About the Board
On 15 October 2021, Minister for Science and Technology, Melissa Price, announced Kathryn Fagg AO would take up a five-year appointment as Chair of the Board.
The Board is responsible to the Australian Government for the overall strategy, governance and performance of CSIRO. Under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949, the primary functions of the Board are to:
- ensure the proper and efficient performance of the functions of the Organisation
- determine the policy of the Organisation with respect to any matter
- give directions to the Chief Executive.
The Board meets at least quarterly and comprises a non-executive Chair, up to eight other non-executive Members and a full-time Chief Executive.
All Board members (other than the Chief Executive) are appointed by the Governor-General. The Chief Executive is appointed by the Board.
The Board operates partly through three standing Committees:
- CSIRO Audit and Risk Committee (BARC) assists CSIRO and its Board in the areas of financial management, risk management, internal control and compliance.
- CSIRO People and Safety Committee (BPC) assists the Board to fulfil its governance responsibilities in relation to people related activities and health and safety.
- CSIRO Science Excellence Committee (BSEC) assist the Board to fulfil its governance responsibilities in the areas of the standards and excellence of the science and engineering of CSIRO, its connection to impact delivery, and CSIRO’s reputation for trusted scientific advice.
Each Committee operates in accordance with a written charter, approved by the Board and consistent with CSIRO's enabling legislation. The Board may choose to establish other Board committees from time to time.
Chair and members of the Board
Kathryn Fagg AO
CSIRO Board Chair
Ms Kathryn Fagg is an experienced director, senior executive and former engineer. She is a highly experienced board member and Chair, non-executive Director of the National Australia Bank Ltd, Djerriwarrh Investments Ltd and Medibank, and the Chair of Breast Cancer Network Australia. The inaugural Chair of Watertrust Australia Ltd, she is also a Board Member of the Grattan Institute, The Myer Foundation, and the Champions of Change Coalition. She was also formerly a Reserve Bank Board member and former President of Chief Executive Women.
Term of appointment: 02.08.18 to 01.08.23, 17.09.20 to 16.09.25, 14.10.21 to 13.10.26
Ming Long AM
CSIRO Deputy Chair
Ms Ming Long has significant experience as a non-executive director and is currently on the Board of Telstra, IFM Investors, QBE Insurance (Auspac) and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. Ms Long is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of Chief Executive Women. She was formerly Chair of Diversity Council Australia and AMP Capital Funds Management Limited.
Term of appointment: 01.05.24 to 30.04.28 (commenced duties 27.06.24)
Dr Doug Hilton AO
CSIRO Chief Executive
Dr Hilton is a molecular and cellular biologist, and former Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI). At WEHI, his medical research focussed on understanding how blood cells communicate, using this knowledge to improve disease treatments. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Dr Hilton is also a board member of Australians Investing in Women.
Term of appointment: 29.09.23 to 28.09.28
Ian Macfarlane
CSIRO Board Member
Mr Ian Macfarlane is the former Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council and a non-executive director of Woodside Petroleum. He holds board positions at Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise and Sovereign Manufacturing Automation for Composites Cooperative Research Centre. Mr Macfarlane has had a long career in the public service and was elected to Federal Parliament in 1998. He became Australia’s longest serving Federal Resources and Energy Minister and Federal Industry and Innovation Minister before retiring from parliament in May 2016.
Term of appointment: 14.10.21 to 13.10.24
Prof Alex Brown
CSIRO Board Member
Professor Alex Brown is an internationally recognised clinician and researcher who has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health for his entire career. He is the Professor of Indigenous Genomics at the Telethon Kids Institute and the Australian National University. A proud member of the Yuin nation, Professor Brown is the first Indigenous scientist appointed to the CSIRO Board, bringing a wealth of experience in understanding and overcoming health inequalities and bridging connections across science ecosystems.
Term of Appointment: 16.03.23 to 15.03.28 (commenced duties 03.04.23)
Prof Emma Johnston AO
CSIRO Board Member
Professor Emma Johnston is an authority in marine science and conservation, and an influential figure in the Australian higher education and research sector. Professor Johnston is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at Sydney University and was previously Dean of Science and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research at the University of New South Wales, and President of Science & Technology Australia. Professor Johnston is a Director on the Board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, governor of the Ian Potter Foundation, and an elected fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and the Royal Society of New South Wales.
Term of Appointment: 22.08.23 to 21.08.27 (commenced duties 11.09.23)
Emeritus Professor Roy Green
CSIRO Board Member
Emeritus Professor Roy Green was previously a Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, Dean of UTS Business School, Macquarie Graduate School of Management and Dean and Vice-President for Research at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Professor Green has consulted and published widely in the areas of innovation policy and management and is on the Board of SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and the Australian Design Council. He is also Chair of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub, the Port of Newcastle and a member of the Charles Sturt University Council.
Term of Appointment: 07.12.23 to 06.12.28
Terry Moran AC
CSIRO Board Member
Mr Terry Moran has extensive experience in the public service, most notably as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Vic). Mr Moran is former CEO of the Office of the State Training Board (Vic) and the Australian National Training Authority (QLD) and was Queensland's Director-General of Education. Since retirement he has been Chair of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, the Cranlana Foundation, the Melbourne Theatre Company, and Centre for Policy Development. He has also been Director and Deputy President of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Director of the Menzies Foundation, and National President of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
Term of appointment: 24.04.24 to 23.04.27 (commenced duties 27.06.24)