THE HEAD of Ireland’s largest research funding body Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is to resign his post and move to take up a new appointment in Australia at the beginning of next year.
Prof Frank Gannon’s departure will be a blow to the foundation and also to the Government given his contribution to national science policy, including at Cabinet level.
Prof Gannon is in the fourth year of a five-year contract as director general of the foundation. While it was known, as reported in The Irish Times earlier this year, that he was considering a move from the foundation, final confirmation of his decision came only yesterday from Australia.
The country’s deputy premier and minister for health Paul Lucas announced that Prof Gannon would join the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane as its seventh director and chief executive officer.
It is understood Prof Gannon was made an offer he felt he couldn’t refuse. He will head a major research facility but will also be able to return to active laboratory research, something he was unable to do while at the foundation. He has retained his international reputation in the area of molecular bioscience despite his time away from the lab.
The foundation confirmed Prof Gannon’s departure yesterday. Its chairman Prof Patrick Fottrell had formally notified Minister for Enterprise Batt O’Keeffe of Prof Gannon’s decision and the board was now working with the department to find a successor.
The foundation’s board congratulated Prof Gannon on his “prestigious appointment” and thanked him “for his dedication in leading SFI so effectively over the last 3½ years”.
Prof Gannon’s commitment to research funding and the role played by the foundation in managing it effectively had been reflected in the Government’s recent capital investment plan, Infrastructure Investment Priorities 2010-2016, where the importance of scientific research in the growth of the economy was clearly recognised, Prof Fottrell said.
Prof Gannon said the opportunity to head the institute was “an opportunity too good to overlook”, according to a statement issued in Brisbane. “The decision to leave Ireland was difficult, but the challenge of contributing to increasing the scientific reputation of Brisbane worldwide is something that I look forward to eagerly.”
The institute’s council chairman Prof John Hay said Prof Gannon had been selected following an extensive national and international search.
“Prof Gannon was the ideal candidate for the role. He has significant experience in managing science, widespread ties with the international scientific community and a passion for scientific excellence,” he said.
Prof Gannon made an “enormous contribution” to Ireland’s research efforts, Mr O’Keeffe said yesterday. He had been “an important influence on Government policymaking in research and innovation” during his time at the foundation. He was a “key asset” in the Government’s efforts to position Ireland as an innovation hub.
He thanked Prof Gannon for his efforts, saying he would be missed by the research community here. The process now under way to find a new director general was one the Government considered “important for Ireland’s economic recovery”, the Minister added.
Prof Gannon had helped build Ireland’s reputation for research while leading SFI, Minister of State for Science Conor Lenihan said.
“Frank Gannon has played a fantastic role in underpinning SFI on an international level. Ireland has a very hard-won reputation as a location where advanced science can happen and a lot of that is down to the hard work that Frank has given,” he said. He had contributed to the development of science policy at Cabinet level and would also be a “huge loss” to the SFI organisation, Mr Lenihan added.
Prof Gannon will replace Prof Michael Good who has directed the Queensland institute for the past decade.
Prof Adele Green will serve as acting director until Prof Gannon takes over in January 2011.