Held in Barcelona and Madrid, the event invited seven prominent representatives from Australian universities and leading innovation and industry organizations to Spain to foster exchange and knowledge-sharing
The Spain-Australia Council Foundation held a new edition of its Australian Leaders Program in Madrid and Barcelona from 28 September to 2 October, focusing in 2026 on Horizon Europe.
Through the Australian Leaders Program, the Spain-Australia Council Foundation promotes mutual understanding between the two countries and fosters professional networks among high-level experts. To this end, it invites a select group of leading Australian professionals and experts to Spain. Over the course of a week, the FCEA organises meetings, discussions and technical visits focused on a sector of common interest. The aim is to provide an up-to-date perspective on Spain, its resources, strengths and potential to generate opportunities for joint collaboration.
In this edition, these were the Australian participants invited to Spain by the Spain-Australia Council Foundation:
Australia has a distinctive landscape of university networks, in which institutions voluntarily group together around shared missions, profiles and policy priorities. For example, the Group of Eight (Go8) brings together Australia's leading research-intensive universities, while the 2050 Alliance represents universities with a strong focus on students, communities, equity and Australia's future skills needs. The Australian Technology Network (ATN) focuses on industry collaboration, enterprise and applied, real-world research. These networks do not have an equivalent in Europe and can act collectively as influential voices in policy, advocacy, funding and innovation debates. This trip includes delegates from universities belonging to different Australian university networks, alongside key innovation and industry organisations such as AROSE, creating a unique opportunity to showcase the diversity of Australia's higher education, research and innovation ecosystem. Open Universities Australia (OUA), meanwhile, works to provide more people with access to higher education.
2050 Alliance
Professor Luis Salvador-Carulla, Delegate of the University of Canberra and Honorary President of the Spanish Researchers in Australia and the Pacific. Professor Luis Salvador-Carulla is Honorary President of the Spanish Researchers in Australia and the Pacific (SRAP) and an internationally recognised academic whose work has focused on public policy, health systems, research evaluation and innovation. Based in Australia, he has developed a distinguished career dedicated to improving the effectiveness and societal impact of research and public services through interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based approaches. | Read the interview
Holli Evans, Delegate of Griffith University. Holli Evans is Strategic Manager, Major Research Funding at Griffith University, where she leads the development of competitive research funding strategies and supports the University's engagement with major national and international funding opportunities. Working within the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), she collaborates with academic leaders, researchers and external partners to strengthen research capability, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and maximise the impact of research initiatives.
Australian Technology Network (ATN)
Dr. Craig Richmond, Delegate RMIT University. Dr. Craig Richmond is Grants Manager in the European Research Projects Office for RMIT University, a position that allows him to leverage his technical and transversal training as a researcher, his knowledge of funding mechanisms, and networks to identify and support collaborative opportunities in Europe for RMIT’s research community.
Anika Gauja, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research of the University of Technology Sydney, Delegate of UTS. As Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Anika provides leadership and strategic assistance and support to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) on the delivery of UTS 2030 and implementation of the Research Strategy.
Group of Eight (Go8)
Professor Sergio León-Saval, Delegate of the University of Sydney and President of the Spanish Researchers in Australia and the Pacific. Professor Sergio Leon-Saval is a distinguished researcher in photonics and optical fibre technologies and a leading figure in the Spanish scientific community in Australia. Based at the University of Sydney, his research has focused on the design and application of advanced optical fibre systems, contributing to developments with significant implications for telecommunications, sensing technologies and scientific instrumentation. His work has earned international recognition, including the prestigious John Love Award from the Australian Optical Society.
Open Universities Australia (OUA)
Professor Mohsen Asadnia, Delegate of Macquarie University. Professor Mohsen Asadnia is a biomedical and mechatronics engineer currently serving as a Full Professor and Associate Dean (Research) in the School of Engineering at Macquarie University. He also serves as Director of the Master by Research programme within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. With more than 20 years of experience in research and innovation, he has made significant contributions to the fields of biomedical and mechanical engineering, with a particular focus on smart materials and their applications in health, sensing technologies and energy systems. | Read the interview
Jason Crusan, Chief Executive Officer of AROSE. Jason Crusan is Chief Executive Officer of AROSE (Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth), a not-for-profit, industry-led consortium based in Perth, Western Australia. AROSE acts as a neutral integrator across the resources, energy, defence, agriculture and space sectors, translating remote operations and autonomy capability in both directions between terrestrial industry and the space economy.
Download the extended profiles document
View the Program Summary in PDF
The agenda for this edition of the Australian Leaders Program included visits and meetings at, among others:
