NICOLA (NIC) SASANELLI

Job title:

Director, Great Europe and Research and Development Collaboration
South Australia Executive Service Level 1

Employer:

Government of South Australia - Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Responsibilities:

To ensure the State has an integrated and strategic approach to its international activities with Europe that align with South Australia’s policy priorities.

To coordinate a central liaison point for information gathering and dissemination, and for developing linkages and partnerships with, for example, relevant Commonwealth agencies (such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade); foreign governments and diplomatic networks; interlocutors and advisory bodies; and other private sector stakeholders involved the cooperation with Europe.

To increase international cooperation between South Australian and Europe in areas of strategic interest to the State of South Australia, in particular in the field of technological innovation, including the sectors of higher education, applied research and commercialization of research in high tech sectors.

Key Outcomes:

• Capitalise on South Australia’s research and higher education capability;
• Contribute to improved trade and economic outcomes for South Australia;

Key Challenges

• To achieve improved international collaboration for the benefit of South Australia.

Job title:

Special Envoy -  Higher Education, Research &Technology Transfer (Europe)
South Australia Executive Service Level 1

Employer:

Government of South Australia - Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Responsibilities:

To increase international cooperation between South Australian and Europe in areas of strategic interest to the State of South Australia, in particular in the field of technological innovation, including the sectors of higher education, applied research and commercialization of research in high tech sectors.

Key Outcomes:

• Capitalise on South Australia’s research and higher education capability;
• Contribute to improved trade and economic outcomes for South Australia;

Key Challenges

• To achieve improved international collaboration for the benefit of South Australia.

Job title:

Scientific and Technology Attaché

Employer:

Italian Foreign Office, Representation of Italian Gov., Italian Embassy in Canberra, Australia

Responsibilities:

To promote and encourage Science and Technology cooperation between Australia and Italy. The main activities were:

1) Director and Supervisor of the Editorial Committee of the publication "Bollettino della Comunita’ Scientifica in Australasia".;
2) web site management – featuring several windows, including the "Bollettino", with constant updates on S&T issues with
3) establishment of no profit associations (ARIA) as  a network for collecting and disseminating information on basic research, applied research and technology transfer from and on universities.
4) organise and promote workshops, seminars and conferences and exhibitions -
5) organise fellowships, exchange of students and researchers; -.
6) encourage agreements between Italian Regions and Australian States to share research activities considered to be of excellence in the local area;
7) supervise intern Italian Science graduates, conducting research on Australian R&D issues.
Key Outcomes:

• The Bollettino della Comunita’ Scientifica in Australasia was published three times per year, distributed to more than 5000 electronic addresses and it was available on the website for download – It features articles, regular columns and S&T news of interest for both Italian and Australian researchers. From March 2001 to December 2008, 28 editions have been published in two languages with more than 350 articles and 1000 S&T news;
• The website had more than 150 visitors per day from all over the world;
• The Association for Research between Italy and Australasia – “ARIA”, were incorporated in six Australian States and in Italy, gathering more than 400 researchers in the two countries, which are linked through a common network;
• From 2001 to December 2009 more than 3000 Italian and Australian researchers, academics and entrepreneurs (600 from Italy) participated to more than 70 conferences all around Australia;
• more than 100 researchers were exchanged between universities and research centers from the two countries during 8 years;
• Agreements were set up between Veneto-Victoria, Queensland-Piedmont, South Australia-Apulia etc.);

Job title:

Researcher in Microelectronic Technology

Employer:

Tecnopolis Science Park, Promotion Innovation in S&T, Bari, Italy

Responsibilities:

1998-2001
Deputy-Director of International relationships of the Science and Technology Park (involving activities of international cooperation with Mediterranean and South-East European countries);

1994-1998
1) Marketing Manager of Microelectronic Laboratory (representing and promoting the Tecnopolis Microelectronic Laboratory around the world);
2) Contact point with the Italian SME involved in innovation of their products and processes (in the framework of some European programs, FUSE and ESPRINT, I worked on dissemination of electronic innovations among Italian SME).

1988-1994
Microelectronics Researcher:

• Characterization of electronic components;
• Design techniques for Rad-Hard component (radiation)-hardened);
• Quality control for high-reliability components for military and space applications);

Job title:

Military Officer

Employer:

Italian Navy -  Italian Defense, Rome, Italy

Responsibilities:

R&D on Naval weapons