Australian scientist and engineer takes the chair at BESydney Board

Distinguished Australian scientist and engineer professor Mary O’Kane, AC (pictured) has been appointed the independent director and chair of the Board of strategic event bidding organisation Business Events Sydney (BESydney). Professor O’Kane said she was pleased to be joining the BESydney Board as chair at a very exciting time in the company’s 55-year history. “Beyond being a strong economic driver for the local visitor economy, business events, and particularly global conferences are a vital part of a city, and a country’s innovation ecosystem. They are a soft power asset for building regional and global connectivity and are increasingly being utilised by governments globally as a platform for community and broader social impact,” the professor said. BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith added; “We are very pleased Mary accepted the opportunity to lead our Board and to work with the Executive to drive further growth from the strong position we built with our former chair, The Hon Bruce Baird AM.” “This is the second time professor O’Kane has sat on the BESydney Board, previously serving a nine-year term as an independent director during her time as the inaugural NSW chief scientist and engineer (2008-2018).” With a professional and academic career spanning working as a computer engineer undertaking pioneering research in artificial intelligence to University of Adelaide vice-chancellor and serving as member or chair on many government and private sector boards and committees, professor O’Kane brings a breadth and depth of experience in the innovation, research, higher education, energy, ICT, public policy and development spheres to the BESydney Board. Professor O’Kane’s three-year term on the BESydney Board commenced 1 February 2024. More on the BESydney Board here https://www.besydney.com.au/about-us/board/