Dr Megan Clark

Recent Speaker

Chief Executive CSIRO

September 30, 2009

"Science: Securing the future in a connected world"

 As we aspire to be a prosperous and healthy society we face the challenge of securing our food, water and energy needs in a world of finite resources.  Population growth, rapid urbanisation, resource constraints and climate change are placing huge pressures on global systems. These national and global challenges are connected and can no longer be dealt with in isolation. Individuals, communities, industry and nations are seeking to understand this connectivity and the inevitable trade offs necessary to achieve a sustainable world.

Science is now making predictions of what we face 50 -100 years out.  Science is being increasingly asked to develop solutions needed to mitigate and to adapt to these rapid changes impacting on humanity. We will need tools to enable us to understand the complexity of the interactions. What are the latest predictions on climate change telling us of  Australia’s future?  What is the science that is now underpinning the future food supply and helping us manage biosecurity?  How can a national science agency, like CSIRO, address the challenges that face all nations and help secure Australia’s future? 

Dr Clark served on the Expert Panel for the Review of the National Innovation System. In addition, she is a member of the St Vincent’s Hospital Foundation Board and a member of the Automotive Industry Innovation Council.

She began her career as a mine geologist and subsequently worked in mineral exploration, mine geology, research and development management, venture capital and technical strategy areas with Western Mining Corporation for fifteen years.

More recently she was Vice President Technology and Vice President, Health, Safety, Environment, Community and Sustainability with BHP Billiton. 

She participated in the 2008 Australia 2020 Summit discussing the future of the Australian economy. (From the CSIRO website).