Former Science and Technology Australia president Mark Hutchinson is the new interim director of the University of Adelaide Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS).
Mr Hutchinson, who left the representative group in November 2023, replaces IPAS’ outgoing director Professor Andre Luiten, who will move into the newly created role chief innovator at the institute.
He will also continue in his appointments on the Australian Economic Accelerator program advisory board, the Australian Research Council (ARC) chief executive advisory board, and the National Science and Technology Council.
Professor Luiten has been director since inaugural director and current chief defence scientist Professor Tanya Monro left in 2014.
In a post on LinkedIn, Professor Luiten said the role will allow him to focus on “mission-directed translation and commercialisation of the outcomes of that research” .
He is also managing director of QuantX Labs, which is developing quantum sensors and clocks, and started as chief investigator at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science at the start of the year.
Microsoft Australia’s director of corporate affairs Belinda Dennett has moved to data centre provider AirTrunk to become head of government relations.
Ms Dennett, who spent 12 years at Microsoft Australia, previously served as a senior policy adviser to Labor minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Stephen Conroy between 2007 and 2012.
The new chair of the Australian Energy Market Operator is Professor Mary O’Kane, who enters the role fresh from leading development of the University Accords, which were released at the end of February.
Professor O’Kane will begin at the start of April, bringing 25 years’ worth of experience in public policy, engineering, ICT, and energy. She also chairs a number of organisations, including the Independent Planning Commission of NSW and Aurora Energy.
Bola Oyetunji has been named the new auditor-general of New South Wales. He will will replace incumbent Margaret Crawford concludes her eight-year term in April.
Mr Oyetunji has previously served in the Australian National Audit office in roles overseeing financial statements audit service and systems assurance and data analytics. He also has extensive experience in the NSW Audit Office.
Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton has added more roles to its shadow ministry, with Senator James Paterson picking up the position of shadow cabinet secretary and Andrew Hastie that of shadow minister for defence industry and defence personnel.
The federal government has appointed a new Genomics Health Futures Mission expert advisory panel to support the Medical Research Future Fund. It is being chaired by University of Sydney executive dean and pro vice-chancellor of the faculty of medicine and health Professor, Robyn Ward.
The new chief executive of Sustainability Victoria is Matt Genever, who began in an interim capacity in February 2022. Mr Genever has more than 20 years of experience in environmental and waste reduction roles. He first joined Sustainability Victoria as director of resource recover in July 2018 before being promoted to chief operating officer.
Australia’s privacy commissioner Carly Kind began in the role on February 26, completing the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s new three Commissioner model. Ms Kind’s appointment was announced in November last year.
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