KPMG exec to lead heavy industry data science innovation hub

Research and engagement executive at professional services firm KPMG Dr Liz Dallimore has swapped her big four consulting hat for a mortar board after being named the new lead for the Western Australian Data Science Innovation Hub based at Curtin University.

Dallimore will this month take up the plum new role at Curtin to drive developments in applying digital research to WA’s heavy industries as the giant state seeks to embed smarts into the bedrock of its economy.

The Innovation Hub was launched in August this year as a $1.6 million tie-up between the WA government and the state’s four public universities to equip the mining, agricultural, oil and gas industries with digital technologies and data skills.

Curtin University deputy vice-chancellor of research professor Chris Moran said Dallimore will bring “significant experience in research, development and commercialisation” to the hub.

Dallimore has spent more than 12 years working in the R&D and commercialisation space, with a total of 16 years experience in research, funding and incentives advisory and project management.

“By connecting industry to universities, the Curtin-led hub will ensure the sectors affected by digital disruption, including mining, oil and gas, and agriculture, have access to the latest opportunities presented by data science to ensure they remain competitive,” Moran said.

Dallimore added that there is huge potential to harness data science across the state’s industries, from resources to agtech and life sciences.

“I look forward to helping shape the future direction of our data science industry and for the hub to play a key part in the developments to come out of this exciting collaboration between universities, industry and business.

“I am very excited to be joining Curtin and to lead the WA Data Science Innovation Hub to help ensure our great state remains at the forefront of the amazing possibilities data science presents,” Dallimore said.