Dr Wright has specialist skills and knowledge required to lead one of CSIRO’s biggest recent initiatives, the Energy Transformed Flagship.
Current activities
Dr Wright took up his role as Energy Transformed Flagship Director in 2002.
Energy Transformed is one of six National Research Flagships and each aims to integrate, direct and then focus the best Australian scientific resources on issues of urgent national importance.
Dr Wright’s overarching role within the Flagship is to ensure that the program steadily works toward its goals of:
- halving greenhouse gas emissions
- doubling the efficiency of the nation’s new energy generation, supply and end use
- positioning Australia for a future hydrogen economy.
The Flagship must engage with partners to achieve these goals. Part of Dr Wright’s role is to ensure the best resources from CSIRO and from external partners are brought into the research and development program.
A multidisciplinary approach is the only way to tackle such a national issue as greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the leadership of Dr Wright the Energy Transformed Flagship now engages with 13 CSIRO Divisions.
Background
Dr John Wright’s experience in minerals and energy spans more than 35 years. He has worked in the research and development sector and the industry sector.
This experience has provided Dr Wright with the specialist skills and knowledge required to lead one of CSIRO’s biggest initiatives, the Energy Transformed Flagship.
After finishing his Doctorate Dr Wright spent three years as a Scientific Officer for Amdel, a laboratory and technical services company in South Australia.
He joined CSIRO in 1980 at the then Division of Mineral Chemistry.
Dr Wright left CSIRO to explore opportunities in Canada. He joined the metallurgy consultancy Hatch Consultants in Toronto.
Dr Wright ensures the best resources from CSIRO and our external partners are brought into our research and development program
After three years in Canada, Dr Wright was selected to return to Australia to set up Hatch Consultants’ new business arm in Melbourne, Victoria.
CSIRO lured Dr Wright back and since 1985 he has had roles including nine years as Chief of the Division of Coal and Energy Technology (renamed Energy Technology in 1998).
Academic qualifications
Dr Wright has been awarded a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a Doctor of Philosophy.
Achievements
Dr Wright serves on a range of energy-related committees and boards including:
- the Liaison and Implementation Committee of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE)
- the Executive Committee of the IEA Hydrogen Implementing Agreement
- the Australian Energy Alliance
- the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum
- the Energy Committee of the Warren Centre
- the Newcastle University Faculty of Engineering Advisory Committee
- the Board of the Centre for Low Emissions Technology.
Dr Wright is also a:
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Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)
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Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy; Australian Institute of Energy
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Member of the Australian Institute of Company Director
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Associate of Melbourne University
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conjoint Professor at Newcastle University, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Find out more about the Energy Transformed Flagship overview.
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