Steering Committee
Overview
The Director of the Marine National Facility (MNF) manages the delivery of the MNF to its users. The Director is employed by CSIRO and, through the Executive Director for Digital, National Facilities and Collections, is ultimately responsible to the Chief Executive, CSIRO. The MNF is subject to CSIRO governance structures and policies.
The independent Marine National Facility Steering Committee (MNF SC) provides high-level advice to the MNF Director. MNF SC members also act as advocates for the MNF. The Committee is charged with providing advice to the MNF Director consistent with CSIRO’s ongoing delivery of ocean research capabilities for the nation and with advocacy on behalf of the MNF.
Operational procedures are consistent with the principles set out in the Guidelines For The Operation Of National Research Facilities report to the Prime Minister by the Australian Science and Technology Council (ASTEC), January 1984.
The MNF SC is supported in performing these functions by two independent sub-committees: Research Advisory Committee and National Benefit Advisory Committee.
For further information about the MNF SC, including delineation of its role, view the MNF SC Charter and Terms of Reference.
Members
Dr Sue Barrell AO, BSc(Hons), PhD, FTSE, Chair
Dr Sue Barrell OA FTSE is passionate about the application of science to delivering highly valued outcomes for Australians, and is a committed advocate for empowering girls and women to take up science careers. Following a long career at the Bureau of Meteorology - Australia's national weather, climate and water agency - Sue retired in August 2018 from her final role as Chief Scientist. Her experience spanned roles across many of the Bureau's operations, from forecasting to research to science and climate change policy to Senior Executive.
Sue has been actively involved in international efforts in relation to climate policy and the coordination and integration of earth observations, including through the Global Climate Observing System, the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Sue was Australia's Principal Representative to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and a member of WMO Executive Council during 2016-17, and served as Vice President, WMO Commission for Basic Systems from 2008 to 2016. She contributes to and leads several high-level WMO initiatives, and nationally serves on several boards, councils and committees in the STEM, research infrastructure and education sectors.
Sue was recognised as an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2022, as a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) in 2013, and is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has a BSc(Hons) in Physics and a PhD in Astronomy. In July 2017, Sue was recognised as a Science and Technology Australia Inaugural Superstar of STEM.
Mr Greg Hood, Member (Government Representative)
Deputy Chair - Airservices Australia
Greg Hood was appointed as Deputy Chair of Airservices Australia in September 2021 having completed a five-year tenure as Chief Commissioner and CEO of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on 30 June 2021.
Greg has more than 41 years’ experience in the transport industry, beginning his career with almost a decade of service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During his RAAF tenure, Greg worked at locations throughout Australia and served in the Middle East.
Greg has since had a wide range of operational, training and leadership roles in Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority prior to his appointment as Chief Commissioner of the ATSB in 2016. In this role, he was integrally involved in aviation, maritime and rail transport safety matters.
As well as being a glider and powered aircraft pilot and a keen sailor, Greg is involved with several professional bodies. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Freeman in the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, a Life Member of the Qantas Founders Museum, and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Prior to his appointment as Airservices Australia's Deputy Chair, Greg served as a Board Member of Safeskies Australia and was a past president of the Canberra Philharmonic Society. Greg has also served as a member of the business advisory council for World Vision, and for many years, has been a Champion for the St Vincent de Paul CEO Sleep-out, raising funds for Australia’s homeless. Greg is a judge for Canberra’s community arts 'Ovation Awards', and a Crisis Supporter at Lifeline.
Mr Keld Knudsen, Member (Industry Representative)
Government Affairs Advisor, Santos Limited
Mr Keld Knudsen is a Government Affairs advisor for Santos Limited, one of Australia's largest oil and gas producers. Prior to joining Santos in March 2021, Keld was a Director with the Australian Petroleum Production Exploration Association (APPEA) where he represented the oil and gas exploration, development and production industry in Australia. Keld also has experience as a Federal Government regulator of offshore petroleum and mineral titles.
Keld is an experienced policy, communications and government relations professional with an in-depth understanding of the Australian petroleum industry, exploration, energy markets and related policy issues. He has extensive experience in marine policy, offshore resource development and industry-led marine research.
Associate Professor Vanessa Lucieer, Member (User Community Representative)
Head of Centre; Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania
Vanessa’s marine remote sensing team focuses on the development of novel methodologies to process acoustic and optical remote sensing data to map and characterise the seafloor. This information is used to understand the distribution of marine facies, geomorphology and the links between marine ecology and the benthos. Studying acoustic processing and spatial analysis in concert permits an understanding of the uncertainties between data acquisition and data representation and the influences this has on the derived spatial products when used in ecological or geological modelling.
Vanessa has an active international and national research portfolio, as the cofounder of SeaMap Australia, is a member of the scientific advisory board to the Swedish Marine Robotics Centre (SMARC), a co-investigator on the New Zealand Antarctic Science Program as well as the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) and the National Environmental Science Program (NESP).
Mr Jason Mundy, Member (Government Representative)
First Assistant Secretary of Parks Australia, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Jason is currently Acting First Assistant Secretary of Parks Australia. He is responsible for managing Australia’s Marine and Terrestrial parks. These include 58 Australian Marine Parks, island parks in Norfolk, Christmas and Pulu Keeling Islands and the delivery of Parks asset and infrastructure investments.
Jason recently worked in Environment Protection Division, where he first led a team to implement a national ban on certain waste exports and later acted as First Assistant Secretary for the Division. Jason was Assistant Secretary of the Marine Parks Branch from 2016-2019, in which he led the finalisation and implementation of management plans for Australia’s national network of Australian Marine Parks.
Previously, Jason was General Manager, Strategies Branch at the Australian Antarctic Division from 2011 until January 2016, where he was responsible for creating the Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Strategic Plan. Prior to that, he worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on overseas postings in the Philippines and Thailand, and positions in Canberra, including Director, China Political and External Section. Jason has also worked as a Senior Adviser in the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and as a senior adviser in the International Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Jason holds an MA (International Relations), a Graduate Diploma (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and did his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts and Law (with First Class Honours in law), at the University of Tasmania.
Ms Kim Picard, Member (Ex-officio)
Deputy Chair, National Marine Science Committee
Ms Kim Picard is a passionate marine geoscientist with Geoscience Australia since 2012. Over her 20 years career, she has worked for three international geological surveys where she has occupied technical through to leadership roles and has sailed on over 30 multi-disciplinary expeditions around the globe. Her research focuses on using seabed mapping techniques to understand the processes that shape the seafloor across a wide range of marine environments.
Kim is the deputy-chair of Australia's National Marine Science Committee and is chair of the Steering Committee of AusSeabed, the national seabed mapping coordination program, which she proudly contributed to building. As part of AusSeabed and her passion for seabed mapping, Kim works closely with the international community and programs such as GEBCO, where she sits on the Guiding Committee as an IOC-affiliated member and GeoHab to raise the profile of seabed mapping and marine geology globally.
With the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development underway, Kim also co-founded Ocean Decade Australia with the aim to raise awareness of the Decade and connect ocean stakeholders to delivery the 'Ocean we want'. Kim is also an advisory board member of the Minderoo - UWA Deep Sea Centre.
Prof Nicole Webster, Member (Ex-officio)
Chief Scientist, Australian Antarctic Division (AAD)
Nicole obtained her PhD in marine microbiology from James Cook University in 2001, studying how microorganisms contribute to the health of coral reef invertebrates. Moving from the tropics to the poles, Nicole's postdoctoral research was undertaken at the University of Canterbury, investigating the utility of microbes as biomarkers for environmental stress in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.
In 2005, Nicole commenced a role as research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and in 2017 commenced a joint appointment as Professor at the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Qld. Throughout her research career, Nicole has employed experimental and field-based ecological research combined with metagenomic, metatranscriptomic and advanced imaging approaches to uncover the contributions of microscopic life to the health, survival and adaptation of marine species. Nicole also has a strong focus on translating fundamental research outcomes into strategic tools for coral reef management.
In 2021, with an ever-growing desire to play a greater role in positioning science at the forefront of society's decision-making, Nicole commenced as Chief Scientist for the Australian Antarctic Division where she is looking forward to developing the innovative and collaborative pathways needed to improve our understanding, management and conservation of this wild and fragile ecosystem.
Prof Elanor Huntington (Ex-officio)
Executive Director, Digital, National Facilities and Collections
Elanor leads the data-focused research, development and digital capability of CSIRO, and is a member of the Executive Team. She has stewardship of a range of business lines including Data61, Space and Astronomy, and National Collections and Marine Infrastructure.
She also leads major national infrastructure provided by CSIRO on behalf of the scientific community to assist with the delivery of research, some of these include the Australia Telescope National Facility, Marine National Facility, Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, National Research Collections Australia, Atlas of Living Australia. Prior to joining CSIRO in November 2021, Elanor was Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the Australian National University (ANU) where she helped bring about significant transformation within the College and sector.
Elanor is an established senior leader, with Board appointments to Industry Innovation and Science Australia, Significant Capital Ventures, Questacon, Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering, Pawsey Supercomputing, NCI Australia, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research and other government scientific advisory roles. She was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering in 2020, and sits on the governance taskforce, diversity and inclusion committee and RAP committee for that Academy. Elanor was named an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and led the extended Group of Eight (Go8+) Engineering Deans as first female Chair up until 2019.
Elanor holds a PhD in experimental quantum optics and a Masters in information technology. She was a Program Manager for nearly 20 years in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computing Technology and her recent research includes the control of quantum systems at the interface between theory and applications. She is a Visiting Professor at the ANU.
Elanor is committed to growing the profile of STEM in the community and is passionate about attracting a more diverse cohort of people to take up careers that draw on STEM skills. She is a prolific and sought-after public speaker and thought leader on the future of science, technology, engineering and the nature of work. In 2017, she delivered a TEDxSydney Talk on ‘Why we need Engineers now more than ever ’ and later in 2019, co-founded the Engineering for Australia Taskforce to provide expert advice on addressing barriers to women’s participation in university engineering programs. Elanor has recently been selected to provide expert advice to the newly established Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence .