veski forms unique funding partnership

When a Government initiated organisation, set up to reverse the scientific brain drain in Victoria, went looking for a funding partner – it found one in another Not for Profit with corporate-like strategies.

veski recently announced its 2006 veski innovation fellowships – two scientists lured back to Victoria to begin what is hoped will be ground breaking research in their particular fields of expertise.

They are Dr Cait MacPhee who has been working in the area of nanotechnology in the UK and Dr Alyssa Barry, a malaria scientist previously at the New York School of Medicine.

veski was created to identify outstanding Australian expats and to entice them home. Bringing them back to Australia is seen as a particular coup in the world of science and in making the move worthwhile provided a unique collaboration between veski and arguably one of the most innovative NFP’s in the country – Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.

The Trust’s collaboration provides $300,000 towards the return of Dr MacPhee and her research project which will be based at Monash University. Part of the funds will also be used for a strategic forum to discuss the outcomes and opportunities from her work in the future.

veski says that the Macpherson Smith Trust challenged them to not only find the best researchers to bring back to Victoria but also ensure that the research outcomes would have long term benefits for the whole of Australia.

Trust Chairman, Darvell Hutchinson says the collaboration is part of the organisation’s long term desire to be involved with bringing the brightest and best scientists back to Australia. He says the collaboration looks beyond the actual research to how it can be best capitalised on in the future.

veski acknowledges that this article is courtesy of ProBono Australia.