Leading Australian innovator and science entrepreneur Professor Mark Hutchinson today became the new President of Science & Technology Australia.
The dynamic science leader is the first South Australian to serve as President of the nation's peak body representing 90,000 scientists and technologists.
Professor Hutchinson is the Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics at the University of Adelaide.
Under his leadership, the centre has translated fundamental science discoveries at the lab bench into economic value in the boardroom, forging 30 industry partnerships and creating 15 startups and spinoffs.
He succeeds Associate Professor Jeremy Brownlie, who served with distinction as STA President through the past two years through a pandemic, bushfire recovery, and a major expansion of STA's policy influence and profile.
STA has also welcomed new Board Members following today's Annual General Meeting:
- Incoming STA Vice President - clinical neuropsychologist and Superstar of STEM Dr Anita Goh;
- Incoming STA Treasurer - Pawsey Supercomputing Centre CEO Mark Stickells;
- Incoming Executive Member - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance Chair and Quandamooka mathematician Professor Chris Matthews;
- Incoming Early Career Representative – Miss Diana Zhang, Fulbright Future and PhD Scientia Scholar from the School of Chemistry, UNSW.
Professor Hutchinson said his priorities as President would be to help the country tap into its vast scientific knowledge and talent to help solve its biggest challenges.
"Science has been the source of solutions to the pandemic," he said.
"As magnificent as science's response has been, the pandemic has only called on a tiny fraction of the nation's science capability. Imagine what would be possible if governments drew on the full breadth of science and technology in every policy area to solve challenges, seize opportunities, and tackle big and complex issues."
"At the coming election, I want to see all the political parties put science and technology front and centre - to serve the nation, shape policy, and build stronger sovereign capability for Australia. We know this is what the Australian people want."
"STA and its 90,000-strong membership base are a powerful resource for Australia. We are eager to serve the nation and work with governments to bring deep science and technology expertise to the whole range of challenges the nation faces. This includes our major push to translate and commercialise more of the world-leading science and research done in Australia."
Professor Hutchinson paid tribute to outgoing President Jeremy Brownlie.
"Jeremy Brownlie has been an outstanding president for STA and a brilliant leader for Australia's science and technology community."
"Under his leadership, STA has powerfully grown its role as a trusted voice for those working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. He has powerfully advocated for the sector and the nation, working with politicians and political parties right across the Parliament to put science at the heart of tackling the big issues."
A senior science leader at Griffith University, Dr Brownlie has served on the Board and Executive of Science & Technology Australia for an impressive 11 years.
"It has been such a privilege to lead the sector as science mobilised magnificently to respond to the big challenges – a global pandemic, a terrifying bushfire season and recovery, and the urgent challenge of climate change," he said.
"I'm proud that STA is now truly the leading voice for the science and technology community, and an organisation with deep influence in the policy landscape."
"I am so pleased to see Mark step into the Presidency and know I'm leaving the organisation and sector in the hands of an outstanding leader."
