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, the National Research Priorities Standing Committee and is a member of other key government committees: 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 CommitteeCommittee ncris.innovation.gov.au

Chief scientists Source

Portrait Chief Scientist Held Office Notes Ralph Slatyer1989–1992ecologist, Order of AustraliaMichael Pitman1992–1996 botanistJohn Stocker1996–1999immunologistRobin Batterham1999–2005chemical engineerJim Peacock2006–2008molecular biologistPenny Sackett2008–2011astronomerIan Chubb2011–2016neuroscientistAlan Finkel2016–2020neuroscientistCathy Foley2021–2024solid-state physicistTony Haymet2025–presentOceanographer

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.

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.

History of Australian science councils Australian Science, Technology and Engineering Council (1977–1997) Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (1997–2013) Commonwealth Science Council (2014–2018) National Science and Technology Council (2018–present) ()

See also Backing Australia's Ability

References

External links