Terms of Reference for the Executive Chair

Context

1. The Victorian Government recognises the significance of precincts in driving jobs growth and supporting social inclusion. The Melbourne Biomedical Precinct (MBP) is a globally significant economic precinct, with a critical mass of nationally and globally leading institutions and organisations including universities, hospitals, research institutions and industry.
2. The Melbourne Biomedical Precinct employs over 28,000 people, primarily in health care (38 per cent) and education (31 per cent). This represents 3.8 per cent and 4.4 per cent of the total Victorian workforce and 5.3 per cent and 5.6 per cent of total Victorian value-added respectively in these two industries. There is an opportunity to increase the MBP’s contribution to economic output and jobs, and improve health outcomes for Victorians, through better land use planning, industry-university collaboration, infrastructure investment, promotion, investment attraction and workforce development.
3. MBP has world-class strengths in medical research, especially in cancer, neuroscience and infectious disease, attracting over $1.3 billion per annum in research expenditure. However, its commercial success is modest, with limited patent output and venture capital investment compared to leading international biomedical clusters.
4. While there are existing collaboration mechanisms between hospitals, universities, research institutes and industry within MBP, there is an opportunity to develop more formal overarching mechanisms to promote holistic collaboration across the MBP and Victoria’s broader health and medical research network.
5. The Victorian Government has established the role of the Executive Chair of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct to drive economic development within the MBP, and strengthen its position as a world leader in biomedical research, development and innovation.

Objectives

6. The Executive Chair of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct primary objectives are to promote:

1. Economic development of the Precinct through strategic planning, infrastructure investment, promotion, investment attraction and workforce development;
2. Improved health outcomes for patients through new treatments and technology and greater information sharing;
3. Commercialisation of research in the Precinct to increase economic output in Victoria;
4. Innovation from all organisations and institutions in the Precinct; and
5. Collaboration between hospitals, universities, research institutions and industry in Parkville on precinct-level planning and initiatives to drive economic development, commercialisation and innovation.
6. International recognition of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct the target audience is the USA, UK, EU and China

Role and function

7. In order to achieve these objectives, the Executive Chair of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct will, in consultation with relevant government bodies and organisations within the precinct:

1. provide strategic advice to the Victorian Government on actions required to drive economic development in the Parkville Precinct, including:
   1. better coordination of land use and infrastructure planning to accommodate economic growth of the Precinct and accessibility for the community;
   2. investments in infrastructure, such as ICT and transport infrastructure;
   3. attraction of public and private sector investment;
   4. utilisation of health and medical research, technology and services across the Precinct;
   5. promotion of the Precinct to improve national and international recognition; and
   6. attraction and retention of leading talent to the Precinct.
2. lead development and implementation of a new strategic plan for the Parkville Biomedical Precinct, encompassing economic development, healthcare, education, translation of research into clinical outcomes, innovation and commercialisation; and
3. establish formal mechanisms to facilitate greater collaboration between:
   1. Hospitals, universities, research institutions and industry within the Precinct; and
   2. Institutions in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct and Victoria’s broader health network, including institutions in Melbourne’s south-east and Monash.

Stakeholder engagement

8. In developing a strategic plan for the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct and advice to Government on how to support the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, the Executive Chair will consult regularly with hospitals, universities, research institutes and industry in the MBP.

9. The Executive Chair will also:

1. Consult with and advise other Victorian Government bodies as required, such as the Innovation Expert Panel and Premier’s Jobs and Investment Panel; and
2. Actively engage with the Medical Research and Technology Board which advises the Minister for Health on health innovation and the growth of Victoria’s medical research sector.
3. Chair the group known as the Parkville Leadership Group