Lance Worrall

Lance Worrall is an economic and industry development specialist. Recently he has authored major analyses and reports focussed on the case for a national Australian industrial policy, building Australian sovereign capability and supply chain resilience, strategic public procurement, the Circular Economy, improved research translation to industry development, Industry 4.0 and naval shipbuilding, and the significance of the Future Made in Australia programs.

Over 2023-4 he has worked with prefabAUS and others to produce Australia’s first Smart Building roadmap, Building the Future We Want. Covering the 2023-33 decade, it focuses on delivering Smart Building benefits by combining offsite construction with Industry 4.0.

Lance is keenly interested in Australia’s potential to reindustrialise through (and not in spite of) the decarbonisation of its economy.

From 2016 to 2020 Lance was Director of industrial Transformation, for the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), including work on the development of ‘futuremap’, a diagnostic tool enabling manufacturers to assess their current digital maturity and set strategic directions for improvement.

Lance has held various SA public sector Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive roles, in which he led the development of the State’s Manufacturing Strategy and Engagement Strategies for India and China, initiatives to leverage manufacturing opportunities from the mining expansion, the development of Tonsley Park as an integrated education and advanced manufacturing precinct, etc., as well as the development of the whole of government performance and leadership frameworks.

Lance was Principal Policy Adviser to Premier Mike Rann from 2002-2008, delivering major projects in defence, manufacturing and minerals and resources.  He was also a key designer and leader of South Australia’s Strategic Plan, and of the Economic Development Board. From 1994 to 2002 he was Economic Adviser to Mike Rann as Leader of the Opposition.