Lumen Spring Summer 2023 - Flipbook - Page 22
Codan founders’
scholarship legacy
By Andrea McCarthy
In 1959 three exceptional University of
Adelaide students – Ian Wall, Alastair Wood
and Jim Bettison – embarked on a humble
business venture, founding Electronics,
Instrument, and Lighting Company Ltd
(EILCO).
A decade on, this evolved into, and was
renamed, Codan, now a global powerhouse
renowned for innovation in developing
rugged and reliable electronics solutions for
government, corporate, NGO and consumer
markets across the globe.
The pioneering spirit of those three young
engineers continues to be used as an
inspiration in the business – and, from next
year, it will also help bright young minds
succeed at the University where
their careers started.
During Codan’s early years Ian, Alastair
and Jim developed their first high-frequency
(HF) radio for the School-of-the-Air
network, enabling distance education
programs and access to quality education
for children in remote communities.
Their technology also became instrumental
in providing life-saving communication for
the Royal Flying Doctor Service, supporting
medical emergencies across Australia.
In 1980, the United Nations recognised the
reliability of Codan’s HF radio equipment
and adopted it for humanitarian relief efforts
in Uganda. This marked the beginning of
Codan’s role as the leading global supplier
of high-frequency communications to aid
organisations, providing a lifeline for relief
workers during crises, natural disasters,
and conflicts.
Codan’s commitment to innovation
and social responsibility also led to the
acquisition of Minelab Electronics in 2008.
This allowed Codan to develop cutting-edge
metal detecting technologies vital in locating
and de-arming landmines around the world.
These technologies are now used by the
US Army for landmine clearance efforts,
humanitarian groups for farmland demining, and developing countries for safe
gold mining practices.
The three founders of CODAN, Jim Bettison, Ian Wall and Alastair Wood (below)
Fast forward to the present and Codan
continues to thrive with manufacturing
and corporate offices in Australia, USA,
UK and Canada, as well as representative
offices in Ireland, Brazil, Denmark, Mexico,
Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
This year, to honour the legacy of their
three founders, Codan has worked with the
University of Adelaide to establish a new
scholarship program, to be known as the
Codan Founders’ Scholarship.
“Codan has established itself as an
innovative organisation that has developed
many breakthrough technological advances
but we are also an organisation that is
invested in supporting the local and global
community,” Codan CEO Alf Ianniello says.
This prestigious initiative will provide
PhD candidates with an opportunity to
work alongside Codan’s experts, helping to
shape the next generation of engineering
trailblazers who may, in their turn, impact
lives globally.
“The aim is to empower exceptional PhD
candidates to address real-world social
challenges, create positive impact, and
contribute to communities worldwide.
Through this initiative, we aim to make a
meaningful difference in people’s lives,”
Mr Ianniello says.
The Codan Founders’ Scholarship program
honours core values and attributes: Dr Ian
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THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
Wall AM’s entrepreneurial mindset and
innovative approaches; Alastair Wood’s
rigorous approach to design and excellence
in engineering; and Dr Jim Bettison’s
creativity, commercial acumen, and ability
to ‘think outside the box.’
The first Codan Founders’ scholarship will
be awarded in 2024.
Both Dr Ian Wall and Dr Jim Bettison were
recognised with honorary doctorates – Doctor of
the University (honoris causa). Dr Bettison also
served on the University of Adelaide Council,
including as Deputy Chancellor.
Andrea McCarthy is Corporate Relations
Coordinator for the University of Adelaide.
