Overview of the Global Talent Independent Program

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Geology and metallurgy
• Resource waste management
• Automation, connectivity, industry 4.0 skills
• Beneficiation technologies (for example, improving the economic value of ore)
• Energy saving technologies for extracting and processing ores:
• • Ore body mapping
  • Geophysical tools and drilling
  • Mineral refinement
  • Automated trucks and robotic equipment
  • Grinding and processing technologies
• Exploration services
• Market intelligence
• Technical equipment manufacturing

Exceptional candidates:

• Managing director of a technology and innovation unit within an international mining corporation, where the corporation has a global record of delivering safe, cost effective, and complex multi-billion-dollar projects

Strong candidates:

• Executive with extensive experience in critical mineral development, execution and operation for a top-tier company
• A leading researcher with expertise in heat and mass transfer, phase change and metallurgical transformation in high temperature systems

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Site managers
• Engineers and mechanics
• Technicians and construction workers

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Agricultural data analytics
• Biologists/biotechnologist/synthetic biology specialists
• Blockchain technology
• Commercialization experience within the industry
• Biosecurity, disease management and prevention
• Alternate proteins for human and animal consumption
• Foodtech
• Precision engineering
• Product packaging, authentication and verification
• Predictive analytics for geospatial analysis, crop management and climatic forecasting
• Wearable technologies, including trackers
• Technologies for farm management, weather, seed optimization, fertiliser and crop inputs, and irrigation, including drones, robotics and related capabilities
• Precision measurement and/or application of farm inputs such as nitrogen and pesticides, gene editing, nanomaterials and synthetic biology

Exceptional candidates:

• Director of a world-renowned research centre for livestock genetic engineering with proven results in applying research to improve the quality, productivity and efficiency across the industry

Strong candidates:

• Highly regarded and cited post-doctoral researcher in the field of robotics and automations in agriculture, with ongoing industry collaborations

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Farmers and agricultural technicians
• Food safety managers
• Quality control managers
• Import and export managers
• Chefs and cooks

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Advanced visualization technology
• Artificial intelligence and machine
• Learning technologies
• Automation and robotics (for example, smart sorting technologies for recycling)
• Traceability technologies (for example, experience with sophisticated material trading systems that make material sources more transparent to consumers)
• Hydrogen technology
• Clean technologies, renewables and hybrids (including solar, wind and wave power)
• Battery/energy storage design (specialised, grid-scale and precursors for batteries)
• Bioenergy and biofuels
• Micro-grid design

Exceptional candidates:

• Founder and CEO of an internationally acclaimed start-up in the research and manufacturing of innovative clean technology for heating, ventilation and air conditioning

Strong candidates:

• Senior energy transformation engineering specialist in devising solutions for new energy technologies
• Executive with expertise in the development and delivery of large energy projects

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Technicians and construction workers
• Distribution and sales representatives
• Junior or mid-level power plant or mine operations managers.

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Antimicrobial resistance
• Biochemistry and cell biology
• Biostatistics
• Biotechnology
• Biomedicine and bioengineering
• Cell and gene therapies - genomics
• Clinical trials
• Commercialization experience in the health industry
• Digital health
• Healthcare entrepreneurship
• Health economics
• Implantable and wearable devices (3d printed devices, bionics and prosthetics)
• Infectious disease prevention
• Medical devices
• Medical physics
• Microbiology and immunology
• Nanotechnology and genomics
• Neuroscience and neurology
• Pharmaceuticals
• Precision medicine
• Point of care diagnostics
• Regenerative medicine

Exceptional candidates

• Executive and founder of a global, multi-million dollar pharmaceutical company dedicated to accelerating clinical trial processes by utilising an e-platform to track patient data
• Renowned infectious diseases researcher and practitioner of international repute

Strong candidates

• Senior auditory neuroscientist with a track record of research in health technologies, leading the research and design of cochlear implant technology
• Biomedical engineer with expertise in medical application of polymers, biomaterials and delivery platforms

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• General practitioners
• Retail pharmacists
• Dentists
• Physiotherapists
• Nurses
• Veterinarians
• Aged care workers

Defence

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Advanced materials
• Combat system integration
• Complex design and engineering
• Emerging military technology
• Guided munitions
• Intelligence analytics
• Modern training and simulation
• Protected and secure communications
• Protection technology
• Robotics and automation
• Sensors and advanced signal processing
• Surveillance and intelligence
• Specialty experience in ict system analytics and security

Exceptional candidates:

• Business director of an international organization renowned for testing, inspecting and certifying defence vessels and equipment

Strong candidates:

• Senior technology manager of a globally renowned aeronautical research and development centre leading multiple portfolios on defence products

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Soldiers and sailors
• Junior officers

Advanced Manufacturing

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Advanced materials
• Additive manufacturing (3d printing), materials resilience and repair
• Data analytics including artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Digital design and rapid prototyping
• Digitization, automation and robotics including drone management and manipulation
• Precision engineering and manufacturing
• Nano-manufacturing and micro-manufacturing
• Sustainable manufacturing and life cycle engineering
• Bio-manufacturing and biological integration
• Biotechnologies
• Supply chain resilience
• Commercialization experience within the industry

Exceptional candidates

• A leading researcher in micro and nano electro-mechanical systems that owns multiple patents
• Chief technology officer of an internationally acclaimed manufacturer of sensors for electronic devices in the healthcare, robotics, and digital manufacturing sectors

Strong candidates

• Senior data scientist specialising in designing machine learning algorithms and neural network models, with additional experience in commercialising artificial intelligence projects for automotive and intelligent devices

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Engineering technicians
• Machine operators
• Draftspersons
• Quality control managers
• Sales and administrative managers

Space

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Space systems engineering
• Propulsion systems
• Guidance, navigation and control
• Thermal management systems
• On-board data subsystems
• Sensors and instruments
• Electromagnetic technologies and techniques
• Optoelectronics
• Internet of things technologies
• Autonomous systems
• Planetary body exploration
• Entry, descent and landing
• In-situ resources utilization
• Human health, life support and habitation systems
• Spacecraft mechanisms, structures, materials and manufacturing processes
• Electrical, electronic and electro-mechanical (eee) components and quality
• Ground systems technologies and services skills
• Space environment monitoring technologies skills
• Space system project management skills
• Space software, programming, applications and computing skills
• Space sector enabling skills (for example, space law)

Exceptional candidates:

• Renowned space industry leader with vast experience specialising in space systems engineering
• Head engineer of avionics and software at a leading rocket company that is developing new orbital launch vehicles and technologies for foreign space agencies

Strong candidates:

• A space policy specialist with extensive experience collaborating between government and the industry
• Post-doctoral astrophysicist with a sustained record in collaborative research, with a number of space agencies

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Engineers and mechanics who do not lead ground-breaking projects

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Artificial intelligence and digital technologies
• Bioenergy generation
• Bio-methane production
• Commercialization experience within the industry
• Development of sustainable production and supply chain practices that reduce atmospheric land and marine pollution
• Energy infrastructure
• Environmental science
• Recycling and responsible manufacturing to support industries (plastics, paper, glass, tyre components, e-waste and lithium batteries)
• Reducing emissions and increasing efficient use of natural resources (including energy, water and materials)
• Sustainable manufacturing and life-cycle engineering specialists
• Waste treatment (management and reuse) and emissions technology
• Waste to energy (WTE) technology (the ability to generate reliable baseload electricity that is also capable of diverting waste away from landfill and reducing carbon emissions)

Exceptional candidates:

• Senior well engineering manager responsible for managing multiple advanced carbon capture usage and storage projects

Strong candidates:

• Post-doctoral researcher with well cited, high impact publications in the fields of metallurgy, circular economy, critical metals and solar photovoltaic end of life issues

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Engineers and mechanics who do not lead international projects
• Sales or purchasing representatives

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Automation and robotics
• Big data, data management and analysis
• Blockchain technology
• Cloud computing
• 5G
• Cyber security detection, prevention and response
• Data and eResearch infrastructure
• Smart tech and disruptive technologies
• Front-end development
• Internet of things
• Immersive technologies including virtual, augmented and extended reality
• IT integrated control systems for plant and machinery
• Machine learning engineering
• Network engineering/architecture
• Production and development of digital (video) games and game engine technology
• Quantum information and computing
• Smart cities
• Specialised knowledge in software and mobile application development
• 3D printing

Exceptional candidates

• Founder and/or inventor of deep technology IP associated with digitech
• Expert in human-centred design and design thinking, experienced in designing sites, apps and online optimization strategies for high end IT firms
• Chief information security officer driving initiatives in virtualization, Cloud, Internet of Things and cybersecurity across entire corporations

Strong candidates

• Founder of an award-winning video game developer company that has developed a number of original titles targeted at wide international audiences
• Researcher and expert in software, platforms, game engine and AR/VR/XR tech including exemplary coders

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Business analysts, developers and ICT consultants without international experience
• ICT support centre managers

Infrastructure

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Leading large complex transport infrastructure projects for roads, bridges, tunnelling, rail and airports
• Designing, developing or operating smart cities and technologies that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of transport services using emerging transport technologies such as automated vehicles/trains, emerging transport network technologies or artificial intelligence machine learning applied in transport systems
• Utilising new technologies applied to electricity grids (distribution, transmission, micro/smart grids) that assist with the integration and transition to distributed generation, batteries and electric vehicles
• Water management technologies

Exceptional candidates:

• Chief operating officer of a national freight company with expertise in large scale and complex interstate railroading operations
• Chief commercial officer of a commercial airline with a global reputation in developing new aviation business models

Strong candidates:

• Internationally recognised expert in railway operations, instrumental in the success of multiple large-scale, government led railway and transport infrastructure projects in a number of countries
• Managing director of an innovative company known globally for sports products and infrastructure for international championships including the Olympic Games

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Engineers
• Mechanics
• Contract administrators
• Draftspersons

Tourism

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• New tourism infrastructure and attraction development (such as high end accommodation)
• High-value tourism attraction
• Sustainable tourism

Exceptional candidates:

• Chief commercial officer of a commercial airline with a global reputation in developing new aviation business models

Strong candidates:

• Managing director of an innovative company known globally for sports events and international championship events

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Tour guides, travel agents and hospitality workers
• Food and beverage managers
• Taxi and rideshare drivers

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Financial data science and analysis
• Fintech cyber and data security
• Cloud technologies
• Software engineering and application programming
• User experience including natural language processing
• Digital assets including decentralised finance applications, digital asset marketplaces and non-fungible tokens (subject to Australian government regulation)
• Blockchain engineering (full stack developer or solutions architect)
• Regtech
• Wealthtech
• Insurtech
• Neobanking
• Digital wallets and cryptocurrencies
• Automated and predictive financial advice
• Next generation lending, investment and wealth or fund management
• Platform banking and payments (such as contactless, DLT based layers, lightning network)

Exceptional candidates:

• CEO and founder of a digital asset and financial services enterprise, globally recognised for their outstanding innovation through successful application of business models and technology

Strong candidates:

• Executive of a multinational corporation operating in:
• • Global financial ICT strategy consulting
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Cloud strategy development
  • Risk and insurance market operations, or
  • Global financial services operating models

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Traditional bankers (except c-suite executives for major financial institutions)
• Investors
• Retail bankers
• Accountants and account managers
• Financial advisors
• Stockbrokers
• Insurance brokers and sales managers
• Chief financial officers (unless a leader in a priority sector)

This sector includes, but is not limited to, the following specializations:

• Senior management of universities and institutions of higher learning such as vice-chancellors, presidents, deans and heads of school or their international equivalents
• Senior academics and researchers at Australian academic level D or E, or their international equivalents
• Researchers and academics with demonstrable and innovative achievements in the field of education, including:
• • Research and education infrastructure
  • Characterization (technologies in advanced microscopy and microanalysis that underpin modern science, medicine, engineering and industrial innovation)
  • Curriculum development
  • Digital data, education delivery and eResearch platforms
  • Innovative platforms for humanities, arts and social sciences.
• Academics and researchers in the field of education and pedagogy
• Fundraising for research and development in universities
• Research commercialization
• Edtech

Exceptional candidates:

• An executive with a track record in setting up university centres abroad, with expertise in establishing global collaborations and partnerships across government, academia and research
• Renowned level E academic and winner of prestigious prizes

Strong candidates:

• An ICT solutions expert for an eLearning solutions provider, with proven experience and success in leading, developing and implementing edtech solutions globally
• Research commercialization executive with significant experience in education policy design and strengthening education systems
Research commercialization executive with significant experience in education policy design and strengthening education systems

The following experience or professions would not usually meet the parameters of the program:

• Researchers and academics at Australian academic levels A to C or their international equivalents, in fields other than education or pedagogy
• School teachers
• Specialist teachers
• School administration staff