RMIT Becomes Part of the Spain-Australia Council Foundation
RMIT has become the first Australian institution to join the Spain-Australia Council Foundation as a patron.
At a recent signing ceremony in Madrid with the Australian Ambassador to Spain H.E. Sophia McIntyre, RMIT became the first Australian institution to join the Spain-Australia Council Foundation (SACF) board of trustees.
SACF is a non-profit organisation and forms part of the network of council foundations promoted and supported by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
The goal of SACF is to strengthen and deepen bilateral relations with Australia, a priority country within Spain’s foreign policy for the Asia-Pacific region.
RMIT’s role in the foundation will bring about new opportunities for partnerships and other collaborative initiatives between Spain and Australia.
Through its innovation hub in Barcelona, RMIT Europe, the University will also participate in meaningful discussions and initiatives that influence policies and decisions shaping the future of both countries.
“RMIT’s contribution to the SACF will help to develop strong links to Australia in Spain, continuing to build bridges between the two countries in the areas of talent and innovation,” said RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President Alec Cameron.
Professor Alec Cameron and Joaquín Mollinedo at the signing event in Madrid.Cameron and SACF’s Chairman Joaquín Mollinedo were joined at the signing event by Deputy Vice-Chancellor International and Engagement and Vice-President Saskia Loer Hansen, and RMIT Europe’s Executive Director Marta Fernandez.
Also in attendance were Inmaculada Riera, General Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce; Ramón Moreno, General Director, Institutional Relations, Sustainability and Brand at Acciona; Ricardo Domínguez García Baquero, President of Navantia; José Manuel Rodríguez, Global Head for Government and Institutional Affairs at Iberdrola; and Gönül Serbest, Commissioner for Victoria to Europe at Global Victoria.
2023 marks 55-years of Spain-Australia relations as well as ten years since the opening of RMIT Europe in Barcelona, and the SACF patronship represents another milestone in RMIT’s affiliation with the country.
To date, RMIT has been involved in 25+ projects connecting Australia with Spain, involving Spanish organisations such as the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Eurecat, IS Global, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the University of Barcelona.
Furthermore, RMIT Europe continues to support Spanish businesses with their talent, research and innovation needs to aid their growth in the Asia-Pacific region.