Previous chief scientists
The position of Australia’s Chief Scientist was first established in 1989 with the appointment of Ralph Slatyer by Prime Minister Bob Hawke representing the the Federal Labor Government.
The precursor of the position was known as the Chairman of the Australian Science and Technology Council (ASTEC). This body was created by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and the Federal Liberal Government in 1982 as a ‘think tank’, on science and technology.
Prior to 1997, the council was known as the Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council (PMSEC).
The full listing of Australia’s Chief Scientists to date is as follows:
- Cathy Foley (2021-present)
- Alan Finkel (2016-2020)
- Ian Chubb (2011-2015)
- Penny Sackett (2008-2011)
- Jim Peacock (2006-2008)
- Robin Batterham (1999-2005)
- John Stocker (1996-1999)
- Michael Pitman (1992-1996)
- Ralph Slatyer (1989-1992)
Dr Alan Finkel AO (2016-2020)
Dr Finkel commenced as Australia’s Chief Scientist on 25 January 2016 and concluded on 31 December 2020. He was Australia’s eighth Chief Scientist. Prior to his appointment, he served as President of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), and for eight years as Chancellor of Monash University.
As Chief Scientist, Dr Finkel was appointed in January 2020 as Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel for the CSIRO Report on Climate and Disaster Resilience, and in February 2020 he was appointed as Chair of the Technology Investment Roadmap Ministerial Reference Group.
In October 2020, at the request of National Cabinet, he led a review of the systems and operations in all states and territories for effective COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and outbreak management, and to exchange case and outbreak management data between states and territories.
Dr Finkel led the development of the 2019 National Hydrogen Strategy, the 2018 STEM Industry Partnership Forum report, the 2017 Review into the National Electricity Market (“Finkel Review”), and the 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap. As Chief Scientist, he served as the Deputy Chair of Industry Innovation and Science Australia.
Chief Scientist Activities – Dr Alan Finkel
Professor Ian Chubb AC (2011-2015)
Professor Ian Chubb was Chief Scientist of Australia from 19 April 2011 until 22 January 2016.
Prior to this appointment, Professor Chubb was Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University from January 2001 to February 2011. He was Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University of South Australia for six years and the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Monash University for two years while simultaneously the Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics for 16 months.
He was also Chair of the Higher Education Council (the Commonwealth Government’s peak advisory body on higher education) from September 1990 to December 1994 and was, until mid-1994, the Deputy Chair of the National Board of Employment, Education and Training (the Commonwealth’s peak advisory body on all matters related to the Employment, Education and Training portfolio). During 1993, he was Interim Chair and then Deputy Chair of the Committee for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.