CSIRO Advisory Group Charter

Purpose

The purpose of a CSIRO Advisory Group (CAG) is to provide independent, external advice to CSIRO on the national challenges and opportunities of a broad sector of the Australian economy, society or environment in which CSIRO is involved. It also provides guidance on how CSIRO might address these challenges and opportunities, the appropriateness of its pathways to impact, and on broader strategic issues relevant to the sectors in which CSIRO operates.

Given the cross-disciplinary nature of CSIRO, a CAG may provide advice pertinent to more than one sector of CSIRO activities; across CSIRO’s Impact Science Business Units, National Facilities and Collections, CSIRO Services, and support functions. The specific scope of focus for individual CAGs can be further defined in each group’s Terms of Reference.

Roles and Authority

Roles

Priorities and operations

With a focus on achieving CSIRO’s goals:

• assist the Director (of Business Unit, research/business platform, ESS function as applicable) in identifying priorities, including strategic advice about CSIRO's direction, relevance of its research activities and outputs, capability positioning and possible investment opportunities.
• advise the Director on commercialisation/technology transfer opportunities, market conditions, strategies and options.
• assist CSIRO in building external connections and networks.
• act as advocates for CSIRO in various forums.
• provide mentoring advice for leaders in CSIRO on building and maintaining effective relationships with partners and clients.

Strategic direction

As part of CSIRO’s broader corporate planning, provide advice on:

• broader strategic issues relevant to the sectors in which CSIRO operates, which may include:
• the national challenges and opportunities of a sector of the Australian economy, society or environment and how CSIRO might address these needs;
• the research, technical and business needs of customers or communities and how CSIRO can meet those needs and be better aligned with customers and partners;
• the methods and effectiveness of, and potential improvements to, marketing, technology and knowledge transfer and commercialisation strategies;the effectiveness of CSIRO from a partner and customer perspective.

Authority

Chairs and Members of a CAG serve in an advisory capacity only. CAGs and CAG members are not CSIRO Directors, do not have any executive powers, supervisory functions or decision-making authority in relation to the operations of CSIRO. CAGs and CAG members have no authority to act on behalf of CSIRO.

CSIRO is not bound by advice received from a CAG but will consider it appropriately in the context of the overall strategy and direction of the Organisation. It will advise the CAG on the position or decisions taken by CSIRO in respect to the advice received from the CAG.

Memberships

The lead Executive Director will appoint the members of the CAG (including the Chair) in consultation with the Chief Executive and on advice of the Director. Templates for Letters of Appointment and Letters of Renewal, including important information on confidentiality, intellectual property, conflicts of interest and insurance, can be found in the CAG Procedure.

New members will need to go through an independent induction process, provided by CSIRO Governance.

Membership of the CAG will be as follows:

• The CAG will consist of no more than 10 external members who will be chosen on their capacity to contribute to the Roles and Purpose of the CAG.
• Selection will be based on the member’s experience and expertise and not on representation of a particular body or interest. Proxies or alternates for meetings will not be permitted, without permission of the lead Executive Director.
• Membership will seek to achieve balance across experiences and backgrounds from industry, government, academia and the community, as appropriate and aligning to CSIRO’s stakeholder landscape.
• Membership will seek to achieve diversity in accordance with CSIRO’s focus on diversity, inclusion and belonging, and CSIRO’s value of People First.
• The normal term of appointment to the CAG will be for three years, with the option for extension of a maximum of one additional term.
• Terms may be varied to ensure continuity of membership but cannot exceed three years – no members can be appointed to the CAG indefinitely and end dates of appointments must be made explicit in the letter of appointment (or renewal/extension).
• Membership of the CAG or of the position of CAG Chair may be terminated by the member or by the Executive Director.
• CAG members will be reimbursed for reasonable travel and incidental expenses incurred in carrying out their role on the CAG.
• CAG members may be paid sitting fees. The payment of sitting fees will be considered on a case-by-case basis and based on approved CSIRO rates (see CAG Procedure).
• CAG members are expected to act in the best interests of CSIRO and not for personal gain.
• CSIRO staff and officials cannot be members of the CAG, however, the lead Executive Director and Director may attend and contribute to CAG meetings. Other CSIRO executives and staff members may be invited to attend and contribute to meetings as observers.

Meetings

• The CAG should meet at least twice a year, or more regularly as determined by the CAG Chair in consultation with the Director.
• The agenda for the meeting will be set by the CAG Chair in consultation with the Director. Agenda papers will be circulated in advance of meetings.
• The meeting will be chaired by the CAG Chair. If the Chair is not able to attend the meeting, the meeting will be chaired by another external member of the CAG on agreement of the members of the CAG and the Director.
• A quorum consists of at least four CAG members.
• CSIRO staff members may be invited to attend and contribute to the meeting as observers.
• Meetings may be conducted in person, by video conference or by telephone, as decided by the Chair in consultation with the Director.
• All proceedings of the CAG shall be treated as confidential.
• The Director will maintain a record of the meetings in a form agreed by CAG Chair and in accordance with the CAG Procedure (to include minutes and attendance).

Reporting

All meeting minutes, briefs and memos will be shared with CSIRO Governance alongside an annually-updated membership log.

Every 12 months, each CAG will provide a short summary of key highlights sharing insights to the Executive Team, through the relevant ED.

Administrative arrangements

Accountabilities of the Director will be as follows:

• Lead the engagement with the CAG on behalf of the CSIRO.
• Attend all meetings to receive advice and contribute to discussions.
• Ensure that the Executive Team and its relevant committees receive input, as appropriate, from the CAG through the relevant Executive Director.
• Advise the CAG on the position or decisions taken by CSIRO in respect to the advice received from the CAG.
• Manage the administration of the CAG and arrange Secretariat support for the CAG.

Other Matters

Terms of Reference may be drafted for use by individual CAGs, in order to clearly define the broad sector of the Australian economy, society or environment in which CSIRO is involved, and provide additional details on the roles of group members as may be appropriate to their individual purviews. Any Terms of Reference that are drafted or amended should be shared with CSIRO Governance to ensure consistency and compliance before being voted on for adoption by the group.

This Charter, as well as the associated CSIRO Advisory Group Procedure and any associated Terms of Reference will be reviewed by CSIRO Governance once every three years at a minimum. The review will include stakeholder interviews and endeavour to ensure the groups and their governance structures remain fit for purpose as CSIRO evolves.

Advisory Committee Members

Each meeting is supported by different internal CSIRO staff based on the agenda of each specific meeting, therefore CSIRO staff are not listed below, all external members are listed in the tables below.

Agriculture and Food Advisory Committee

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
Cindy Briscoe	Member	Deputy Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Mirjana Prica	Member	Managing Director, Food Innovation Australia Ltd
Christine Beveridge	Member	Assoc Dean (Res) and Dep Exec Dean, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland
Richard Heath	Member	Executive Director, Australian Farm Institute
Felicity Hennessey	Member	Innovation Advisor and Consultant
Jodie Dean	Member	CEO Nuffield Australia
Spencer Maughan	Member	Co-founder and Partner, Finistere Ventures

Energy Advisory Committee

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
John Burgess	Chair	Chair of BCIA Research Advisory Committee, Consultant at Niche Tasks
Audrey Zibelman	Member	Managing Director & Chief Executive, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)
Rod Lukatelich	Member	BP Refinery Kwinana
Ken Fitzpatrick	Member	National Energy Resources Australia (NERA)
Rob Heferen	Member	Deputy Secretary (Energy) Dept of Environment & Energy
Tony Wood	Member	Director of the Energy Program at the Grattan Institute
Graeme Hunt	Member	Chairman at AGL
Kirsten Rose	Member	Head of Low Emissions Technology & Innovation Partnerships at BHP Billiton

Health and Biosecurity Advisory Committee

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
Kathleen Plowman	Chair	Chief Executive Officer, Animal Health Australia
Greg Fraser	Member	Chief Executive Officer, Plant Health Australia
Gary Lum	Member	Specialist Medical Adviser, Department of Health
Johann van der Merwe	Member	Gorgon Quarantine Manager, Chevron Australia Pty Ltd, Western Australia
Roscoe Taylor	Member	Physician (retired Director of Public Health Department of Health and Human Services Tasmania)
Sue MacLeman	Member	Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, MTPConnect MedTech and Pharma Growth Centre
Bruce Christie	Member	Deputy Director General, Biosecurity and Food Safety, NSW Department of Primary Industries
Susan Kevork	Member	Nutrition Network Lead Zone AOA Nestlé
Alex Brown	Member	Leader, Aboriginal Research Unit, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
Richard Royle	Member	National Digital Health Leader, PwC

Manufacturing Advisory Committee

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
Goran Roos	Chair	Flinders University
Phillip Butler	Member	Textor Technologies Pty Ltd
Samantha Read	Member	Chief Executive Officer, Chemistry Australia
Anna Schulze	Member	CSL Limited
Leonie Walsh	Member	Productive Management Solutions Pty Ltd
Trevor Power	Member	Sectoral Growth Policy Division, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Mark Goodsell	Member	Head – NSW & Manufacturing,  Australian Industry Group
Gabrielle (Gabby) Costigan	Member	Chief Executive Officer, BAE Systems Australia
Brad Parsons	Member	CEO and Founder, MOVUS Australia Pty Ltd
Patricia Kelly	Member	Defence Materials Technology Centre
Hugh Durrant-Whyte	Member	University of Sydney
Fran Coyle	Member	Managing Director, Norwood Industries Pty Ltd
Dr Warwick Tong	Member	Chair, CTxONE Pty Ltd
Gavin Smith	Member	President (Australia), Robert Bosch (Australia) Pty Ltd
Carley Scott	Member	Chief Executive Officer, Equatorial Launch Australia
Lorraine Chiroiu	Member	Chief Executive Officer, AusBiotech Ltd
Samuel Maresh	Member	Country Leader, GE Australia
Dr Dawn Driscoll	Member	Chief Executive Officer, Cell Therapies Pty Ltd
Claire S. Willette	Member	Chief Executive Officer, Australian Defence Alliance - Victoria

Mineral Resources Advisory Committee

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
Chris Pigram	Chair	Chair, MinEx CRC & Chair, AuScope Limited
Alan Broome AM	Member	Director & Business Advisor
Alan Bye	Member	Non-Executive Director
Christine Charles	Member	Managing Director, Design4Growth
Paul Heithersay	Member	Chief Executive, Department of Energy and Mines SA
Peter McCarthy	Member	Principal, AMC Consultants and Non-Executive Director
James Johnson	Member	Chief Executive Officer, Geoscience Australia
Paul Trotman	Member	Head of Division – Resources, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Ian Rees	Member	Head of Orebody Knowledge, Centre of Excellence Growth & Innovation, Rio Tinto

Land and Water Advisory Committee

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
Karlene Maywald	Chair	Consultant
Prof Larissa Behrendt	Member	Director, Research and Academic Programs, Jumbunna Inst for Indigenous Education & Research University of Technology Sydney
Brendan McRandle	Member	Deputy Secretary, Water Infrastructure Group, Chief Executive Officer, National Water Grid Authority Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities &  Regional Development
Fiona Nicholls	Member	Executive Director, F.N. Sustainability Pty Ltd
Jim McDonald	Member	Manager Marianker Partnership
Maria Mohr	Member	Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dept of the NT Chief Minister
Andrew Wood	Member	Chief Executive, Worley Parsons

Oceans and Atmosphere Advisory Committee

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
Ian Poiner	Chair	Member of Steering Committee of the Marine National Facility and Advisory Board of IMOS.
Neville Smith	Member	Co-Chair of the Tropical Pacific Observing System 2020 Project, previously Deputy Director of BOM.
Diane Tarte	Member	Co-Director of Marine Ecosystem Policy Advisors P/L
Ken Fitzpatrick	Member	Chair of the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Growth Centre
Rod Lukatelich	Member	Board Director of CRC CARE Pty Ltd
Glenn Hurry	Member	Visiting Professor of Fisheries at the University of Wollongong, previously CEO of AFMA.
David Wratt	Member	Formerly Ministry of the Environment, New Zealand

Data61 Advisory Board

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
Doug Elix AO	Chair	Co-Chair of the Cyber Security Growth Centre. Professional Director. Previously Group Exec, Worldwide Sales and Distribution Operations of IBM Corp
Belinda Cooney	Member	Chief Financial Officer, Interative
Michelle Simons	Member	Director ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology
Dave Williams	Member	Executive Director- Digital, National Facilities And Collections, CSIRO
Elizabeth Kelly	Member	Deputy Secretary, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Indigenous Strategic Advisory Council

Name	Role on Committee	Organisation
David Williams	CSIRO Executive Team Sponsor	Executive Director, Digital, National Facilities and Collections
Professor (Emeritus) Mick Dodson	Chair	ANU College of Law
Phil Duncan	Member	Macquarie University
Cindy Shannon	Member	Shannon Consulting
Leah Armstrong	Member	Newcastle University
Trevor Heldt	Member	CSIRO
Ian Cresswell	Member	CSIRO
Rob Grenfell	Member	CSIRO