Published on the 11th February 2016 by ANSTO Staff
Australia’s nuclear agency is proud to confirm the appointment of three outstanding scientists who will maximise its contribution to Australia’s health, environmental research and drive for innovation.
The appointments at ANSTO follow a year-long review of its nuclear science and technology operating model.
The goal is to ensure Australia is well placed to take advantage of the developments that nuclear science and technology can deliver over the next generation. The outcome is that ANSTO will sharpen its focus on
• Driving innovation;
• The interconnectedness between research conducted both within and external to ANSTO and our landmark and national research infrastructure; and
• Achieving research outcomes to support health, the environment and advances in the nuclear fuel cycle.
To support that, Dr Simone Richter has been appointed Group Executive Science and Technology, and Landmark Infrastructure.
Dr Richter is founding director of one of Europe’s largest research infrastructure projects – the Euro Facility of Antiproton and Ion Research in Germany, which is currently under construction.
At ANSTO she will oversee the research and infrastructure program accessed by hundreds of national and international scientists and industry partners per year.
The role will specifically see Dr Richter focus on fostering innovation in research, as well as the development of future science infrastructure and capabilities.
Dr Miles Apperley and Dr Suzanne Hollins have been appointed to the roles of Head of Research Infrastructure and Head of Research respectively.
Prior to joining ANSTO, Dr Apperley was the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility following almost nine years as its Chief Operating Officer.
ANSTO is custodian of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of science infrastructure which Dr Apperley will oversee, including the Centre for Accelerator Science, the National Deuteration Facility, Neutron Scattering and the Australian Synchrotron.
His responsibility will be to oversee the existing operations, and also further develop the infrastructure portfolio to benefit research, industry and academic users and partners, and the community.
Dr Hollins first came to ANSTO in 2001 where she began as a Post-Doc, and since then she moved up the ranks and demonstrated leadership across many areas.
She is a leading expert in areas such as groundwater sustainability, connectivity between surface and groundwater, matters that impact on wetlands, and links between hydrological and climate processes.
In her new role she will lead the delivery of world-class applied and translational research programs – driving ideas from research and ultimately to products.
“ANSTO contains a large portion of Australia’s major science and research infrastructure, where we use the latest nuclear technology to benefit Australia’s health, environment and economy,” said ANSTO CEO, Dr Adi Paterson.
“Through ANSTO, Australia has a very strong global reputation in the field of nuclear science and technology, but the science world is never static – and there is more we can do.
“These changes will help us to position ANSTO and Australia to take advantage of opportunities in the sciences that will deliver benefits to the people of Australia, and the world.”
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