Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:55:31 +0000
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Regional Incubator Facilitator webpage
From: Ellie <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx>
To: Freedom of Information <xxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx.xx>

On 1 February 2018, as part of the Regional Incubator Facilitator (RIF) tender process, an addendum was published noting that: "If a company that is an incubator or provides incubator services was successful in the tender process, the company would need to ensure that the individual fulfilling the Regional Incubator Facilitator services: did not complete any work for the incubator, for example, but not limited to, delivery of programs and services, promotion of the incubator’s services; is engaged solely to conduct Regional Incubator Faciltiator services; and there is a clear and visible separation between the Regional Incubator Facilitator and the incubator." [1]

On 29 March 2018, Danie Smith omitted his MassChallenge incubator facilitator role [2] from statutory disclosure to secure an AusInustry contract as director and shareholder of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Pty Ltd [3] and deliver the Incubator Support Initiative grant program to other incubators/accelerators.

On 8 June 2018, an update was made to the Incubator Support Initiative webpage for Regional Incubator Facilitators (RIF) [4] which misrepresented xxxxxxxxxxxx's MassChallenge role as past experience: "Most recently Daniel was the Australian Country Manager for one of the largest start-up accelerators in the world."

Also on 8 June 2018, an approval process was initiated for "new extracurricular activities as appropriate" as xxxxxxxxxxxx is "contracted to deliver (the MassChallenge) accelerator" while noting that he "made the team aware during the tender process and it was not considered to be an issue" and that "Programme Management do not consider this to be a conflict".

On 20 June 2018, Zoe Naden as the Incubator Support Initiative program manager approved the extracurricular activity while the RIF webpage continued to misrepresent xxxxxxxxxxxx's engagement for MassChallenge as past experience.

In June 2020, the RIF webpage was removed.

I REQUEST under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (Department) documents containing:
(1) each RIF webpage [1] update to date including the contents, requests and approvals; and
(2) the advice provided to Department staff during the tender process that xxxxxxxxxxxx is working for MassChallenge.

Please be sure to maintain all names of APS staff with regard to OAIC FOI guidelines 3.54-3.56.

Faithfully,
Ellie

REFERENCES

[1] Page 6 in https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/6625/response/18739/attach/4/66859%20combined%20documents%20AR.pdf

[2] https://twitter.com/xxxxxxxxx/status/938926796170444801?s=20

[3] https://www.tenders.gov.au/Cn/Show/98e3f4de-7ec6-42ff-b6dc-4f7b02c97942

[4] Regional Incubator Facilitator webpage
https://web.archive.org/web/20190329085112/https://www.business.gov.au/Assistance/Entrepreneurs-Programme/Incubator-Support-New-and-Existing-Incubators/Regional-Incubator-Facilitators

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