Chief Executives and Chairs

When CSIRO (originally known as CSIR) was formed in 1926 it was governed by a Council. Day-to-day management was in the hands of a three-member Executive Committee: a Chair, Mr GA Julius, the Chief Executive, Professor ACD Rivett and Mr. W. J. Newbigin (replaced in 1927 by Professor AEV Richardson). Professor Rivett performed the role of full-time Chief Executive.

During the period 1 July 1959 to 4 December 1986, CSIRO had no formal Chief Executive, with the Chair carrying out the functions of both positions.

In 1986 the Hawke Labor Government changed the structure of CSIRO to comprise a Board of non-executive members plus the Chief Executive to lead CSIRO. The Chief Executive was now responsible for the management of the Organisation in accordance with the strategy, plans and policies approved by the CSIRO Board. The CSIRO Board is responsible to the Australian Government for the overall strategy, governance and performance of CSIRO.

The Heads of CSIRO

1 Jan 2015 to 30 June 2023 Dr Larry Marshall, CE
20 Nov 2014 to 31 Dec 2014 Mr Craig Roy, Acting CE
1 Jan 2009 to 19 Nov 2014 Dr Megan Clark, CE
15 Jan 2001 to 31 Dec 2008 Dr Geoff Garrett, CE
7 Feb 2000 to 14 Jan 2001 Dr Colin Adam, Acting CE
3 Jan 1996 to 7 Feb 2000 Dr Malcolm Kenneth McIntosh, AC, CE
3 Jan 1996 to 4 Feb 1996 Dr Roy Montague Green, AO, Acting CE
21 Jul 1995 to 2 Jan 1996 Dr Roy Montague Green, AO, CE
5 Mar 1995 to 20 Jul 1995 Dr Roy Montague Green, AO, Acting CE
5 Mar 1990 to 4 Mar 1995 Dr John Wilcox Stocker, AO, CE
5 Mar 1987 to 4 Mar 1990 Dr Norman Keith Boardman, AO, CE
5 Dec 1986 to 4 Mar 1987 Dr Norman Keith Boardman, AO, Acting CE
25 Sep 1985 to 4 Dec 1986 Dr Norman Keith Boardman, AO, Chair
14 Dec 1978 to 24 Sep 1985 Dr John Paul Wild, AC, CBE, Chair
25 Mar 1977 to 13 Dec 1978 Mr Victor Dudley Burgmann, CBE, Chair
26 May 1970 to 24 Mar 1977 Sir James Robert Price, KBE, Chair
1 Jul 1959 to 22 May 1970 Sir Frederick William George White Chair
19 May 1949 to 20 Jun 1959 Professor Sir Ian Clunies Ross, CMG, Chair
1 Apr 1946 to 18 May 1949 Prof Sir Albert Cherbury David Rivett, KCMG, Chair
1 Jan 1946 to 31 Mar 1946 Prof Sir Albert Cherbury David Rivett, KCMG, Acting Chair
Apr 1926 to 31 Dec 1945 Sir George Alfred Julius, Chair

Chief Executives of CSIRO during the period 1927 to 1959

1 Jan 1957 to 30 Jun 1959 Dr Stewart Henry Bastow, DSO, CE
19 May 1949 to 13 Dec 1956 Sir Frederick William George White, KBE, CE
1 Jan 1946 to 18 May 1949 Dr Arnold Edwin Victor Richardson, CMG, CE
1 Jan 1927 to 31 Dec 1945 Prof Sir Albert Cherbury David Rivett, KCMG, CE

There was no designated Chief Executive during 1 July 1959 to 4 December 1986.

Chairs of the CSIRO Board from 1986 to present

15 Oct 2015 to present Mr David Thodey, p/t Chair
28 Jun 2010 to 14 Oct 2015 Mr Simon McKeon, p/t Chair
28 Jun 2007 to 27 Jun 2010 Dr John Wilcox Stocker, AO, p/t Chair
1 Jan 2007 to 29 May 2007 Mr Peter Willcox, p/t Chair
6 Nov 2001 to 31 Dec 2006 Ms Catherine Livingstone, p/t Chair
5 Dec 1996 to 5 Nov 2001 Mr David Charles Allen, p/t Chair
5 Dec 1991 to 4 Dec 1996 Dr Adrienne Elizabeth Clarke, AO, p/t Chair
5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1991 The Hon Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, QC, p/t Chair

CSIRO Board members (including chairs) from 1986 to present

Dr Colin Adam ** 10 Feb 2000 to 7 Jan 2001
Dr Michele Allan 5 May 2016 to 4 May 2019
Mr Charles Allen *** 5 Dec 1996 to 14 Dec 2001
Ms Jane Bennett 25 Oct 2012 to 24 Oct 2015
Dr Keith Boardman * 5 Mar 1987 to 4 Mar 1990
Ms Mary Boydell 26 June 2009 to 25 June 2014
Mr Laurie Carmichael 13 Mar 1989 to 12 Mar 1993; 13 Mar 1993 to 12 Mar 1995 (reappointment); (resigned 31 Dec 1993)
Sir Roderick Carnegie 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1991
Professor Ian Chubb AC 7 Aug 2008 to 6 Aug 2012
Dr Megan Clark * 1 Jan 2009 to 20 Nov 2014
Professor Adrienne Clarke *** 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1989; 5 Dec 1989 to 4 Dec 1991 (reappointment); 5 Dec 1991 to 4 Dec 1996 (reappointment)
Mr Drew Clarke AO 24 Aug 2017 to 23 Aug 2022
Prof Edwina Cornish AO 26 Nov 2015 to 25 Nov 2020
Professor Suzanne Cory 26 June 2002 to 25 June 2009
Dr Terry Cutler 25 July 2002 to 24 July 2012
Mr Kevin Davern 1 Sept 1994 to 31 Aug 1997
Professor John de Laeter 5 Dec 1991 to 4 Dec 1995
Dr Eileen Doyle 15 Feb 2006 to 14 Feb 2016
Mr Peter Duncan 26 June 2002 to 25 June 2007
Professor Kevin Foley 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1989; 5 Dec 1989 to 4 Dec 1991 (reappointment)
Mr Michael Forshaw 1 Jan 1994 to 31 Dec 1997 (resigned 2 May 1994)
Mr John Gandel 23 Feb 1999 to 22 Feb 2004 (resigned 30 June 2002)
Dr Geoff Garrett * 8 Jan 2001 to 31 Dec 2008
Dr Roy Green 5 Mar 1995 (3 Jan 1996 to 4 Feb 1996)
Dr Tony Gregson 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1990; 5 Dec 1990 to 4 Dec 1992 (reappointment); 5 Dec 1992 to 4 Dec 1994 (reappointment); 20 Dec 1994 to 31 Mar 1995 (reappointment)
Dr Jeffrey Harmer 16 Apr 2003 to 15 Apr 2008
Mr Russell Higgins 7 Apr 1997 to 30 June 2000; 10 Aug 2000 to 7 Apr 2002 (reappointment); (resigned 24 Jan 2002)
Mr David Hoare 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1990
Professor Peter Høj 7 Dec 2011 to 6 Dec 2014
Mr Sandy Hollway 6 Dec 1994 to 5 Dec 1997; (resigned 22 Mar 1996)
Ms Shirley In’t Veld 28 June 2012 to 27 June 2020
Mr Brian Keane 30 July 2003 to 29 July 2008
The Honourable John Kerin 3 Oct 2008 to 2 Oct 2011
Mr David Knox 5 May 2016 to 4 May 2019
Ms Catherine Livingstone *** 1 Jan 2001 to 31 Dec 2006
Mr Bill Mansfield 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1990
Dr Larry Marshall * 1 Jan 2015 to 31 Dec 2016; 1 Jan 2017 to 30 June 2020 (reappointment)
Mr Don McDonald 15 July 1998 to 14 July 2003
Dr Malcolm McIntosh * 3 Jan 1996 to 7 Feb 2000
Mr Simon McKeon *** 28 June 2010 to 27 June 2015
Mr Don Mercer 4 Mar 1998 to 3 Mar 2003
Prof Tanya Monro 25 Feb 2016 to 24 Feb 2021
Professor Sir Gustav Nossal 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1991; 5 Dec 1991 to 4 Dec 1993 (reappointment); 5 Dec 1993 to 4 Dec 1994 (reappointment)
Professor Mary O’Kane 28 May 1997 to 31 Dec 2000; 1 Jan 2001 to 27 May 2002 (reappointment)
Ms Deborah O’Toole 16 Apr 2003 to 15 Apr 2008; 1 May 2008 to 30 Apr 2011
Mr Mark Paterson 9 Feb 2011 to 31 May 2011
Ms Lisa Paul 16 Dec 2004 to 28 Mar 2007 (resigned)
Mr Hutch Ranck 1 May 2011 to 30 Apr 2016; 5 May 2016 to 4 May 2018 (reappointment)
Mr Douglas Rathbone AM 26 Sept 2007 to 25 Sept 2010
Dr Max Richards 5 Dec 1991 to 4 Dec 1995; 12 Dec 1995 to 11 Dec 1997 (reappointment)
Dr Peter Riddles 24 Apr 2014 to 23 Apr 2017; 24 Apr 2017 to 23 Apr 2022 (reappointment)
Professor Alan Robson AM 30 July 2003 to 29 July 2008
Mr Norbury Rogers 28 May 1997 to 31 Dec 2000; 1 Jan 2001 to 27 May 2002 (reappointment)
Dr Don Russell 19 Oct 2011 to resigned 2 Nov 2012; 19 Oct 2011 to 8 Feb 2016
Professor Vicki Sara 15 July 1998 to 14 July 2003
Mr Doug Shears 5 Dec 1991 to 4 Dec 1996 (resigned 18 Aug 1996)
Dr Peter Shergold 14 Mar 2002 to 13 Mar 2007; (resigned 24 Mar 2003)
Mr Graham Spurling 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1989 (resigned Nov 1988)
Professor Tom Spurling AM 1 May 2008 to 30 Apr 2012; 28 June 2012 to 27 June 2015 (reappointment)
Dr John Wilcox Stocker * 5 Mar 1990 to 4 Mar 1995; 28 June 2007 to 27 June 2010
Mr Nigel Stokes 24 Sept 1991 to 31 Aug 1994; 1 Sept 1994 to 31 Aug 1996 (reappointment)
Dr Eric Tan 12 Dec 1995 to 11 Dec 1998
Mr Greg Taylor AO 23 Apr 1996 to 22 Apr 1999; (resigned 6 Apr 1997)
Mr David Thodey *** 15 Oct 2015 to 14 Oct 2020 (commenced duties 19 Nov 2015)
Dr Ed Tweddell 26 June 2002 to 25 June 2007
Mr Ralph Ward-Ambler 8 Feb 1989 to 7 Feb 1993; 8 Feb 1993 to 7 Feb 1996 (reappointment); (resigned 31 Mar 1995)
Mr Brian Watson 14 Sept 2015 to 13 Sept 2020
Mr Peter Willcox *** 15 Feb 2006 to 31 Dec 2006; 1 Jan 2007 to 29 May 2007 (resigned)
Dr Beth Woods 9 June 1995 to 8 June 1998
The Hon. Neville Wran, QC *** 5 Dec 1986 to 4 Dec 1991
* Chief Executive
** Acting Chief Executive
*** Chairman of the Board