Profile

Dr Megan Clark has been Chief Executive of CSIRO since January 2009 - Australia’s national science agency and one of the top 10 applied research organisations in the world. CSIRO is a mission-directed, multidisciplinary research and development organisation. Dr Clark is also a Principal of the Global Research Alliance [external link], of which CSIRO is a founding member.

Dr Clark began her career as a mine geologist and subsequently worked in mineral exploration, mine geology, R&D management, venture capital and technical strategy areas with Western Mining Corporation. She then became Vice President Technology with BHP Billiton, followed by Vice President, Health, Safety, Environment, Community and Sustainability.

Dr Clark is a member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, as well as the Manufacturing Leaders Group. She is also a Commissioner on the International Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.

Public presentations

• The innovation imperative - article in Independence (May 2013)
• The innovation imperative - positioning Australia for a prosperous and sustainable future (September 2012)
• Australia's Water Challenges - The role of Research and Development (November 2011)
• Integrated science for our carbon future (April 2011)
• Towards a vibrant future minerals industry in Western Australia (March 2011)
• Science and Australia's place in the world (November 2010)
• Modern Farmers: 2010 National Congress (September 2010)
• Pearcey Oration: World Computer Congress 2010 (September 2010)
• Digital Economies: creating a new wealth of nations (July 2010)
• Global megatrends: driving new connections between science and industry (July 2010)
• Boosting innovation in Australia's minerals industry (June 2010)
• Climate change: where science meets markets (March 2010)
• Safeguarding agriculture and the environment: Global Biosecurity Conference (March 2010)
• A new era of discovery: University of Western Australia 'In the Zone' conference (November 2009)
• ABC Radio Australia - interview with Dr Megan Clark (October 2009) [external link]
• Boosting the growth of the biotechnology sector: AusBiotech conference (October 2009)
• Sustainable Agriculture: Feeding the World: Science and Technology in Society Forum (October 2009)
• National Press Club - presentation by Dr Megan Clark (September 2009)
• Australian National University Conferring of Degrees (July 2009)
• Generating and transforming new industries: Cooperative Research Centre Association Pathfinders conference (May 2009)
• The future of Australian manufacturing: 2020 Future Manufacturing Conference (May 2009)
• Reading the greenhouse future: GREENHOUSE 2009 Conference (March 2009)
• Growing the green collar economy: 2009 Skills Conference (March 2009)

Curriculum Vitae

Dr Megan Clark PhD, BSc, FTSE, GAICD

Qualifications

• Bachelor Science with Honours in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, 1981
• Doctor of Philosophy in Economic Geology from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 1987.

Current positions

• CSIRO Chief Executive
• Member, Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC)
• Member, Manufacturing Leaders Group
• Member, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation
• Member, Australia Advisory Board of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch
• Trustee, Science Industry Endowment Fund
• Commissioner of the International Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change
• Member, National Precincts Board
• Member, World Economic Forum, Global Agenda Council on measuring sustainability.

Previous positions

• Member of the Advisory Board of the Ian Wark Research Institute for Particle Science
• Member, National Innovation Review Panel – Australia
• Member, National Research Infrastructure Council
• Vice President Health, Safety, Environment, Community and Sustainability, BHP Billiton
• Vice President Technology, BHP Billiton, 2003-08
• Director, NM Rothschild and Sons (Australia), 2001-03
• Member of the Australian Research Council Collaborative Grants Committee in the areas of engineering and geosciences
• Various positions with WMC Resources till 1999 culminating in Manager New Business Technology
• Member of Board of A J Parker Co-operative Research Centre
• Director, Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing
• Member of the CSIRO Minerals Sector Advisory Council
• Prime Minister’s Science Engineering Innovation Council – Working Group on China and India
• Member of the St Vincent's Hospital Foundation Board
• Panel Member, Automotive Industry Innovation Council.

Memberships

• Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
• Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.

Awards and Honours

• Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology Science and Engineering, 2006
• Honorary Doctor of Science Degree awarded by University of WA, 2006.
• Honorary Doctor of Applied Science awarded by Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, 2010.