Executive Team

Dr Doug Hilton AO commenced as CSIRO Chief Executive on September 29, 2023.

Dr Hilton is a molecular and cellular biologist and previously Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI). At WEHI, his medical research focussed on understanding how blood cells communicate and using this knowledge to improve disease treatments. He and his team held more than 20 patents and translated their research through collaboration with venture capitalists and the biopharmaceutical industry. Through an honorary appointment in the Zoology Department at University of Melbourne, he also studies a family of tiny day-flying moths involved in the pollination of Australian plants.

Beyond research, Dr Hilton has emphasised the importance of strong institutional cultures, and furthered diversity in science including as a member of the Champion of Change Coalition and a board member of Australians Investing in Women.

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Professor Bronwyn Fox joined CSIRO in October 2021 and became CSIRO’s fourth female Chief Scientist. She is known globally as a leader in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and industry 4.0 technologies, and is passionate about bringing together multidisciplinary teams for collaborative research. She was formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) at Swinburne University of Technology and founding Director of Swinburne’s Manufacturing Futures Research Institute. During that time, she established of a world first Industry 4.0 Testlab for additive manufacturing of carbon fibre composites, in collaboration with CSIRO.

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Tom Munyard was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in May 2022 and leads our teams in finance, property, governance, corporate affairs and information management and technology. He is responsible for leading CSIRO's ongoing financial and operational sustainability. Prior to this Tom held the position of Chief Finance Officer from February 2017. Tom is committed to continually improving CSIRO’s operations to best support the delivery of science and technology, with a focus on sustainability and best practice governance. Prior to joining CSIRO, Tom was a Senior Executive at the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, leading teams responsible for delivering budget, financial accounting and financial policy matters to the Department. Tom’s career in Federal Government across 20 years includes a variety of financial roles within the Human Services, Climate Change and Border Protection portfolios. Tom is qualified member of CPA Australia and has a degree of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Canberra.

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As Executive Director, Future Industries, Kirsten is a member of the CSIRO Executive Team. In this role, she leads a portfolio which comprises the Agriculture and Food, Health and Biosecurity, Manufacturing, and Services Business Units of CSIRO. Kirsten is a respected leader in technology and innovation, with a career spanning 30 years in the US, UK and Australia. Prior to joining CSIRO, she was Head of Innovation, Sustainable Operations at BHP, where she had global responsibility for bringing together innovation and technology to drive material improvements in key sustainability-related challenges. Her previous positions include Director of the Founder Institute, an entrepreneur training and start-up launch program, State Manager for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and CEO of the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia. Kirsten actively supports the innovation ecosystem through Non-Executive Director and advisory board roles, as well as mentoring, and enjoys helping entrepreneurs commercialise their ideas.

• +61 8 6436 8508
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As Executive Director Environment, Energy and Resources, Dr Peter Mayfield has responsibility for approximately 1400 researchers in Energy, Mineral Resources, and Environment. These researchers provide science and technology solutions that will enhance the value Australia derives from its vast energy and mineral resources while maintaining and enhancing the sustainability of our atmosphere, oceans and continent.

• +61 2 4960 6045
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Jonathan Law leads CSIRO Growth with responsibility for customers, strategic partnerships, program delivery partnerships, and investment. He is a geoscientist with 15 years’ experience in the minerals industry and has passion for the role of science in driving practical benefits through innovation. Jonathan has held a variety of leadership roles in over 20 years of service at CSIRO, most recently as Director of CSIRO Mineral Resources. Growth teams work in partnership with all CSIRO business units to maximise the impact of our science and maintain a healthy revenue mix. The team hosts a range of organisational resources including intellectual property management, business development, legal and contracts, commercialisation, global footprint and the delivery of CSIRO’s Mission Program. CSIRO missions are large-scale, impact focussed, scientific and collaborative research initiatives that leverage the power of the broader innovation system including research, government and industry to deliver targeted outcomes.

• +61 3 9545 8764
• +61 3 9545 8500
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Professor Huntington leads the data-focused research, development and digital capability of CSIRO, and is a member of the Executive Team. She has stewardship of a range of business lines including Data61, Space and Astronomy, and National Collections and Marine Infrastructure. Prof Huntington also leads major national infrastructure provided by CSIRO on behalf of the scientific community to assist with the delivery of research. Prior to joining CSIRO in November 2021, Elanor was Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the Australian National University (ANU) where she helped bring about significant transformation within the College and sector.

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