Curtin University is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Richard Francis as director of the Asia Business Centre (ABC), a role which focuses on building strategic relationships between Australia and Asia.
Curtin Business School Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Tony Travaglione said he welcomed Mr Francis to Curtin, one of the most internationally focussed universities.
“With his extensive experience in investment, trade and education, Mr Francis will build links between executives and academics, and lead researchers to develop solutions to real world business challenges,” Professor Travaglione said.
The ABC contributes to business research and brings together influential leaders in government, industry and academia across Australia and Asia.
The centre strengthens and leverages stakeholder engagement in Asia to advance industry connection, research collaboration and understandings of business and economics in the region.
Mr Francis said it was important to look at business integration from a regional perspective in order to determine where Australia’s higher education industry could play a role in dynamic Asian economies.
“Curtin has extensive research connections with leading universities in North America and Europe. My aim is to bring these developments back to the Asia region using the ABC as a hub of international collaboration,” Mr Francis said.
Mr Francis has worked in high level executive and business development positions all over the world, living and working offshore in China, Taiwan, India, Russia, Lithuania, Spain and most recently Switzerland.
His previous positions include China campus dean of French Technology and Business School at SKEMA, director of IMD’s corporate development in east Asia, and trade commissioner at the Australian High Commission in India.
