OBITUARY

Keith Daniel died on 13/01/2020.

Born in 1943, Keith Daniel graduated NSW University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He went on to become CEO of Ausonics, a world leader in diagnostic ultrasound imaging. He joined Nucleus, a group of small businesses at the centre of Australian medical technology during the 1980s and 1990s.

A champion of innovation, Keith Daniel ensured the flow of research and development investment that advanced pacemaker technology, including the next generation of implantable defibrillators.

In the late 1980s, he become CEO of AMBRI BioSensors. He saw the potential for the sensor to change global medical diagnostics, and grew a small research team to over 100 people. He also founded Milvella, a company that developed disposable opthalmic devices.

A lifelong polymath, Keith had a keen insight into technology, biosciences, materials, medicine, and multiple disciplines of engineering, as well as business systems, global markets and commercialisation. He was elected to the Fellowship in 1993.

His greatest passion was people. He believed that a healthy team culture was integral to any enterprise, and his personal mantra was “treat others as you expect to be treated”.

He played a leading role in hiring hundreds of technical, engineering and business people who in the most part have all gone on to further grow Australia’s global innovation ecosystem.

After retiring in the 2000s, Keith helped UTS and other academic institutions develop their thinking on where Australian technology should head. He also continued to advise and mentor many colleagues and friends.

Keith Daniel died on 13 January 2020 from Parkinson’s Disease and donated his body to science. He is survived by his beloved wife Ineke, four children and eight grandchildren.