Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies
Professor Sheehan has made a substantial contribution since 1994 to studies of the global knowledge economy, and of its Australian and international ramifications. For over two decades he has contributed to the analysis of new technologies and their application in Australia, and to policy and commercial developments, related to the commercialisation of such technologies in Australia.
From 1987 to the late 1990s he was actively involved, as Chairman or Director, in a number of technology-based companies, many of which he was instrumental in establishing during his time in government. From 1987 to 1993 he was a Director of Australian Medical Research and Development Consortium Ltd (AMRAD) a company with a diversified ownership established to commercialise Australian medical research. In 1988 AMRAD entered into a joint venture with Merck, Sharpe and Dohme to establish a 50/50 joint venture, AMRAD Pharmaceuticals.