Dr Bell is a Senior Associate with ACIL Allen Consulting. He has many years’ experience in research, innovation, venture capital and public administration.
Dr Bell has held senior positions with the Australian Government, including Deputy Secretary and Chief Science Adviser in the (now) Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. He led the design of programs to support research and innovation, including venture capital initiatives and measures to provide research infrastructure. John was a member of the Industry R&D Board and the Australian Research Council and served short periods as Acting Director of ANSTO and AIMS.
Dr Bell spent more than seven years working with the OECD in Paris, including four as Division Head responsible for policy analysis in science, technology and innovation. His more recent consulting career has covered many fields of science and technology, providing advice on measures to support science and innovation, including business incubators and medical research.
Dr Bell has chaired Expert Working Groups for ACOLA on the contribution of innovation to productivity and economic growth, and the translation of public sector research for economic and social benefit. He is a non-executive Director of the Australian Genome Research Facility Ltd. In 2003, he received a Centenary of Federation medal for his strategic contribution to research and development in Australia.
Dr John Bell is a graduate of Sydney University. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Technology and Engineering, a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and a Companion of Engineers Australia.
[September 2020]