Remembering a friend and a mentor

It has been a sad time at the CRC with the untimely loss of our Chairman, Dr Laurie Hammond, following a brief fight with cancer. Laurie has been a significant player in the development of the CRC and the role of research in the sector. Laurie started with the CRC very early in its life and significantly shaped the direction, the governance processes. Personally, to me he was a major mentor and friend, someone who provided sound and sage guidance and advice whenever it was needed. 

Laurie came to the CRC not knowing anything about the sector and quickly became a thought leader in the field; recognised by all the Commissioners, chief officers and our research community. He always took a strong interest in the research and particularly the students in the CRC. His mantra of “Utilisation is everything” became the catch cry of the centre.  Laurie’s intelligence, insight and humour will be sorely missed by all those who ever met him.  

Laurie will be greatly missed by all of us in the Centre office, by the board and many in the CRC more generally. Laurie’s influence nationally cannot be understated, he was well respected in the commonwealth government’s innovation areas, having been on the board of the Commercialisation Australia and Innovation Australia and also spending time on the CRC Committee. He was also chair of the Mining CRC and guided that organisation to successful transition to a life beyond CRC program funding, something he was strongly involved with in the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. 

The CRC sends its condolences to Laurie’s wife, family and friends, who we know will all grieve for him for some time to come.

Dr Laurie Hammond, Rest in Peace.