Michael Schwager

Chief Operating Officer @ Australian National University

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

About

The Australian National University’s purpose is to provide our nation, and region, with the research and education foundations on which to build capacity and accelerate national prosperity. It doesn’t get better than that! 😁

Experience

  • Chief Operating Officer at The Australian National University
    Mar 2026 - Present · 4 mos

  • Director General at IP Australia
    Sep 2018 - Mar 2026 · 7 yrs 7 mos

  • Chief Operating Officer (a/g) at CSIRO
    Jun 2018 - Sep 2018 · 4 mos

  • Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (12 yrs 9 mos)
    • Chief Operating Officer
      Mar 2016 - May 2018 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    • Deputy Secretary (acting)
      Dec 2015 - Mar 2016 · 4 mos

      For a period of four months acted as a Deputy Secretary of the Department with oversight of both AusIndustry programme delivery Divisions, and the Anti-Dumping Commission.

    • Head of Division, AusIndustry Innovation Programmes
      Jul 2015 - Mar 2016 · 9 mos

      AusIndustry Innovation Programmes Division is responsible for delivering a number of programs which support entrepreneurial ideas and businesses, including: the Entrepreneurs'​ Programme: the Australian Government’s flagship initiative for business competitiveness and productivity at the firm level. It forms part of the Australian Government’s new industry policy outlined in the Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda. With a national network of more than 100 experienced private sector Advisers and Facilitators, the Entrepreneurs' Programme offers support to businesses through research networks, and business growth, supply chain and/or commercialisation advice. the Research & Development (R&D) Tax Incentive: a targeted, generous and easy to access entitlement program that helps businesses offset some of the costs of doing R&D. Venture capital programs: to provide qualifying fund managers with flow through tax treatment and certain tax exemptions.

  • General Manager, Technology, Manufacturing & Service Industries at Invest Australia
    Oct 2000 - Sep 2005 · 5 yrs

    Responsible for developing a strategic approach to foreign investment attraction efforts in the sectors of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, information and communication technologies (ICT), advanced manufacturing and nanotechnology.