Office of the Chief Scientist (Australia)

The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) is part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Its primary responsibilities are to enable growth and productivity for globally competitive industries. To help realise this vision, the department has four key objectives: supporting science and commercialisation, growing business investment and improving business capability, streamlining regulation and building a high performance organisation.

Chief Scientist

The chief scientist is responsible for advising the Government of Australia on scientific and technological issues.

The chief scientist chairs the Research Quality Framework Development Advisory Group,^[1] the National Research Priorities Standing Committee^[2] and is a member of other key government committees:^[3]

Coordination Committee on Science and Technology
Prime Minister's Science Prizes Committee
Cooperative Research Centres Committee
Publicly Funded Research Agencies Committee
Commonwealth, State and Territory Advisory Council on Innovation
National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy Committee^[4]

Chief scientists

No.	Chief Scientist	Held Office	Notes	Ref.
1	Ralph Slatyer	1989–1992	ecologist, Order of Australia	^[5]
2	Michael Pitman	1992–1996	botanist	^[6]^[7]
3	John Stocker	1996–1999	immunologist	^[8]^[9]
4	Robin Batterham	1999–2005	chemical engineer	^[8]^[10]^[11]
5	Jim Peacock	2006–2008	molecular biologist	^[12]
6	Penny Sackett	2008–2011	astronomer	^[13]
7	Ian Chubb	2011–2016	neuroscientist	^[14]
8	Alan Finkel	2016–2020	neuroscientist	^[15]
9	Cathy Foley	2021–2024	solid-state physicist	^[16]
10	Tony Haymet	2025–present	Oceanographer	^[17]

National Science and Technology Council

The National Science and Technology Council is responsible for providing advice to the Government on important science and technology issues facing Australia.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, and the minister for industry, science and technology, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, announced the new council on 28 November 2018.^[18]

The council is chaired by the prime minister, with the minister for industry, science and technology as deputy chair. Australia's chief scientist, Tony Haymet, is the executive officer.^[18]

History of Australian science councils

Australian Science, Technology and Engineering Council (1977–1997)^[19]
Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (1997–2013)^[20]
Commonwealth Science Council (2014–2018)^[21]
National Science and Technology Council (2018–present) (As of January 2024^[update])^[22]

References

^ "Research Quality Framework advice on preferred model". The Hon Julie Bishop MP (Press release). 28 March 2006. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
^ "National Research Priorities Standing Committee". Archived from the original on 7 February 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
^ "Ongoing activities and role of the Chief Scientist". Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
^ Committee ncris.innovation.gov.au ^{[dead link‍]}
^ "Assessment Panel for Co-operative Multi-Media Centres". National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 3 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
^ "Pitman, Michael George (1933–2000)". Bright Sparcs Biographical entry. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
^ "Michael George Pitman 1933–2000". Australian Academy of Science Biographical memoirs. 2002. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
^ ^a ^b W.J. Peacock (4 June 2004). "Submission to the Inquiry into the Office of the Chief Scientist". Australian Academy of Science. Archived from the original (RTF) on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
^ "CSIRO welcomes Chief Scientist". 22 November 1996. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
^ "Batterham, Robin John (1941 – )". Bright Sparcs Biographical entry. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
^ Barlow, Karen (17 May 2005). "Australia's Chief Scientist gives up Govt position for mining giant". ABC AM program. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
^ Percy, Karen (1 March 2006). "New chief scientist makes waves". The World Today. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
^ "ANU astronomer named new chief scientist". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
^ "Statement: A message from Professor Chubb". Office of the Chief Scientist. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
^ "Biography,AUSTRALIA'S CHIEF SCIENTIST". Office of the Chief Scientist. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
^ McCulloch, Daniel (9 November 2020). "Cathy Foley appointed next chief scientist". Canberra Times. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
^ "Professor Tony Haymet appointed as Australia's Chief Scientist" (Press release). Industry House, Binara Street, Canberra: Department of Industry, Science and Resources. 28 January 2025. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via Australian Government.
^ ^a ^b The Hon Karen Andrews MP; The Hon Scott Morrison MP (28 November 2018). "A stronger voice for Science and Technology". Prime Minister of Australia. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025.
^ "Australian Science and Technology Council (1977 - 1997)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. 20 March 2006 [18 December 2002]. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via Swinburne University of Technology.
^ "PMSEIC | Chief Scientist". www.chiefscientist.gov.au.
^ "COMMONWEALTH SCIENCE COUNCIL: FIRST MEETING | Chief Scientist". www.chiefscientist.gov.au.
^ "National Science and Technology Council". Australia's Chief Scientist. Retrieved 18 June 2022.

External links

The Chief Scientist

[1] "Research Quality Framework advice on preferred model". The Hon Julie Bishop MP (Press release). 28 March 2006. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2007.

[2] "National Research Priorities Standing Committee". Archived from the original on 7 February 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2007.

[3] "Ongoing activities and role of the Chief Scientist". Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2007.

[4] Committee ncris.innovation.gov.au ^{[dead link‍]}

[nla-ralph-5] "Assessment Panel for Co-operative Multi-Media Centres". National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 3 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2007.

[6] "Pitman, Michael George (1933–2000)". Bright Sparcs Biographical entry. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2010.

[7] "Michael George Pitman 1933–2000". Australian Academy of Science Biographical memoirs. 2002. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2010.

[inquiry-8] W.J. Peacock (4 June 2004). "Submission to the Inquiry into the Office of the Chief Scientist". Australian Academy of Science. Archived from the original (RTF) on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2010.

[9] "CSIRO welcomes Chief Scientist". 22 November 1996. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2010.

[10] "Batterham, Robin John (1941 – )". Bright Sparcs Biographical entry. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2010.

[11] Barlow, Karen (17 May 2005). "Australia's Chief Scientist gives up Govt position for mining giant". ABC AM program. Retrieved 7 February 2010.

[jim_peacock_announced-12] Percy, Karen (1 March 2006). "New chief scientist makes waves". The World Today. Retrieved 7 February 2010.

[13] "ANU astronomer named new chief scientist". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2010.

[14] "Statement: A message from Professor Chubb". Office of the Chief Scientist. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.

[15] "Biography,AUSTRALIA'S CHIEF SCIENTIST". Office of the Chief Scientist. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.

[Foley-16] McCulloch, Daniel (9 November 2020). "Cathy Foley appointed next chief scientist". Canberra Times. Retrieved 9 November 2020.

[Haymet-17] "Professor Tony Haymet appointed as Australia's Chief Scientist" (Press release). Industry House, Binara Street, Canberra: Department of Industry, Science and Resources. 28 January 2025. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via Australian Government.

[Council-18] The Hon Karen Andrews MP; The Hon Scott Morrison MP (28 November 2018). "A stronger voice for Science and Technology". Prime Minister of Australia. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025.

[19] "Australian Science and Technology Council (1977 - 1997)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. 20 March 2006 [18 December 2002]. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via Swinburne University of Technology.

[20] "PMSEIC | Chief Scientist". www.chiefscientist.gov.au.

[21] "COMMONWEALTH SCIENCE COUNCIL: FIRST MEETING | Chief Scientist". www.chiefscientist.gov.au.

[22] "National Science and Technology Council". Australia's Chief Scientist. Retrieved 18 June 2022.

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