Mary has played a role in shaping Australia's innovation policies and programs over the last 20 years and has had a long-term involvement in spatial matters. She is chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information and a member of the NSW Spatial Council. She chaired the review of the Cooperative Research Centre Program last year and she was a member of the Review of the National Innovation System. She is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide and was a member of the CSIRO board, the Australian Research Council and the CRC Committee. Mary will give an overview of CRCSI2 bid and discuss the big challenges in spatial research going forward.