Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that Dr Cathy Foley, who has spent the last two years as the CSIRO’s Chief Scientist, will take over as the nation’s Chief Scientist from Dr Alan Finkel AO whose tenure comes to an end in December 2020.
Mr Morrison said Dr Foley had the background needed to deliver during such a pivotal time in history. “As we recover from COVID-19 and look to rebuild a brighter future, the role of the Chief Scientist has never been more important,” Prime Minister Morrison said. “Dr Foley has a big task ahead to drive collaboration between industry and the science and research community, as we look to create jobs for the COVID-19 recovery and for the future.”
AMSI enjoys a close working relationship with the Office of the Chief Scientist, conducting joint research, and publication of salient reports and commentary.
“Dr Alan Finkel is respected and valued as a collaborator and friend of AMSI, and as a proponent for STEM and the mathematical sciences,” said Professor Asha Rao, interim director of AMSI. “His contribution to the science community in Australia is significant in so many ways, and we look forward to sustaining a relationship in some new form moving forward. AMSI welcomes Dr Foley’s appointment as our new Chief Scientist recognising her advocacy for women in mathematics, and our close collaboration will continue to the nation’s benefit.”
Read the Prime Minister’s announcement.
