Ryan Winn is Chief Executive Officer of Science & Technology Australia (STA) – the nation’s peak body for people working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

He is a distinguished Chief Executive and Australian policy leader with extensive experience in the public service and higher education sectors. He commenced his role with STA in May 2024. As CEO of the organisation, he is a passionate advocate for advancing science – standing up for and speaking out on the views of the 225,000+ scientists and technologists the organisation represents. This role builds on over a decade of experience in leading work to improve access, investment and use of cutting-edge research and innovation across the country. 

Prior to STA, Ryan was Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA). Before that, he led complex policy in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Education, where he addressed critical issues in higher education, research infrastructure, early childhood education, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. 

Key examples of Ryan’s passion and successes include playing an instrumental role in the development of the 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap and the subsequent Research Infrastructure Investment Plan. These have significantly enhanced Australia’s research capabilities and investment, with an additional $2.2 billion committed over 11 years. Ryan also led work to modernise research assessment, and on enhancing the access and impact of research-evidence in the Australian Parliament.