As a research scientist at the CSIRO, and then a CSIRO Research Director for 20 years, he led the development and commercialisation of technologies for mining, mineral processing and national security and the founding of 5 companies. He is a recipient of national and international awards recognising these contributions, including the Australia Prize (Prime Ministerial award), the Prime Ministers Prize for Innovation, the CSIRO Chair’s Medal, the CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement, and the Eureka Prize in Support of Defence and National Security. He co-founded MRead Limited in 2023 and is currently the CTO leading technology developments for humanitarian demining.

Dr Cutmore has made an outstanding contribution to the Australian minerals, energy and high technology manufacturing industries through the development, application and commercialisation of on-line analysis instrumentation over the past 20 years. Notable among these isntrument systems are the through belt microwave moisture monitor and the on-line carbon-in-fly ash monitor (both licensed to Scantech International) and the new low frequency microwave moisture monitor that extends and replaces the existing commercial technology in many applications. In addition he has initiated and led new strategic research in ore characterisation and sorting involving the development and application of novel laser, XRF and NQR based sensors.