The University of Newcastle welcomes colleagues from the Innovative Research Universities (IRU) network for the 2011 IRU Senior Staff Forum.

IRU is a network of seven universities that conduct research of national and international standing. The IRU aims to apply collective expert knowledge, capabilities and resources to enhance the outcomes of higher education.

The senior staff forum runs until Friday and will include presentations and panel discussions. This year the focus is research, research engagement and commercialisation.

Speakers include NSW Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer Professor Mary O’Kane and Chief Executive Officer Universities Australia Dr Glenn Withers AO.

IRU members include the University of Newcastle, Charles Darwin University, Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University and Murdoch University.