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Gavin Jennings

	Minister for Innovation
	Contact Details Level 22, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Vic, 3000, AUS Tel: (+61 3) 9096 9961 Fax: (+61 3) 9096 8866

Gavin Jennings is Minister for Innovation and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change in the Brumby Government. He is also Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Building an innovation-driven economy that generates high valued exports and high skilled jobs while simultaneously tackling quality of life challenges in areas like health and the environment is a key goal for the Victorian Government.

As Minister for Innovation, Mr Jennings oversees the development and delivery of a wide of range of policies and programs that make up Victoria’s Innovation Agenda. This includes:

• the Science, Technology and Innovation initiative
• the Biotechnology Strategic Development Plan and the Nanotechnology Statement
• strengthening and expanding Victoria's science and technology precincts and clusters
• initiatives to drive the growth of Victoria's creative industries, with particular focus on film and television industries, and the design sector
• developing Victoria's next generation innovation strategy within the framework of the National Innovation Agenda

His portfolio responsibility for innovation also makes him ideally placed to drive the technological and scientific advances that will help Victoria make a significant contribution to tackling the threat of climate change in to the future.

Background

Mr Jennings was first elected to the Legislative Council in September 1999. He became Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and was appointed Cabinet Secretary in the first term of the Bracks Government.

Following the 2002 election, Mr Jennings became Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and after the 2006 election was appointed Minister for Community Services and retained the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio.

Mr Jennings was born in Melbourne, Victoria in April 1957 and raised mainly in the country before returning to Melbourne for University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University and a Bachelor of Social Work from Melbourne University.

Prior to entering Parliament, Mr Jennings has been a social worker at the Aboriginal Health Service in Melbourne as well as an Industrial Officer for the Public Transport Union, Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, and the Electrical Trades Union. He was also a ministerial adviser in the previous State Labor government.

In what has been a diverse professional life, Mr Jennings has also worked as a factory worker, actuarial clerk and professional actor.

Gavin's interests include spending time with his son Huw, photography, films, innovation and design, and supporting his beloved Essendon in the AFL.