In a career spanning over 30 years Professor Micheal Barber has made significant contributions to Australian science and technology. As an applied mathematician he is internationally recognized for his contributions to statistical mechanics. As a research manager and leader, at the University of Western Australia, as a senior executive in CSIRO, and now as Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University he is recogniaed for major strategic contributions that have enabled these institutions to significantly enhance the impact of their R&D. He regularly serves on major advisory committees in Australia and internationally. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.