Professor Rae is Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Victoria University of Technology. Before that, as Dean of Science at Monash University, he managed the faculty with a budget of $30 mi II ion, 3000 students and 400 staff.
He chairs the Scheduled Waste Management Group and the National Advisory Board on Scheduled Wastes for the ANZECC ministers and is charged with the introduction of management plans for Scheduled Wastes in Australia.
Professor Rae's association with secondary school Chemistry has him regarded by the Australian Academy of Science as the leader in management and development of school science curricula.
His regular writing for the media represents sustained and effective communication of science and technology to wide audiences.