National Oration: Getting serious about getting to zero
As the Australian Government seeks to legislate more ambitious emissions reductions targets and positions itself as a renewable energy powerhouse, hear from past ATSE President, past Chief Scientist and global authority on low-emissions technology Dr Alan Finkel AC FAA FTSE.
Dr Finkel has presented a national oration to discuss policies, scale and pace of technology deployment needed to meaningfully reduce atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases – while continuing to provide the energy, products and agricultural crops demanded by our modern lifestyle.
This event was free and open to all.
Speaker
Dr Alan Finkel AC FAA FTSE
Special Adviser to the Australian Government on Low Emissions Technology, Former President of ATSE
Dr Alan Finkel AC FAA FTSE is a neuroscientist, engineer and entrepreneur. He was Australia’s Chief Scientist from 2016 to 2020, during which time he led the National Electricity Market Review, the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy, and the panel that advised the Australian Government on the 2020 Low Emissions Technology Roadmap. He is currently Chair of Stile Education, Chair of the Australian Government’s Technology Investment Advisory Council, Special Adviser to the Australian Government on Low Emissions Technology and Chair of the International Expert Panel for the Australian Government-hosted Sydney Energy Forum held in July 2022.
Moderator
Dr Helen Cleugh FTSE
Post Retirement Fellow, CSIRO
Dr Helen Cleugh FTSE is an atmospheric scientist with over 30 years’ experience combining research discovery, delivery and leadership in the field of land – air interactions and their effects on weather, climate and hydrology; and water-use and carbon uptake. She remains an active researcher with OzFlux and the WCRP.
Dr Cleugh was the inaugural Director of CSIRO’s Climate Science Centre from 2017 to 2020 and Director of the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub from 2015 – 2017. Both roles were about ensuring that decision-making in Australia is effectively informed by an understanding of Australia’s and future climate. Prior to this she was a senior leader of climate and atmospheric research within CSIRO where, in collaboration with national research providers and funders, she was responsible for delivering the research needed for Australia to manage the challenges and opportunities of a changing and variable climate.