Board quits stem cell centre

The board of the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) is to resign en masse, citing disagreements with stakeholders about its structure and independence.

The board sacked the centre’s CEO, Professor Stephen Livesey, in July, saying differences had arisen over the future direction of the ASCC.

“The board (is) taking this action because it had become apparent over a period that the ASCC’s stakeholders had abandoned the preferred model of an independent board, which had operated since 2002, in favour of a board structure which reflects stakeholder interests directly,” the board said in a statement.

“Accordingly, the seven members therefore unanimously decided that it was in the centre’s best interests that they resign.”

The board is chaired by UTS chancellor Professor Vicki Sara, and members include former CEO Professor Hugh Niall, director of research at the Royal Brisbane Hospital Professor Lawrie Powell, former Labor politician Dr Barry Jones, former Liberal politician Brian Gibson, lawyer Mark Richardson and stockbroker Brian Watson.

The board said there were issues of concern with the centre’s management and strategy. “The board reaffirms its absolute confidence in the capabilities of the scientists and other staff of the ASCC, which has made it an international leader in stem cell research,” the statement said.

“The board believes that the centre must continue to be overseen by an independent board to provide the essential governance of an institution which had inherent conflicts between its controlling members who were also the principal beneficiaries of research grants.

“The board hopes that its resignation will clear the way for the Federal Government to remove the uncertainty surrounding the centre’s long-term financial future. There is now general acceptance that the expectation of the previous government that the centre would be financially self-sustaining after 2011 was unrealistic.”

It said it was discussing what administrative steps were required to effect the resignation with the Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, one of its two funders. The other funder is the Victorian Government.