Professor Bronwyn Fox is CSIRO's new chief scientist

Professor Bronwyn Fox is CSIRO’s new chief scientist, the fourth female in the role. Photo: CSIRO.

Swinburne University of Technology’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), Professor Bronwyn Fox, is CSIRO’s new chief scientist.

The national science agency has appointed Professor Fox to the top position almost 30 years after she began her career with CSIRO as a research assistant.

CSIRO chief executive Dr Larry Marshall said Professor Fox brings a great depth of scientific experience to the role.

“Bronwyn exemplifies the CSIRO way: driven to deliver, brilliant but humble, leading by listening, and a generous collaborator,” he said.

“She has a long history of bringing together researchers from across multiple scientific domains and institutions, leveraging digital science, and helping industry to translate brilliant ideas into real world solutions.

“Her sustained commitment to supporting growth of the manufacturing industry in Australia strongly supports our purpose to deliver solutions from science that drive Australia’s economic recovery and resilience.”

As a materials and engineering scientist, Professor Fox was the founding director of Swinburne’s Manufacturing Futures Research Institute, with a mission to support the transition of Australia’s manufacturing sector to Industry 4.0 – the fourth industrial revolution.

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CSIRO’s fourth female chief scientist, Professor Fox said she is looking forward to her new role.

“It is wonderful to return to CSIRO as chief scientist after starting as a 22-year-old research assistant, and to be able to champion science research and capability, working with industry and fostering STEM careers,” she said.

“The depth of scientific research at CSIRO and its committed people are a unique and special national treasure.”

Professor Fox is chair of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (Victorian Division), a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).