GOVERNANCE
The Federation
The Federation meets at least once a year at an Annual General Meeting. All members are entitled to vote at these meetings.
The Board
The Board is responsible for the strategy, governance and membership functions of Science & Technology Australia. It is made up of the Executive and 12 cluster representatives, each of whom are the chosen by STA members.
Ten of these positions are elected by disciplinary-based groups, and the remaining two represent general members which are not primarily disciplinary-based.
The Executive
The Executive is delegated by the Board to manage the ordinary operations of the organisation.
It consists of nine members - the Chief Executive Officer and eight elected members.
Three levels of organisation make up Science & Technology Australia
The STA Board comprises members of the Executive Committee, and 12 Cluster Group representatives, each of whom are elected by STA members in their cluster.
A Cluster Group appointment is for two years, with a possibility to stand for a second term (to a maximum of four years). Elections to the Board are held every October.
STA makes a general call for nominations, and Cluster members vote to choose the successful candidate. Candidates must be a member of at least one of the organisations in the relevant Cluster.
Election for the Executive are held in alternate years, see below for specific details.
Elected in even years
- President-elect (1-year term) who assumes
the Presidency in the odd year (for 2 years) - Secretary (2-year term)
- Chair, Policy Committee (2-year term)
- Early Career Scientist (2-year term)
Elected in odd years
- Vice-President (2-year term)
- Treasurer (2-year term)
- Ordinary Member (1-year term)
- Early Career Representative (2-year term)
STA COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS
STEM Sector Policy Committee
- Professor Sharath Sriram (Chair)
Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society (AMMS) - Dr Pallave Dasari
Women in STEMM Australia - Dr Kathy Nicholson
Centre for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP) and Women in STEMM Australia - Professor Adrian Barnett
Statistical Society of Australia - Dr Andrew Black
Royal Australian Chemical Institute - Dr Bek Christensen
Ecological Society of Australia - Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea
Women in STEMM - Professor Megan Munsie
Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research - Special advisor: Professor Les Field
Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
- Dr Muneera Bano
Computing Research and Education Association of Australia - Dr Anita Goh (Co-Chair)
Australian Psychological Society & Women in STEMM Australia - Corey Tutt
Deadly Science - Dr Sumeet Walia (Co-Chair)
Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society - Dr Susanna Cramb
Statistical Society of Australia - Dr Erin McGillick
Reproductive Health Australia - Dr Tara Roberson
ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems
Financial Audit and Risk Committee
- Professor Judith Dawes (Chair)
Australian Optical Society (AOS) - Dr Darren Saunders
Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) - Professor Nonna Martinov-Bennie
Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University - Chief Executive Officer – Science & Technology Australia
Constitutional Review Working Group
- Dr Darren Saunders (Chair)
Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) - Dr Jeremy Brownlie
Genetics Society of Australasia (GSA) & STA President - Dr Kathy Nicholson
Centre for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP) and Women in STEMM Australia - Professor Andrew Peele
Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) - Professor Leann Tilley
Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) - Chief Executive Officer – Science & Technology Australia
- Georgie Ovin
STA Staff Member
PAST PRESIDENTS
Jeremy Brownlie (2019-2021) Deputy Head of School and Molecular Geneticist at Griffith University
Emma Johnston (2017 -2019), Dean of Science and Professor of Marine Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of New South Wales
Jim Piper (2015-2017), Research Leader at the Centre for Nanoscale BioPhotonics and former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Macquarie University
Ross Smith (2013-2015), then Director of environmental consulting company Hydrobiology.
Michael Holland (2011-2013), then Deputy Head of the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland.
Cathy Foley (2009-2011), then Deputy and Science Director, CSIRO Manufacturing. Later became Chief Scientist of Australia.
Ken Baldwin (2007-2009), Deputy Director, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Professor, Australian National University.
Tom Spurling (2005 - 2007), former CEO of the CRC for Wood Innovations; Professor, Swinburne University of Technology and member of the CSIRO Board.
Snow Barlow (2003-2005), Professor of Horticulture and Viticulture, University of Melbourne.
Chris Fell (2001-2003), former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of New South Wales.
Peter Cullen (March-November 2001) then Director, CRC for Freshwater Ecology, Canberra; Wentworth Group of Scientists.
Sue Serjeantson (1999-March 2001), then Deputy Vice Chancellor - Australian National University, Sue retired from position as Executive Secretary Australian Academy of Science in 2008.
Peter Cullen (1997-1999), then Director, CRC for Freshwater Ecology, Canberra.
Joe Baker (1995-1997), former ACT Commissioner for the Environment; Director of AIMS and Chief Scientist, Queensland.
Graham Johnston (1993-1995), then Professor of Pharmacology, University of Sydney.
Ditta Bartels (1991-93), then Counsellor for Science and Technology, Australian Embassy, Bonn.
Tony Wicken (1989-1991), then Professor of Microbiology, UNSW, formerly Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) UNSW.
Frank Larkins (1987-89), then Professor of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, and also a former Deputy Vice Chancellor (International) University of Melbourne.
Fred Smith (1985-87), then Professor of Physics, Monash University and a former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) La Trobe University.
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