new Cooperative Research Centres;
• three major national research facilities; and
• a joint environmental science laboratory with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"These three years at Adelaide have been a great source of pride for me, not just in terms of the many high-profile achievements that I've witnessed over that time but also because I know that the quality of research and research education at the University of Adelaide is of an international standard," Professor Cornish says.

"It has been a pleasure to see the successes of so many talented staff and students, and to oversee the beginnings of new research collaborations that will enhance Australia's reputation for quality research and innovation," she says.

Professor Cornish will remain at the University of Adelaide until the end of the year.