Mark Stickells awarded a Member of the Order of Australia

Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre is delighted to acknowledge that Executive Director Mark Stickells has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to science, particularly information technology, and to the community.

The honour recognises Mr Stickells’ career contributions over 30 years to the fields of research, technology, innovation and science, including his seven years as Executive Director of Pawsey, Australia’s leading Tier 1 research supercomputing facility.

Mr Stickells was one of 61 Western Australians to feature in the 2024 Australia Day Honours List, and one of 19 to receive an AM.

He will formally be invested by His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia, at an Investiture Ceremony later this year.

Mr Stickells said he was honoured and humbled by the award, which he hoped would help highlight the importance of advanced technology and innovation within Australia.

“I see this not just as a personal achievement but recognition of the work and dedication of our Pawsey team to the cause of advancing science through technology,” he said.

“Throughout my career I have been fortunate to be able to pursue my love of innovation in roles supporting the researchers and institutions who drive scientific discovery.

“I believe that — more than ever — science needs champions and I’m humbled that my passion for this field has been recognised in this way.”

Pawsey Chair Tim Shanahan welcomed the announcement.

“I congratulate Mark on this honour, which speaks to his dedication to supporting high-performance computing in Australia, and his leadership at Pawsey and in other roles,” he said.

“Mark continues to make a significant contribution to the sector and is rightly recognised for his work in elevating Australian innovation at home and on the world stage.”

Mr Stickells has been Executive Director of Pawsey since 2018, after stints at the University of Western Australia in roles including Director, Innovation and Industry Engagement, and Director, Energy and Minerals Institute.

He is a Board Member of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Regional Centre, a non-executive director of Science and Technology Australia Ltd, a member of the National Quantum Advisory Ministerial Committee and an Adjunct Research Fellow of the Curtin Institute of Computation.

Mr Stickells is also a strong advocate for the progress of women in STEM roles, as an executive sponsor of Women in High Performance Computing and a member of CEOs for Gender Equity since 2021.

“It’s been a privilege for me to have such a diverse and varied career, and I want to open the door for others to find their place in the fields of science, technology and innovation,” Mr Stickells said.

“I believe there are great opportunities for Australia when we recruit for talent, aptitude, and diversity of perspective, and I am honoured to be able to continue to support the next generation of scientists, technologists and innovative thinkers.”

About The Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre

The Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre accelerates scientific discoveries, fostering innovation in Australia’s research landscape. Named after Australian scientist Dr Joseph Pawsey, a pioneering figure in radio astronomy, we embody his legacy by propelling over 2000 researchers towards unparalleled achievements.

Spanning domains like radio astronomy, energy, resources, engineering, bioinformatics, and health sciences, we’re a crucible of innovation. Operating as an unincorporated joint venture between CSIRO – Australia’s national science agency, Curtin University, Murdoch University, and The University of Western Australia, collaboration is our driving force.

Pawsey is an NCRIS facility funded by the Department of Education. The Australian Government also provided a $70 million grant for the Pawsey Capital Refresh project. Additionally, support for the Centre comes through the Western Australian Government and our partner organisations.