The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) is part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Its primary responsibilities are to enable growth and productivity for globally competitive industries. To help realise this vision, the Department has four key objectives: supporting science and commercialisation, growing business investment and improving business capability, streamlining regulation and building a high performance organisation.
Chief Scientist
The Chief Scientist is responsible for advising the Government of Australia on scientific and technological issues.
The Chief Scientist chairs the Research Quality Framework Development Advisory Group, the National Research Priorities Standing Committee and is a member of other key Government committees: Coordination Committee on Science and Technology Prime Minister's Science Prizes Committee Cooperative Research Centres Committee Publicly Funded Research Agencies Committee Commonwealth, State and Territory Advisory Council on Innovation National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy Committee
Chief Scientists
1989–1992: Ralph Slatyer
1992–1996 : Michael Pitman
1996–1999: John Stocker, part-time
1999–2005 : Robin Batterham, part-time
2006–2008: Jim Peacock, part-time
2008–2011: Penny Sackett, full-time
2011–2016: Ian Chubb
2016–2020: Alan Finkel
2021–present: Cathy Foley
National Science and Technology Council
The National Science and Technology Council is responsible for providing advice to the Prime Minister and other Ministers on important science and technology issues facing Australia.
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, announced the new Council on 28 November 2018
The Council is Chaired by the Prime Minister, with the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology as Deputy Chair. Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Cathy Foley, is the Executive Officer.
History of Australian science councils
Australian Science, Technology and Engineering Council (1977–1997) Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (1997–2013) Commonwealth Science Council (2014–2018) National Science and Technology Council (2018–present) ()