The Data Connect Australia Board and wider network were deeply saddened to hear that Data Connect Australia Board member, Adjunct Professor John Bancroft, passed away on 31 July 2024.

Professor Bancroft had a distinguished career across a range of sectors, specialties and geographical locations. He was a graduate Chemist, a Fellow of the UK’s Institute of Sales and Marketing Management, a Visiting Professor in Science and Innovation at the University of Huddersfield and an Adjunct Professor in Research and Innovation at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He had over 40 years’ experience in industry, academia and government across the globe, including in Australia and New Zealand. This included leading sales and marketing, investment generation, knowledge exchange, innovation, impact generation, IP exploitation and business growth teams.

Professor Bancroft joined the Data Connect Australia Board in September 2020. His extensive experience proved invaluable at a time when Data Connect Australia was seeking greater engagement with industry within Australia and beyond. He was able to highlight opportunities for Data Connect Australia and provide practical suggestions on how these might be progressed. He was energetic, enthusiastic and well informed, bringing fresh perspectives drawn from his tremendous experience.

Data Connect Australia will greatly miss Professor Bancroft’s insights into pathways for greater use of Australia’s linked population data, as well as his cheerful presence at Board meetings.

We are enormously grateful for his contribution. Data Connect Australia extends its sincere condolences to Professor Bancroft’s wife and family as they come to terms with this unexpected loss.