Meet the first NSW Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer: Professor Mary O’Kane

On 23 October 2008, the Premier of New South Wales announced the appointment of Professor Mary O'Kane as NSW's first Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer to help stimulate innovation and ensure the State’s research capacity keeps pace with the needs of the NSW economy, environment and the community.
              
The Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer’s duties include:

• providing independent advice to the NSW Government on science and innovation issues – including ways to ensure the State’s research capacity and knowledge sectors drive innovation for the State, thereby delivering productivity growth for New South Wales
• encouraging effective engagement between government, business and the research sector, including the State’s universities and research base
• working to accelerate the research effort in New South Wales, particularly around our areas of strength
• representing the State’s science and research sector on the NSW Innovation Council and being a key figure in advancing NSW interests in science, research and related innovation at the Commonwealth and global level
• leading a discussion about the State’s future workforce needs for science, engineering and innovation, including the science education and skills needs of industry, government and the broader community in underpinning disciplines such as mathematics and physics.

In the year ahead, a key focus of the Chief Scientist’s work will be to lift the quality and level of scientific activity in NSW and to guide the development of strategies to link the State’s knowledge capacity to the needs of government, business and industry.

Visit the NSW Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer's web site >>