Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM, was appointed as Australia’s Chief Scientist in January 2021. 

She is supported in her work by the Office of the Chief Scientist, hosted by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. 

Dr Foley was reappointed in December 2023 for a further 12 months. 

Before being appointed as Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Foley had a long career at Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, where she was appointed as the agency’s Chief Scientist in August 2018.

Dr Foley made significant contributions to the understanding of nitride semiconductors and superconducting electronics during her time at CSIRO. Dr Foley and her team’s most successful application was the LANDTEM sensor system, which is used to locate valuable deposits of minerals deep underground, such as nickel sulphide, silver and gold.

Dr Foley’s scientific excellence and influential leadership has been recognised with numerous awards and fellowships, including:

• The Public Service Medal in 2003.
• Election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering in 2008
• The IEEE award for Continuing and Significant Contributions in the field of Applied Superconductivity 2014.
• The Clunies Ross Medal of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering in 2015.
• The Australian Institute of Physics Medal for Outstanding Service to Physics in 2016.
• Election to the Australian Academy of Science in 2020.
• Officer in the Order of Australia for service to research science and the advancement of women in physics in 2020.

Dr Foley’s previous roles include: 

• Membership of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council
• President of the Australian Institute of Physics
• President of Science and Technology Australia
• Council member for Questacon

Dr Foley is co-patron of Science Meets Parliament 2024 with Professor Brian Schmidt, patron of Curious Minds – an organisation that empowers girls who are passionate, high performers in STEM to explore their full potential and Editor-in-Chief of the Superconductor Science and Technology journal.

Dr Foley is committed to supporting the development of the Australian quantum industry and helping Australia realise the transformative potential of emerging technologies and meet the climate challenge. She is an inspiration to women in STEM and focused strongly on equity and diversity in the science sector.

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