I have always believed that Australia should be able to make things—and that new technology should strengthen our industries, communities and national resilience, rather than leave us more dependent on others.
That belief became especially real during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I worked with Australian manufacturers to rapidly develop a medical respirator. Since then, I have continued to see how manufacturing capability matters in moments of crisis, whether responding to disrupted supply chains, supporting medical needs or creating secure, high-value jobs across Australia’s regions.
I am the founder and CEO of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub, known as ARM Hub. I established ARM Hub to close the gap between Australia’s world-class research and industry’s practical adoption of technology. Today, we work with manufacturers across the country to apply artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies to real business problems. I am particularly proud that our work supports small and medium-sized businesses that often have the ambition to innovate but lack the specialist expertise, infrastructure or capital to do it alone.
During my career, I have learned that innovation rarely fails because the technology is not clever enough or people aren’t creative enough. It fails when people, investment, capability and purpose do not come together. This has shaped how I lead: begin with the problem, understand the people and the data, and only then decide how technology can help.
My Churchill Fellowship will investigate how Australia can use embodied artificial intelligence—robots that can perceive, learn and act in the physical world—to make manufacturing more globally competitive. I want to learn from countries building and deploying intelligent robots, while also understanding what Australia should develop for itself and where international partnerships make sense. Ultimately, I want to help ensure Australia can harness these technologies in ways that strengthen our manufacturing capability, rather than increase our dependence on others.
Innovation fails when people, investment, capability and purpose do not come together.
Project
To learn if Australia can use smarter robots to make its manufacturing more globally competitive
Cori Stewart
Contact Fellow
This contact form allows you to contact a Fellow about their Fellowship research. It’s a great opportunity for you to find out more about their findings and make connections. Please note, that only messages related to these purposes will be shared with a Fellow.