Dr Ross Harper appointed to SmartCrete CRC Board

The SmartCrete Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has appointed Dr Ross Harper as Non-Executive Director to the SmartCrete Board.

Ross Harper is a well-respected senior executive, and recognised leader within Australia’s concrete ecosystem. As a former Group President Operations of Boral Ltd, he brings a wealth of industry and applied research experience to the SmartCrete Board. His leadership skills, governance expertise and commercial acumen, especially in terms of how organisations transform themselves to capture new business opportunities, will complement the existing Board expertise in fostering innovation collaborations that transition concrete for a sustainable Australia.

Dr Harper said he was “understandably honoured and excited to join the SmartCrete Board”.

“SmartCrete plays a vital role in transforming Australia’s concrete ecosystem. The sector is challenged to reduce its carbon emissions and reach net zero by 2050, and so it is crucial to have an organisation like the CRC that advocates, supports and advances concrete research and innovation to achieve that goal,” Dr Harper said.

Over the past decades, Dr Harper has been involved in many concrete-related initiatives and has served in several board and committee positions including Concrete Cement and Aggregates (CCAA), Cement Industry Federation (CIF), and Cement and Concrete NZ (CCANZ). Consistent with his view that meaningful advances in Materials Science are vital to reduce emissions, he was recently MCi Carbon’s (MCi) Strategic Advisor accelerating the implementation of MCi’s siliceous and carbonate products.

“It is wonderful to have Ross as part of the Board”, said SmartCrete CRC Chair Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Taylor AO.

“Our ambition is to equip Australian industry with smart designs, materials and technologies that help them unlock new, sustainable ways of using concrete to deliver critical building and infrastructure. Ross’ understanding of Australia’s concrete sector makes him an ideal choice as a Board member.”

“Ross’ appointment will strengthen SmartCrete’s technical knowhow and industry engagement. We have the right mix of skills, knowledge and expertise to not only support our research collaborations but to deliver industry impact beyond sectoral decarbonisation,” said Professor Taylor.

Ross Harper was nominated for appointment by BG&E as part of the merit-based appointment process for the SmartCrete CRC Board.

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