The Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Industries Innovation Council provides strategic advice on innovation priorities for the sector to the Minister. It promotes and encourages innovation in the TCF industries and builds links with other organisations, including the Enterprise Connect network.
The Council membership contains a large amount of experience from the sector. It looks at a range of innovation issues and works closely with businesses, unions, researchers and government in achieving its goals.
The establishment of the TCF Industries Innovation Council in the Federal Budget on 12 May 2009 recognises the importance of the TCF industries. The sector employs over 39,000 Australians and is crucial to regional economies around the country. Innovation drives the productivity, competitiveness, skills base and sustainability of the sector.
In announcing the establishment of the TCF Industries Innovation Council in 2009, the Minister tasked the Council with providing advice on the introduction of a voluntary ethical mark, a voluntary national sizing standard for clothing and footwear and a national anthropometric (human measurement) database.
Membership of the Council
On 14 August 2009, the Minister announced the membership of the TCF Industries Innovation Council, with Mr Phillip Butler as Chair. Mr Butler is Director of Textor Technologies, a leading Australian company at the forefront of non woven textile technology.
A list of current members is available below.
| Mr Phillip Butler (Chair) |
Director, Textor Technologies |
| Ms Deborah Anton |
General Manager, Competitive Industries Branch, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education |
| Mr Phil Butt |
Operations Director, WM Ritchie Pty Ltd |
| Mr Keith Cowlishaw |
Head of School, College of Design and Social Context, RMIT University |
| Dr Calum Drummond |
Group Executive, Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals, CSIRO |
| Ms Colette Garnsey |
Group General Manager - Underwear and Hosiery, Pacific Brands Limited |
| Mr John Garrett |
Director, Godfrey Hirst Australia |
| Mr Peter Halas |
Director, Seafolly |
| Mr Daniel Leipnik |
Chief Executive Officer, The Speciality Group |
| Ms Michele O’Neil |
National Secretary, Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia |
| Mr Lindsay Packer |
Managing Director, Packer Leather |
| Mr Brian Rush |
Australian Defence Apparel |
| Ms Alexandra Smart |
Director, Ginger and Smart |
| Mr Barry Tubner |
NSW, South Australia and Tasmania Branch Secretary, Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia |
Strategic Road Map
The Strategic Road Map 2009-2014 [
PDF 70KB] [HTML version] outlines the desired outcomes for the TCF industries by 2014 and the pathways to achieve these outcomes. It includes a set of eight milestones that the Council aims to achieve in 2012.
An update on the Council's achievements against its 2011 milestones is also available [PDF 40 KB] [
RTF 46 KB].
Government Program Guide
The TCF Industries Innovation Council has developed a Program Guide [PDF 128KB] [RTF 720KB] to help businesses in the TCF industries identify government support initiatives for which they might be eligible.
Industry Capabilty Maps
The Council is in the process of developing capability maps for the TCF Industries. The aim of these maps is to analyse the industry and identify critical areas in the supply chain and determine if there is an "essential and critical manufacturing base". The Council has completed maps for the following sectors:
Work on the textile and clothing sector is ongoing.
Meetings
The Council meets four times a year and has met eleven times since its formation. The Council's next meeting is scheduled for 13 June 2012.
TCF Supplier Advocate
Mr Tony Quick has been appointed as the TCF Supplier Advocate. Mr Quick works closely with the TCF Industries Innovation Council, unions, industry and Enterprise Connect. Together they promote and showcase Australian industry capabilities, help local industry to be competitive and champion supply chain development activities. Mr Quick's appointment was announced by the Minister on 7 September 2011.
Innovation Profiles
Innovation Profiles are real stories of innovation in industry in Australia. Twenty five members of the Industry Innovation Councils, including four from the TCF council, share their views and experiences as innovation leaders. These Innovation Profiles are available in web, video and print formats.
Media Articles
Innovation Council hails unity, looks ahead Publication: Fashion Source (Thursday 19 May 2011)
Quality mark, research and education focus at TCF Industries innovation Council [PDF 16KB] [RTF 14KB] Publication: Fashion Source (Thursday 21 October 2010).
Contact
The department provides secretariat support to the Council. The departmental contact is:
Gary Davis
Manager
TCF Industries Innovation Council Secretariat
GPO Box 9839, Canberra ACT 2601
Ph: 61-2-6213 7599
Email: gary.davis@innovation.gov.au