New members for the Australian Synchrotron Science Advisory Committee

Professor Ted Baker, Distinguished Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, has agreed to be the new Australian Synchrotron Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Chair.

Professor Mitchell Guss, Professor in the School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences University of Sydney, and President of the Asian Crystallographic Association has also agreed to join the SAC.

The Synchrotron Board of Directors has appointed the Slade Partners-EMA Group to conduct an international search for a new Synchrotron Facility Director.

Synchrotron Board Chair Mrs Catherine Walter AM said the Synchrotron Board, Professor Baker and other existing Synchrotron SAC members would work together to appoint other new members as well as Professor Guss.

The other SAC members are Professor Xu Hongjie, Director of the Shanghai Synchrotron radiation facility; Professor Janet Smith, University of Michigan Medical School Life Sciences Institute; Professor Soichi Wakatsuki, Director of the Photon Factory Radiation Facility Japan.

The SAC members will also work with the Synchrotron National Science Colloquium Chair, Sir Gus Nossal, on providing advice to the Synchrotron Board of Directors.

Mrs Walter said the Board values the ongoing support of continuing SAC members and appreciates the importance of the relationship between the Board and SAC.

“We are committed to working closely with SAC to overcome any communication issues and to ensure that the Synchrotron maintains its focus on science now and in the future,” she said.

The Board has also appointed executive search firm Slade Partners-EMA to conduct an international search for the new Director of the facility. The search has started already - the closing date for applications will be in February 2010 and the successful candidate will take up the appointment later in the year.

Robert Ward, Senior Consultant at Slade, said: “We are experienced in conducting global searches aimed at attracting outstanding scientific talent with an international reputation and recognition in their fields. We will be searching for someone with synchrotron science experience, and the right mix of scientific expertise, strategic leadership qualities, international experience and general management skills to take the Australian Synchrotron to the next stage in its development,” he said.

Advertising for the position highlights that the successful candidate will be to able to manage a large and complex international research facility; lead a talented multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers and other staff; manage a wide range of stakeholder relationships; and demonstrate a capacity to generate research, business development and other funding.

On Thursday last week, the Synchrotron Board accepted the resignation of the previous SAC Chair, Professor Frank Larkins, and four SAC members.

Mrs Walter said the Board had accepted Professor Larkins’ and the other members’ resignations with regret and thanked them for their contributions to the Synchrotron.