ARIIA reveals its new CEO

Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) has confirmed the appointment of Reuben Jacob as Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary following 18 successful months as the peak body’s Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer.

Before joining ARIIA in 2022, Mr Jacob occupied key roles as the Commercialisation Facilitator for the Government’s Accelerating Commercialisation Program and Manager of Strategic Projects and Innovation at not-for-profit scientific and ethical review organisation Bellberry. 

Mr Jacob said it was an honour and a privilege to permanently take on the role with Australia’s first dedicated translational research centre.

“ARIIA holds a special place as the hub for fostering the adoption of knowledge, evidence, innovation and technology, and we also provide practical support for implementing findings, leading to meaningful advancements in aged care and positive ageing,” Mr Jacob said.

“With so many reforms taking place in the aged care sector, it is a critical time, as the needs of our elders and the delivery of their care are also rapidly evolving.”

It truly is a critical time, not just for the aged care sector as a whole. It’s a well-timed appointment for ARIIA as it provides a sense of assuredness ahead of a critically important year. ARIIA’s impact on the industry has been underpinned by its Grants Program, however, its Government funding will end on June 30, 2024.

Having funded more than 60 projects focused on top priorities impacting the aged care sector across six rounds of grants since 2022, ARIIA will have to find alternative funding sources from July 1, 2024.

Next year will also see the return of ARIIA’s two-day conference Facing the Future on March 18 and 19 in Adelaide. Its inaugural 2023 edition was an event winner at the 2023 Australian Event Awards, receiving the top gong for Best Congress or Conference with less than 500 delegates. 

The event is just another way the organisation is influencing the sector and Mr Jacob shared his excitement over the fact they can continue to stand at the forefront of innovation.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the aged care sector sustainable and strong, by proactively improving workforce capability through evidence-based training and catalysing important creation and application of knowledge through research, development and innovation,” he said.

“I look forward to working closely with Kylie [Walker], the Board and the team to ensure ARIIA continues to make a positive impact on the lives of older Australians, and exploring how we can expand the reach and influence of ARIIA across the aged care ecosystem, and drive innovation and transformative change.”

Mr Jacob’s confirmation as CEO and Company Secretary follows the appointment of Kylie Walker as ARIIA’s Board Chair in September. Ms Walker is the CEO of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and she expressed her joy at ARIIA’s CEO news. 

“Reuben is an outstanding choice and brings a wealth of experience from a research, business and strategy,” she said.

The newly formed Independent Board also includes Fraser Bell, Partner, Thomson Greer; Gary Brady, Chair, Anglicare Southern Queensland; Judith Leeson AM, Director, Vector Consultants; and Richard Porter, Chief Financial Officer, Flinders University.