George
McLaughlin
George McLaughlin was until recently the Executive Director of AARNet (Australia’s
Academic and Research Network). He joined AARNet in 1995 initially overseeing
the sale of AARNet’s commercial customer base to Telstra, Australia’s
dominant telecommunications carrier. In 1997, he managed the process of establishing
AARNet2, the second-generation national ATM-based network connecting Australia’s
universities and research organizations. He guided the establishment of AARNet
Pty Ltd as a separate legal entity (with its own carrier license) responsible
for managing and developing the AARNet network; and has since been the driver
for positioning AARNet as one of the leading research and education network
organizations. He currently serves on the management committee of the new
multi-gigabit GrangeNet, a project funded under the Australian federal government’s
Building on IT Strengths (BITS) Advanced Networks Program.
George has been appointed to the International Committee of Internet2’s
Board of Directors. He is a member of the Australian Federal Government’s
Broadband Advisory Group and an Advisor to the Higher Education Broadband
Advisory Committee.
George is a graduate of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. He has worked in
the chemical, pharmaceutical, engineering, precious metal and information
technology industries, has authored more than 50 research papers published
in well respected science journals, and has been elected as a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Chemistry.
George is currently acting as an advisor on various matters to AARNet, and
continues to lead the area of International Developments.
