The Office of Innovation and Science Australia (OISA) has appointed Dr Charlie Day as its permanent CEO, replacing Ann Bray who held the interim role during the office’s start-up phase.

Dr Day recently served as program director for the University of Melbourne’s Carlton Connect initiative. He was also a member of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Translation and Commercialisation Committee.

Innovation and Science Australia chair Bill Ferris said Dr Day was “expertly placed to work with the Board” on a variety of innovation matters.

“Dr Day joins at a pivotal time for ISA,” Ferris said.

“The performance review of the Australian Innovation, Science and Research system is due to go to government by the end of 2016.

“After this we turn our attention to developing a strategic plan for Australian innovation out to 2030.”

Ferris said Dr Day would help ISA feed “strategic whole-of-government advice on innovation, science and research matters” into these and other policy and political processes.

“The Board and I look forward to working closely with Dr Day. The wealth of skills and experience he brings to the role will be invaluable to the Board in providing our advice to government on maximising the returns from Australia’s innovation, science and research system,” Ferris said.

Ferris was particularly enamoured by Dr Day’s “excellent record at the intersections of innovation, science, research and commercialisation”.

Commercialisation has received a big push from the current Government, and Dr Day’s experience in “improving research translation and encouraging commercialisation” could help OISA drive that agenda forward.

“One of the great challenges in ensuring that Australia reaches its innovation potential is maximising the economic benefit we see from our world class research sectors,” Ferris said.

Ferris also highlighted Dr Day’s experiences encouraging and facilitating the development of Australian start-ups.

“Connections between knowledge creation and commercial application are vital to a high-functioning innovation system, and so too is a culture of ‘having a go’,” Ferris said.

“Dr Day has an outstanding record in fostering the burgeoning start-up scene in Melbourne and is a co-founder of the Melbourne Accelerator Program.”

Interim CEO Ann Bray will continue with OISA in a new role of general manager.