I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Kim Ellis as the new director of the Department of Environment and Energy’s Australian Antarctic Division.
Mr Ellis is suitably qualified to lead the Division as it enters an exciting new era of research, operations and international engagement in Australia’s Antarctic territory.
Currently the Executive Director of Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands in NSW, and having led a diverse range of high profile government and science organisations, Mr Ellis brings a wealth of experience to this position.
As Director of the AAD, Mr Ellis will lead Australia’s Antarctic Program, coordinating science and research programs in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, promoting our research through grants and other support, and maintaining our permanent stations on the continent.
Mr Ellis will commence in the role early in 2019.
On behalf of the Federal Government, I thank outgoing Director Dr Nick Gales, who is retiring after a long and successful career serving the Division since the 1980s.
From joining as a veterinary scientist, spending a winter in Antarctica studying elephant seals, through his time as Chief Scientist developing the Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan to launching the build of our new icebreaker RSV Nuyina, Dr Gales has made an impressive contribution to Australian Antarctic research.
Dr Gales has also been the Australian Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), leading Australia’s efforts to end scientific whaling.
I wish him all the best with the next chapter of his life.
