More than two dozen women and men with impressive track records in leadership and creating impact have been elected Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
They include industry experts in infrastructure, mining and agriculture, leaders in federal government departments and world-renowned researchers.
The 25 experts were formally welcomed into the Academy at its annual general meeting in Melbourne on 23 November.
The Academy elected a Foreign Fellow and an Honorary Fellow.
Academy President, Professor Hugh Bradlow, welcomed their election, saying the new Fellows strengthened the Academy’s aim of ensuring that Australia remained a world-leading technology economy.
“We’re motivated by what’s best for our nation’s future,” he said. “And we do that by bringing together the brightest minds in technology, engineering and science to offer impartial, evidence-based, and practical advice.”
The 25 new Fellows include 10 women – exceeding the Academy’s short-term target of electing one-third of its new Fellows from female candidates.
2018 Fellows
Professor Genevieve Bell FTSE
Distinguished Professor, The Australian National University (ACT)
Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell is the foremost global leader in applying social sciences and cultural anthropology to technology development and digital transformation. With a background in cultural anthropology, she has an unparalleled reputation as a leader at the intersection of technology and social sciences, and the impact of digital transformation. Her combined industry and academic impact are creating new fields at the intersection of social and technology sciences. Her insight and ability to communicate this insight to a wide range of audiences has put her in a unique position to influence government, industry, academia and the public. She has been a globally recognised champion of diversity and gender equity, and a practical mentor and supervisor to colleagues and students.
Leeanne Bond FTSE
Non-Executive Director, Liquified Natural Gas Limited (QLD)
Leeanne Bond is a widely recognised professional engineer who is highly influential in sectors focused on Australia’s future infrastructure needs. She is a successful company director with a strong track record of converting technical innovation into commercial value. Ms Bond offers an international perspective, specifically on energy technologies to meet global climate goals. She is an experienced industry leader driving international best practice in project management and delivery. She works effectively across industry, government and academia, is a persuasive communicator and is a strong advocate for diversity in engineering.
Professor Michael Brear FTSE
Professor, The University of Melbourne (VIC)
Professor Michael Brear is recognised internationally for transport and energy research, his advice to government and for excellence in education. He is an outstanding strategic leader and as such was appointed Director of the Melbourne Energy Institute (MEI) at the University of Melbourne in late 2016. He leads the Institute’s research on the technical, economic, environmental and social impacts of energy. Professor Brear will be a strong advocate for industrially focused and impactful research in energy and transport, facilitating collaboration between industry, government agencies and researchers.
Professor Attila Brungs FTSE
Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Technology Sydney (NSW)
Professor Attila Brungs is an innovator who helps shape higher education to meet community needs alongside industry demands for the jobs of the future. He is a strategic, inspiring leader who has helped transform the University of Technology Sydney, driving its vision to become a world-leading university of technology that has community engagement and social justice at its core. In a career spanning industry, government and academia he has led transformative programs related to research, innovation and collaboration. Professor Brungs is a passionate advocate for innovation.
Professor Mark Burry AO FTSE
Professor of Urban Futures and Director of the Smart Cities Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology (VIC)
Professor Mark Burry is a world leader in the “science of architecture”, pioneering digital technology for construction and sustainable building processes. He is world-renowned for his contribution towards the completion of Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona, Spain. He has been at the forefront of the development of the digital in architecture, having received many ARC research grants and awards for his expertise in architecture, mathematics and the digitilisation of design and society. From 2006-2011 he held an ARC Federation Fellowship for Complex Architecture and Convergent Design. He was a member of the panel presenting a case for creativity within science and engineering Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) in 2005, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished services to spatial information architecture, and as an innovator in the application of digital manufacturing and construction methods.
Dr Alan Bye FTSE
Vice-President Technology Strategy & Innovation, BHP (WA)
As an international leader in mining innovation, Dr Alan Bye has influenced the development and adoption of new mining technologies worldwide. He has been at the forefront of some of the most innovative development activities of the last two decades in the fields of geometallurgy, geotechnical and mining engineering. His multidisciplinary work has built new research and development capability, which has been translated into significant mining operational impact. From a base of deep technical and operational leadership he has a strong track record of leading complex businesses delivering superior results.
Professor Colin Andrew Campbell FTSE
Chief Executive Officer, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACT)
Professor Andrew Campbell is a leader in resource management and agricultural development and has helped to transform land management in Australia. He is an international leader in natural resources and agricultural development, and an influential advocate for the use of scientific knowledge and systems approaches in land and water management and policy. For more than 30 years he has shaped research, application and policy development in Australia, and provided innovative leadership to key national organisations including Land & Water Australia and ACIAR. He was instrumental in the development of Landcare in Australia and has contributed substantially to Australia’s knowledge of land, water and biodiversity and its application.
Professor Wallace Cowling FTSE
Professor, The University of Western Australia (WA)
Professor Wallace Cowling is an outstanding contributor to Australian agricultural science, technology and productivity through advances in crop breeding. He is an outstanding innovator at the interface of technology and commerce in Australian and international agriculture. As a research leader and company director, he has bred and released more than 60 crop varieties which have improved the production, profitability and sustainability of the Australian grains industry. His research across the disciplines of animal and plant breeding challenges the status quo and promises major improvements. He trains young plant breeders and early career researchers in this new approach.
Dr John Dixon FTSE
Principal Advisor, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACT)
Dr John Dixon has made major contributions to food security and incomes of smallholder farmers, and to sustainable development. He is recognised internationally as a leading advocate of international agricultural research and its benefits to farmers in developing country, as well as to Australia. For four decades he has worked in the field in many countries helping smallholder farmers increase their productivity, sustainability and resilience through farming systems research and development, sustainable intensification and diversification and innovation systems. At the same time he has been instrumental in policy changes at the highest levels of global agricultural institutions.
Professor Annabelle Duncan PSM FTSE
Vice-Chancellor, University of New England (NSW)
Professor Annabelle Duncan is an outstanding educational leader with a very strong track record in the commercial application of biological and agricultural sciences. She has extensive successful experience in working in multilateral, multidisciplinary environments, developing scientifically sound, consensus documents which help to inform policy development on contentious topics. She has worked in CSIRO and the university sector, collaborating closely with industry and being responsible for spin-off technology companies. She has always placed emphasis on how her work can be of economic, environmental or societal benefit. Professor Duncan is an outstanding educator in science and technology.
Dr Gordon Frazer FIEEE FTSE
Research Leader High Frequency Radar, Defence Science and Technology (SA)
Dr Gordon Frazer is an internationally renowned scientist and engineer who has delivered world-leading radar capabilities for Defence. He is internationally recognised for his expertise and pioneering research in the field of Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR). His designs have advanced current and next-generation OTHR, and led to the development of fundamentally new radar architectures. During his pursuit of excellence and impact throughout his career, Dr Frazer has established strong partnerships between Defence and industry to translate his research results into Defence capability outcomes.
Professor Justin Gooding FAA FTSE
ARC Australian Laureate Fellow, The University of New South Wales (NSW)
Scientia Professor Justin Gooding has made pioneering, sustained contributions to the field of biosensor research, both nationally and internationally, for more than 20 years. As an outstanding innovator, research leader and mentor, the level of respect he enjoys in his field and across the sector is clear from his string of senior appointments, influential roles and awards, as well as his election to the fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science. Moreover, his extensive influence upon industry adoption and commercialisation of biosensors – both in Australia and internationally – makes him an exceptional addition to the Fellowship.
Professor Keith Hampson FTSE
Chief Executive Officer, Australian Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBEnrc), Curtin University (WA)
Professor Keith Hampson is recognised globally for his award-winning collaborations translating research into practice in the construction industry. He established and is Chief Executive Officer of the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (and its CRC predecessor), and is Vice-President of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction. His exceptional leadership has brought together business, government, policy-makers, researchers and educators to transform the construction industry. He has authored more than 200 publications, delivered millions of dollars in industry research and mentored future leaders.
Professor Emily Hilder FTSE
Director, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia (SA)
Professor Emily Hilder is a world-leading analytical chemist who has pioneered disruptive approaches to chromatography, microsampling, blood analysis, explosives detection and biopharmaceutical analysis. This has led to commercial and field adoption – her heparin contamination detection work is used by the USA FDA and multinationals use her chromatography advances for protein analysis, DNA purification and ion analysis. Her supportive leadership and collaborative approach has underpinned her success and brought together industry, government, researchers and students to focus on tomorrow’s solutions.
Dr Anna Koltunow FAA FTSE
Team Leader, CSIRO (SA)
Dr Anna Koltunow’s achievements in plant reproduction and seedless fruit formation are used for developing crops with transformational productivity gains. She has made outstanding contributions to our understanding of agricultural plant reproduction by defining the mechanisms that regulate fruit and seed formation. She has applied this knowledge to generate seedless fruit. Dr Koltunow’s highly cited research is being applied for the development of food crops such as sorghum and cowpea, with transformational productivity improvements that will benefit small farmers in developing countries.
Sue MacLeman FTSE
Chair and Non-Executive Director, MTP Connect Ltd (VIC)
Sue MacLeman has more than 30 years’ experience as a pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology executive with senior roles in corporate, medical, commercial and business development. Ms MacLeman has also served as CEO and Board member of several ASX and NASDAQ-listed companies in the sector. She has previously served as CEO and Managing Director and Non-Executive Director of MTPConnect (MTPII-GC Ltd) and is now Chair of MTPConnect. Ms MacLeman is also Chair of Anatara Lifesciences Ltd, Chair of Novita Healthcare Ltd, Non-Executive Director of Oventus Medical Ltd, Imunexus and veski. She is also appointed to a number of academic and government advisory committees. Her broad commercial experience is underpinned by graduate qualifications in pharmacy and postgraduate qualifications in commercial law, corporate governance, business administration and marketing.
Professor Eric May FTSE
Professor, The University of Western Australia (WA)
Professor Eric May is a global leader in natural gas science and engineering, thermodynamics and metrology and has achieved enormous practical outcomes. He received a Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for “his work in the measurement of fundamental fluid properties and their application in bringing Australia’s natural gas resources to market”. His research has enabled industry to reduce the cost and environmental impact of LNG production, enabled offshore reserves to be developed economically, advanced CCS operations and improved custody transfer standards. Technologies he developed for reducing methane emissions are now being field tested.
Professor Christopher Moran FTSE
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), Curtin University (WA)
Professor Christopher Moran is a world leader in sustainable water management in the resources industry, responsible for major changes in practice in Australia and worldwide. He has demonstrated this leadership through his development and direction of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland, through his leadership and creativity in generating a mine water accounting system which has been adopted worldwide by the mining sector, and by a long-time research record in water and environment that has had industry and policy impact in soils management, in CSG water management and in underground coal gasification risk assessment.
Dr Sarah Pearson FTSE
Chief Innovation Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (ACT)
Dr Sarah Pearson is an internationally respected innovation leader with an outstanding record of achievement and extensive experience across industry, academia, management consulting, government and science communication. Passionately committed to collaboratively building transformative innovation success, her impacts span discoveries in cancer diagnosis used by pathologists; patents applied in novel confectionery; policy development leading to targeted research support for industry; and championing the establishment of innovation ecosystems via her leadership of DFAT’s innovationXchange and founding the successful Canberra Innovation Network.
Professor Andrew Peele FTSE
Director, Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO (VIC)
Professor Andrew Peele has demonstrated leadership in the evolution of the Australian Synchrotron, translating research benefits to society, and is an influential voice for science. As Director of the Synchrotron, he has been a driving force stabilising an uncertain funding future, garnering recognition of the impact of the facility in delivering science with real-life benefits, and cementing a major capital expansion for new beamlines. Underpinned by research achievements that created the foundation for new synchrotron-based imaging methods and leadership of initiatives to translate synchrotron research into industry benefits, Professor Peele has used his public profile as the president of the Australian Institute of Physics to contribute to the community by emphasising the impact and importance of science to society.
Professor Fiona Stapleton FTSE
Head, School of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of New South Wales (NSW)
Professor Fiona Stapleton has made outstanding, sustained contributions to the field of eye health and technology, both nationally and internationally, for more than 25 years. As an exceptional researcher, mentor and role model for young women, the level of respect she enjoys across the industry and tertiary sector is clear from her string of senior appointments and influential roles. Her influence upon the contact lens industry is evidenced by close collaboration, research translation and prestigious awards.
Professor Chun Wang FTSE
Professor, The University of New South Wales (NSW)
Professor Chun Wang has made outstanding contributions to fatigue design, bonded composite repairs and in situ imaging of structural damage in aircraft. His innovations have been incorporated in world-leading software for fatigue design, engineering manuals for designing structural repairs for advanced fibrecomposite structures, and international patents for in situ imaging of structural damage. He has also provided outstanding leadership for university engagement with industry, and in establishing Industry Transformation Training Centres that will generate significant economic benefits for Australia.
Professor Phillip Watson FTSE
Shell Chair in Offshore Engineering, The University of Western Australia (WA)
Professor Phillip Watson is a world-leading expert on offshore geotechnics, setting direction of technology and innovation for a Group of Eight university in consultation with industry leaders. He led Australian specialist consultancy Advanced Geomechanics for six years, overseeing a period of significant growth, before negotiating its sale to international company Fugro. He served as Global Director of GeoConsulting for Fugro, spanning onshore and offshore activities, with emphasis on integration, innovation and technology. He now holds the Shell Chair in Offshore Engineering and is also OFFshore Hub Director (both at UWA), managing multidisciplinary research teams.
Professor Johanna Westbrook FTSE
Director, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University (NSW)
Professor Johanna Westbrook is internationally recognised for her research in health informatics evaluation and is among the most published researchers in this field – fifth in the world ranked by h-index. Her work has resulted in advanced software tools and methods which have been adopted internationally and have generated new knowledge, substantially improving our understanding of clinical communication and work practices and how these impact patient safety. She has also made very significant advances in our understanding of how clinical information systems deliver (or fail to deliver) expected benefits. This evidence has resulted in changes to commercial IT systems and has been used by governments and policy-makers internationally.
Dr Dong Yang Wu FTSE
Chief Aerospace Division, Defence Science and Technology (VIC)
Dr Dong Yang Wu is a leader in the translation of innovative research outcomes into high-impact applications. She is globally recognised by industry, academia and government for her research in materials science, manufacturing and sustainability and her visionary leadership in developing and commercialising innovative research into high impact applications. Her achievements have been recognised through numerous awards, including her selection to the prestigious Boeing Technical Fellowship and her current appointment as Chief of Aerospace Division at Defence Science and Technology, leading national and international research efforts to deliver game-changing aerospace capabilities.
2018 Foreign Fellow
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw FTSE
Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon Limited (India)
Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a global influencer and biotechnologist, is the founder and chairperson of Biocon, Asia’s leading biopharmaceuticals enterprise. Named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, she is recognised as a global thought leader. She has been appointed Knight of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour by the government of France for her outstanding contribution to the world of biosciences. Since 2010, she has been on Forbes’ list of the 100 most powerful women in the world and recently has been recognised as the only Indian on Forbes’ list of World’s Self-Made Women Billionaires.
2018 Honorary Fellow
Elizabeth Broderick AO FTSE
Principal, Elizabeth Broderick and Co (NSW)
With a Bachelor of Arts (major in computer science) and Law degree from UNSW in 1989, Ms Elizabeth Broderick founded the legal technology group at Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst), being named Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year in 2001. During her tenure as Sex Discrimination Commissioner from 2007-15 she founded Male Champions of Change (MCC) to help advance gender equality in Australia and in 2016 extended the program to include MCC STEM and agreed to Chair the Expert Advisory Group of Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE). She has been a social innovator and visionary who has championed important matters concerning gender equality that have led to significant improvements in Australian society.