Professor Amanda Barnard currently leads research at the interface of computational modelling, high performance supercomputing, and applied machine learning and artificial intelligence at the Australian National University.

With more than 20 years of HPC experience, she is a member of the Board of Directors for New Zealand eScience Infrastructure, the College of Assessors for the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment of New Zealand, the Expert Panel for the CRP scheme of the National Research Foundation of Singapore, and the Chair of the Australasian Leadership Computing Grants scheme.

Her transdisciplinary research has been awarded in five scientific disciplines, including the 2014 ACS Nano Lectureship (Asia/Pacific) from the ACS, the 2014 Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (Theory) from the Foresight Institute, and the 2019 AMMA Medal from the Association of Molecular Modellers of Australasia.

In 2022 Prof. Barnard was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to computational science and medical research.

Geoff leads KPMG’s Business Development and Marketing teams as Head of Markets WA and is also General Manager Public sector with specific business development responsibility for growing KPMG’s public sector line of business in WA.

In this role he coaches client-facing teams with strategy, sales, relationship management, contract negotiations and solution delivery, particularly within the health and human services, infrastructure, transport, regional and local government sectors.

Geoff has made a significant contribution to the public sector, including advising the Minister for Technology on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) issues, and consulting on the Government’s general conditions of contract with the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), where he has been a WA Council member for over 25 years.

Driving the firm’s focus on Government sector services, Geoff’s more than 30 years of experience in policy, process and procurement has resulted in the development of long-term relationships with major Government agencies across Western Australia.

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Melinda Fitzgerald is the Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research at Curtin University and CEO of Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia.

Lindy is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies, frameworks, and activities to achieve the University’s strategic goals in research and IP commercialisation, including Curtin’s Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer funded by the federal government.

Professor Fitzgerald also leads a team of researchers and post-graduate students in nationally coordinated research focused around understanding and preventing the loss of function that occurs following neurotrauma.

Mark is the Chief of Research Technology & Operations of the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) at the Department of Defence. Mark joined Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) in 2022, bringing with him a deep understanding of research and innovation, including 20 years’ experience in the public service and a passion for leading the integral science and technology support services required by researchers.

Most recently, Mark held the Head of Strategy and Chief of Staff positions at CSIRO. As a part of the CSIRO Leadership team, Mark led the strategy, planning, performance and evaluation, investment and portfolio management functions.

Mark has also served on several reviews and committees specific to science, research and innovation, including Science and Technology Australia (STA) and the Australian Research Council (ARC) Expert Advisory Committee for the review of Excellence in Research for Australia and the Engagement and Impact Assessment.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Masters of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Mark is a research executive with more than 20 years’ experience working at a senior level in innovative research and business development roles in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Through national and international programs and joint-ventures, Mark had successfully led initiatives to accelerate the impact of research, development and education programs for Australia’s key energy, mining and agricultural sectors.

He is a former Chief Executive of an LNG research and development alliance of CSIRO, Curtin University and UWA, partnering with Chevron, Woodside and Shell. Prior to his appointment at Pawsey Mark led the innovation and industry engagement portfolio at The University of Western Australia. In addition, Mark is the current Chair of the Board of All Saints’ College and was appointed an adjunct Senior Fellow of the Perth USAsia Centre (an international policy think tank) in 2017.

Dr Merran Smith is the inaugural Chief Executive of Australia’s Population Health Research Network (PHRN). The PHRN which commenced in 2009, is a national research infrastructure capability focused on the provision of linked data in privacy-preserving ways to support health and human services research. Merran is based at the University of Western Australia which is lead agent for the PHRN.

Prior to joining UWA, Merran was a Director in the Western Australian Department of Health. Her responsibilities included strategic planning, system policy and Commonwealth-State relations. She was in charge of the Department’s Health Information Centre for more than 10 years and established data linkage as a core Departmental service during that period.

Merran has served as Chair or Member of a number of Australia’s peak national health information committees and is currently Director of the International Population Data Linkage Network. Her qualifications include a PhD in Medicine and a BA in Economics from the University of Melbourne. She is a member of the AICD.

Read an interview with Dr Smith http://bit.ly/BoardUWA

Professor Peter Eastwood is Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation at Murdoch University. Previously positions include Director of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute and Dean of Research, College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University; Director of The Raine Study; Inaugural Director of the Centre for Sleep Science at the University of Western Australia; the Asia/Australasia representative on the World Sleep Society Governing Council; Past President of the Australasian Sleep Association and Immediate Past Editor in Chief of Respirology.

Professor Eastwood has made a significant contribution to understanding and improving the diagnosis and treatments of chronic lung disease and sleep disorders. His research is clinically-orientated and undertaken in university and public hospital settings. He has published >250 peer-reviewed research papers and supervised many postgraduate research students across a broad range of disciplines including genomics, public health, rehabilitation and exercise science, life course health studies, metabolic health, neuroscience and chronic disease.

Sonya is an Executive Business Leader with strengths in building strong teams and delivering results. Sonya has played a key role in major organisational change initiatives with integrated commercial, business and digital transformation.

Sonya enjoys propelling start-ups or mature and stagnant businesses into high growth and profitability by developing sound strategies and delivering highly targeted execution with excellence in operational management. She is a collaborative and caring leader, Sonya believes in their teams, uplift them and ‘walks the talk’ in supporting them in the success of their careers and lives.

With a background in information technology, banking, finance, insurance, commercial and public sectors, she is engaged in numerous Boards & community projects. She has contributed as an MC, Panel Guest and Advisor for the Australian IT Industry Association (AIIA), ICT, Digital agenda, cloud, SaaS, sustainability & innovation initiatives.

Tim Shanahan joined Pawsey’s board with more than 20 years’ experience in leading and driving performance across a wide range of industries, including ICT, research, infrastructure, energy, minerals, and financial services.
Mr Shanahan currently serves on the boards of RAC WA, the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre, Zetta Group and FORM.