RADIOACTIVE WASTE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Counsellor ( Industry, Science and Resources ), Japan
Charles is based at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo. He strengthens our relationship with Japan and promotes Australia's capabilities.
Charles Adamson is based at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.
Charles heads a small, dynamic local team that leads on Australia's trade with Japan in resources and energy. He also manages engagement with Japan on renewable energy, innovation and industry issues.
Before joining the Embassy, Charles was a Director in the Office of Economic Analysis in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Canberra. Charles was previously posted to Seoul with a focus on resources and energy. At the same time he also managed Australia's bilateral relationship with Mongolia.
Charles worked for former Australian Trade Minister, Mr Andrew Robb AO, at the time Australia and Japan agreed to a free trade agreement, an exciting time. Charles has also worked on a wide range of geographic desks covering trade and political issues covering the DPRK, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Before joining the DFAT, Charles worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia for ten years as an economist.
He has a Master of Commerce (Economics) from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Western Australia.
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Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Industry Growth
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Chief Executive Office and Chief Metrologist
- Chief Metrologist Chief Executive Officer, National Measurement Institute
Bruce is the Chief Metrologist and CEO of Australia's peak body for measurement, the National Measurement Institute (NMI).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Industry Innovation and Science Australia Board
- Australia 's Chief Scientist
Dr Foley is Australia's Chief Scientist and has expertise in research, quantum physics, sensors, devices and systems, research translation, leadership, advisory and advocating the role of women in STEM.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Industry Innovation and Science Australia Board
Job Titles:
- Scientist
- Member of the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review Associate Professor and Director, DNA Zoo Australia at the University of Western Australia
Dr Parwinder Kaur is an award-winning scientist and a passionate leader. She is a positive role model as a mother and professor in science for the next generation of diverse scientists to pursue their passion for science and discovery.
Dr Kaur leads cross-disciplinary biotechnology research investigating Earth's biodiversity and natural environments to ensure sustainable futures. She uses her expertise to reach people in new ways, connecting them with their surroundings. Through her diverse research teams, such as DNA Zoo Australia, she harnesses science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to achieve maximised impact. In doing so, she believes this will help us tackle the bigger issues we as society are facing, bringing about solutions through fresh thinking rather than following usual norms. She:
has been recognised for her substantial contributions to biotechnology and scientific excellence by the prestigious ‘Science and Innovation Award' by the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2013
won the Microsoft's AI for Earth award for 2019
was WA Innovator of the Year (finalist) in 2022.
Dr Kaur is a passionate science communicator, an entrepreneur in the biotechnology sector, an active mentor for gender equity, a Superstar of STEM, a Women in Technology WA Role Model and GirlsXTech international ambassador working to close the gender gap in technology.
Job Titles:
- Agency Head
- Australian Space Agency Head
Enrico is responsible for governance and performance, management, policy leadership and strategic direction of the agency.
Job Titles:
- Counsellor ( Industry, Science and Resources ), China
- Counsellor for Our Department at the Australian Embassy
Esther is based at the Australian Embassy in Beijing. She facilitates the key partnership between Australia and China.
Esther Harvey started working as a Counsellor for our department at the Australian Embassy in Beijing on February 2020.
Before this, Esther was the Manager of the Timor Sea Section in the department. She managed our department's involvement in the maritime boundary negotiations with TimorLeste including:
the department's involvement in the Compulsory Conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
Australia's domestic implementation of the maritime boundaries treaty.
This involved managing the domestic legislation process and transitional arrangements negotiations with the affected petroleum operations.
Esther has also previously worked on a range of offshore petroleum matters including:
petroleum operations in the Joint Petroleum Development Area
the Australian Government's response to the Report of the Montara Commission of Inquiry.
She has Bachelor Degrees in Law and Commerce from the University of Tasmania.
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Esther Harvey started working as a Counsellor for our department at the Australian Embassy in Beijing on February 2020.
Before this, Esther was the Manager of the Timor Sea Section in the department.
the department's involvement in the Compulsory Conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Australian Building Codes Board
Job Titles:
- Minister - Counsellor ( Industry, Science and Resources ), USA and Canada
Geoff Mason is based at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC. He facilitates our important partnership with the USA and Canada.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Industry Innovation and Science Australia Board
Job Titles:
- National Offshore Petroleum Titles Adminstrator
Job Titles:
- Deputy Secretary
- Member of the Executive Team
- Deputy Secretary of Our Science
- First Assistant Secretary of the Industry, Infrastructure and Environment Division in the Department of the Prime Minister
Helen is responsible for the Science Division, Technology and Digital Division, Technology Investment Taskforce, the National Measurement Institute and Questacon.
Helen is the Deputy Secretary of our Science and Technology Group.
Helen has spent over 16 years in the Australian Public Service working on climate change, infrastructure, monetary and fiscal policy. She has implemented programs and been responsible for negotiations with a range of stakeholders, including state and territory governments.
Before joining our department, Helen was Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer at the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) with responsibility for Workforce Policy and Insights, Integrity and Operations.
Helen also brings experience to this role from her time as Deputy Australian Statistician at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). At ABS she led the Statistical Services Group which produced demographic, economic and social statistics.
Helen was previously the First Assistant Secretary of the Industry, Infrastructure and Environment Division in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Helen's private sector experience includes 7 years as an economist in the financial sector, working in Sydney and London, and running a small business.
Helen has a Bachelor of Economics and Arts from the Australian National University.
Job Titles:
- Commissioner
- Acting Anti - Dumping Commissioner
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive / Science and Technology Group
Job Titles:
- Deputy Secretary
- Member of the Executive Team
- Jane Urquhart
Jane has responsibility for Strategic Policy, Analysis and Insights, Minerals and Resources, Oil and Gas, and International, Trade and National Security divisions.
Jane is Deputy Secretary of our Resources and Strategy Group. Previously, she was seconded to the National Recovery and Resilience Agency as Acting Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Coordinator General for 6 weeks and acted as Deputy Secretary across industry and science policy and program functions for 8 months.
Jane led the Science and Commercialisation Policy Division between 2015 and 2020.
For most of 2020, she worked across a succession of taskforces related to the Australian Government's response to the pandemic.
Job Titles:
- Counsellor ( Industry, Science and Resources ), China
- Counsellor for Our Department at the Australian Embassy
Jess is based at the Australian Embassy in Beijing. She facilitates the key partnership between Australia and China.
Jess Brown started working as a Counsellor for our department at the Australian Embassy in Beijing in January 2021.
Jess is admitted as a legal practitioner to the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court. Before this, Jess was the Manager of the Offshore Resources Regulatory Reform Section in the department. She managed the implementation of a range of policy developments and changes to the Australian offshore resources domestic regulatory framework, including the government's response to the Report of the Montara Commission of Inquiry.
Jess has also previously worked on a range of industry and public policy matters. These include government procurement, government e-commerce policy, decommissioning offshore infrastructure, electricity network regulation, regulation reduction reforms, and program design.
She has Bachelor Degrees in Law and Arts from the University of Tasmania, as well as a Master of Electronic Commerce from Deakin University and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University.
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Job Titles:
- Deputy Secretary
- Leader
- Member of the Executive Team
- Deputy Secretary of Our Industry
Julia is responsible for the Industry Growth, Commercialisation, and Sovereign Capability and Supply Chains divisions, as well as Manufacturing and the National Reconstruction Fund.
Julia is Deputy Secretary of our Industry and Commercialisation Group. Before this role, she was First Assistant Secretary of the Domestic Aviation and Reform Division in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. She brings experience from across several Australian Government departments, including Prime Minister and Cabinet, Regional Australia, Human Services and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Her roles have spanned research, programs, policy, governance, Cabinet, and ministerial and parliamentary support.
Julia is a leader known for bringing policy, program and stakeholder expertise together to lead complex work in a collaborative way. She has demonstrated this across Australian Government infrastructure investments, in regional policy and programs, working with states and territories on the Northern Australia White Paper, and in leading several incoming government briefs as well as ministerial transitions.
Julia holds a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) from the University of Sydney and a Masters in Environmental Science (Human Geography) from the Australian National University.
Job Titles:
- Financial and Shared Services
Job Titles:
- Counsellor ( Industry, Science and Resources ), Europe
Kris is based at the Australian Embassy and Permanent Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris. Her role includes:
Representing and advancing the department's interests and objectives in the OECD
Representing Australia as the Energy Advisor to the International Energy Agency
Managing the relationship between Australia and European countries in relation to energy, resources, critical minerals and climate matters
Working alongside her co-counsellor to facilitate bilateral relationships and dialogues between Australian and European countries.
Before this, Kris was the Executive Officer to Mr David Fredericks PSM, who was Secretary of the former Department of Environment and Energy and at the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. Her role included supporting the Secretary and Executive throughout the formation of the new department and throughout the COVID19 pandemic.
Kris held several energy based roles before joining the Office of the Secretary, including leading the Strategic Policy and Governance team during a period of significant energy market reform and change, establishment of the Energy Security Board and Gas Market Reform Group as well as leading Australia's former Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program.
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Meet our overseas counsellors
Learn more about how our department is structured including our ministers, senior leadership teams, and portfolio agencies
Kris is based at the Australian Embassy and Permanent Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.
Representing and advancing the department's interests and objectives in the OECD
Job Titles:
- Member of the Industry Innovation and Science Australia Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Policy and Governance Team
- Research and Collaboration
Job Titles:
- Strategy and Operations / Science
Job Titles:
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Industry Innovation and Science Australia Board
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review Chief Executive Officer at Cicada Innovations
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
Ms Sally-Ann Williams has extensive experiences within the technology sector, including in her current role at Cicada Innovations. Cicada Innovations is Australia's home of deep tech ventures tackling some of the world's most pressing problems, like the future of human health, food security and the climate crisis.
Previously Ms Williams spent over 13 years on the engineering team at Google leading work on research and development (R&D) collaborations with universities, startup and entrepreneurship engagement and pioneering work on computer science (CS) and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. An experienced non-executive director currently serving on the boards of Qudos Bank, Data61, and AusOcean, she has led several cross-sector working groups to drive change in policy and culture, with the goal of growing a thriving technology driven economy.
She has also served on several University Industry Advisory Boards in engineering and computer science departments and is a frequent keynote speaker on topics such as deep tech, technology transformation, innovation and entrepreneurship, inclusion, business development, commercialisation and transformation. Ms Williams is a strong advocate for diversity, acknowledging the importance of diversity in the design of technology to ensure it is fit for purpose across groups of people.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Secretary
- Member of the Executive Team
- Deputy Secretary of Our Enabling
Neal is responsible for the Chief Finance Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Information Officer and Grants Delivery and Business Services divisions and AusIndustry.
Neal is Deputy Secretary of our Enabling and Business Services Group. He joined our department from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) where he led NEMA's policy and program teams as the Deputy Coordinator General of the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Group.
Neal has held several senior executive roles over the past 16 years in the Australian Public Service (APS) across a range of departments. During this time Neal led significant change and transformation programs in corporate and policy roles. Before joining the APS, Neal held senior management roles in the private sector.
Neal holds a Bachelor of Business and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Industry Innovation and Science Australia Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Science Policy and Governance Team
Job Titles:
- International Science and Resources
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- CEO, Australian Radioactive Waste Agency ( ARWA )
Sam has a deep understanding of the technical, operational, regulatory and stakeholder challenges associated with safely managing and disposing of radioactive waste.
Job Titles:
- Counsellor ( Industry, Science and Resources ), India
- Counsellor for Our Department at the Australia High Commission
Sanjiva is based at the Australia High Commission in New Delhi, India. He facilitates the important strategic partnership between India and Australia.
Sanjiva De Silva started working as a Counsellor for our department at the Australia High Commission, New Delhi, in September 2021. He is responsible for energy, resources and science bilateral cooperation.
Sanjiva has served as a senior public servant, trade negotiator and international law advisor to the Australian Government since 2005. He led investment negotiations for Australia in the world's largest regional trade agreement (the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership).
He was a legal advisor at UNFCCC climate negotiations where his proposals shaped key aspects in its multilateral assessment process. He has represented Australia in WTO disputes and the Climate and Sustainability Working Group of the G20. He has provided trade and investment law capacity building support to countries in South East Asia including while stationed in Myanmar's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration in 2019.
In 2019-2020, Sanjiva headed the taskforce that developed Australia's Low Emissions Technology Roadmap and delivered its first annual statement.
Before joining the Australian Government he was a commercial lawyer in Sydney and London.
He holds a Masters of Public and International Law (UniMelb), Bachelor of Environmental Science (ANU) and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons, ANU). He is admitted to legal practice in Australia and the UK.
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Meet our overseas counsellors
Learn more about how our department is structured including our ministers, senior leadership teams, and portfolio agencies
Job Titles:
- Counsellor ( Industry, Science and Resources ), Europe
Sarah is based at the Australian Embassy in Brussels. She facilitates the deep-rooted relationship between Australia and Europe.
Sarah Brown is based at the Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the European Union in Brussels.
Sarah's role is to:
manage the relationship between Australia and European countries in relation to industry, science, research, technology, energy and resources matters
advance the portfolio's interests across Europe
facilitate bilateral relationships and dialogue between Australia and European countries.
Most recently, Sarah was the Chief of Staff for Australia's former Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel. She supported Dr Finkel in advising the Australian Government on a wide range of science, research, education and innovation policies and issues. A highlight of her time with Dr Finkel was the release of Australia's National Hydrogen Strategy and the Low Emissions Technology Statement.
Before joining the Office of the Chief Scientist, she led international science policy in the department, with responsibility for the Global Innovation Strategy under the National Science and Innovation Agenda. Her section also led the bilateral science and innovation engagement with the European Union and its Member States, the United States of America, Canada, Singapore and Korea.
Sarah previously held senior roles in the peak body Universities Australia, including Policy Director International and Policy Director Research and Innovation, leading work on key policy and engagement documents and processes for the university sector. Her previous science and research related policy roles our department and its predecessors included developing and implementing research infrastructure policy and national research and science investment planning and prioritisation.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Scientist
Job Titles:
- Principal Advisor, Analysis and Insights
Job Titles:
- Digital Services for Business
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer / Industry and Commercialisation
Job Titles:
- Ministerial and Executive Enabling
Job Titles:
- Policy Director International and Policy Director Research and Innovation