Member Login - Account - Logout

Science and Technology Australia
  • Home
  • About STA
    • About Us
    • Executive and governance
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
    • Work for us
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Submissions, reports and publications
    • 2025 STA Federal Election Priorities
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Super STEM workshops
    • STEM Ambassadors
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
  • STA Membership
    • STA Membership
    • Our Members
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About STA
    • About Us
    • Executive and governance
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
    • Work for us
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Submissions, reports and publications
    • 2025 STA Federal Election Priorities
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Super STEM workshops
    • STEM Ambassadors
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
  • STA Membership
    • STA Membership
    • Our Members
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
24 October 2018

New science and tech leaders join STA board

STA star logo

The future of Australian science and technology is looking bright, following the election of nine new members to the Board of peak body Science & Technology Australia.

The new Board members are:

  • Agricultural and food sciences: Dr Damien Belobrajdic, Nutritional Society of Australia (SA Co-Chair); Senior scientist at CSIRO Health and Biosecurity
  • Biological Sciences: Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Society for Reproductive Biology; Executive Dean of Science and Technology, University of Canberra
  • Chemical Sciences: Dr Tom Cresswell, Vice-President, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Australasia; Isotope ecologist, ANSTO
  • Geological and Geographical Sciences: Marina Costelloe, Australian Geoscience Council; President, Australian Society for Geophysics
  • Mathematical sciences: Professor Adrian Barnett, Statistical Society of Australia (President); Statistician, Queensland University of Technology
  • Physical sciences: Associate Professor Cathryn Trott, Astronomical Society of Australia (Incoming President); Curtin University and Node Leader, ASTRO 3D
  • Plant and Ecological sciences: Professor Rachel Burton, Australian Society of Plant Scientists; Head of Department of Plant Science, University of Adelaide
  • Technological sciences: Dr Branwen Morgan, Australasian Genomic Technologies Association; General Manager, Ausgem, University of Technology Sydney
  • General member representative: Jasmine Chambers, National Tertiary Education Union; General Manager, Science, University of Sydney

The new Board members work in a range of roles at major Australian science agencies, tertiary institutions, and cross-sector collaborative organisations, and bring to STA a depth of experience in governance, strategy and leadership, as well as in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Professor Johnston said the new team brings enthusiasm, experience, new perspectives and diversity to the Board.

“We were thrilled by the response to our call for leaders to apply, which is a reflection of the organisation’s success and the calibre of those departing the Board,” Professor Johnston said.

“Our members have elected brave, articulate, experienced and passionate STEM professionals to support STA’s bold strategy as we work towards our mission of advancing the role, reputation and impact of science and technology.”

STA President Professor Emma Johnston AO thanked the outgoing Board members for their dedication and leadership, which has led to a significant expansion in STA’s programs and initiatives, and a growing capacity to speak as the lead voice for science and technology in Australia.

“During their terms over the last two years, each of our outgoing Board members has made an important contribution to our strategy and success,” Professor Johnston said.

“On behalf of the organisation, I’m grateful for the time and the work they’ve put in to building our capacity to advocate for the sector.”

Outgoing Board members are: Professor Dianne Jolley, Professor Coral Warr, Dr Duanne White, Professor Geoff Prince, Professor Andrew Peele, Professor Ulrike Mathesius, Professor Brian Yates, and Mr Peter Elford.

The STEM sector is central to Australia’s strong and competitive economy, resilient environment, and healthy population, Professor Johnston added.

“With evidence-based policy, strong support for scientific research, and better retention of our best minds in Australia – we will be well on our way to global success,” she said.

“With more STEM-skilled women and men in the workforce, we will have a much stronger foundation for innovation, and Australia’s environment, health, wealth and wellbeing will all prosper.”

Visit the STA website to meet the Board and learn about STA’s member organisations. Representing more than 70,000 STEM professionals through ~70 organisations, STA is a strong voice for the nation’s STEM sector.

For media enquiries, please contact (02) 6257 2891.

Share
advocacy board director election engineering leaders mathematics nomination not for profit peak body professional science technology volunteer
Previous StoryNational Teachers Summit now open to high school lab technicians
Next StoryResearch grants allocations must remain independent

Related Articles

  • Reef photo taken from above.
    Nominations open for the STA Policy Committee and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
  • markus-spiske-IiEFmIXZWSw-unsplash
    Nominations open for the STA Policy Committee and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee

ABOUT US

Science & Technology Australia (STA) is Australia’s peak body in science and technology. We represent more than 235,000 scientists, engineers and technologists. STA is an influential voice for evidence and expertise in public policy.

Recent news

  • Honouring Indigenous Knowledge, Leadership, and Connection This NAIDOC Week
  • Research and innovation will lift Australia out of the productivity doldrums
  • Congratulations to STA President Sharath Sriram – new Chief Scientist of Western Australia

Our members

  • All Members
  • Agricultural and Food Sciences
  • Aquatic Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemical Sciences
  • General Science and Technology
  • Geographical and Geological Sciences
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Medical and Cognitive Sciences
  • Physical Sciences
  • Plant and Ecological Sciences
  • Technological Sciences

Search for news

Most popular

  • R&D investment a sure bet on the future
  • Congratulations to STA President Sharath Sriram – new Chief Scientist of Western Australia
  • Congratulations Labor – now let’s build an Australia powered by Australian ideas
  • Research and innovation will lift Australia out of the productivity doldrums
  • Honouring Indigenous Knowledge, Leadership, and Connection This NAIDOC Week

Sign up to our newsletter

Science and Technology Australia Limited (STA) (ACN 664 679 056 and ABN 71 626 822 845) is a company limited by guarantee. STA was formerly known as Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies Inc and was authorised under section 82 of the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (ACT) to transfer its registration under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to its new company structure on 3 January 2023.

STA PRIVACY POLICY

OTHER STA POLICIES

ACNC Registered Charity Logo

Copyright © 2024 Science & Technology Australia. All Rights Reserved