The UNSW Science Advisory Council is comprised of leaders from government, public service and industry. They lend their energy, expertise and influence to pursue UNSW Science’s vision to be recognised globally as a leading faculty renowned for its high calibre graduates, innovative teaching methods and research creating global impact.
The Advisory Council acts as an invaluable source of advice, support and information to the Dean to carry out the faculty’s vision. They recognise that business, government and management organisations are important stakeholders in our success. Our members commit to a program of active engagement with UNSW Science and convene as a collective body three times per year.
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Professor Sven Rogge
Dean of UNSW Science
Sven is an internationally recognised expert in condensed matter physics and quantum information science. He has held several research and leadership positions at UNSW since joining from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands in 2011 including the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research).
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Denise Ora, Chairperson
Chief Executive, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Denise is an innovative, highly experienced, and solution-driven senior executive with proven track record working in both complex scientific, environmental, commercial, and regulated government cultural institutions of national significance. Successfully leading diverse and challenging projects in high visitation sites to deliver positive transformation and strategic change.
Currently, Denise has the responsibility of leading the incredible Botanic Gardens of Sydney into the future by advocating for the science, conservation, horticulture, education, recreation, and visitor programs that enrich the lives of our local communities and global audiences, providing solutions to critical environmental challenges facing all of life on Earth.
As cultural and scientific institutions, the Botanic Gardens of Sydney includes - the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, the Domain, the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah. And the nation’s premier botanical research organisation, the Australian Institute of Botanical Science.
Denise is Chair of the UNSW Science Advisory Council and the Council Heads of Botanic Gardens Australia. She holds a Master of Business Law, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Master of Marketing and International Communications and a Graduate of Cambridge University - Business Sustainability Management Program.
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Dr Juliet Andrews
People Advisory Services Partner, Ernst & Young
Juliet is a consulting Partner at EY and is responsible for advising public and private sector clients on workforce development strategy. A registered psychologist, Juliet holds a PhD from UNSW in organisation and management and is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in education and leadership.
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Matthew Connell
Principal Curator, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences
Matthew Connell is the Principal Curator at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. He is currently an Adjunct Professor with the UNSW iCinema Centre for Interactive Cinema. Matthew has a Bachelor Degree in Applied Science (Physics) and worked in geophysics, microelectronics research and computing.
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Trevor Danos AM
Chairperson, Northern Sydney Local Health District Board
Trevor Danos AM is a lawyer, company director and strategic advisor. He chairs Northern Sydney Local Health District and the NSW Treasury Social Investment Expert Advisory Group. He is a director of Endeavour Energy and is a member of the ANZ Square Kilometre Array Coordination Committee.
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Cameron Kerr AO
Director and Chief Executive, Taronga Conservation Society
Cameron commenced his career as an agricultural scientist in animal health then moved into business roles in FMCG and consumer healthcare. He joined the Taronga Conservation Society Australia in 2000 and has held various senior management positions responsible in life sciences, conservation, education, communications and stakeholder management.
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Kim McKay AO
Director & CEO of the Australian Museum
As Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, Kim is responsible for strategic planning and management of the nation’s first museum, including a collection of over 18 million natural science and cultural objects. Since being appointed to the Director’s role in April 2014, Kim has initiated an impressive transformation program.
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Dr Simone Richter
Group Executive, Nuclear Science & Technology & Landmark Infrastructure, ANSTO
Dr Simone Richter holds a PhD in Physics from the Technical University Darmstadt, Germany, a Master of Management from Malik Management Center and joined the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in February 2016, having built a distinguished career in nuclear and accelerator physics and as a senior science manager driving transformational change.
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Paul Verschuer
Former Deputy Secretary, The Treasury
Paul’s executive career spans 30 years, having commenced with Macquarie Bank. Paul led global financial markets businesses for Bankers Trust, Zurich Capital Markets and Westpac. Paul also has extensive government experience, including as an advisor to the NSW Secretary of the Treasury through his membership of the NSW State ALCO and as General Manager, Financial Markets, for the NSW Treasury Corporation. Paul also serves on the Policy Council of the Banking and Finance Oath.
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Robyn Williams AO
Science Journalist and Broadcaster, ABC
Science journalist and broadcaster Robyn Williams presents RN's The Science Show and Ockham's Razor. Early in his career, he made guest appearances in The Goodies, Monty Python's Flying Circus and Doctor Who, and stood in for Tom Jones for four months in his TV series.
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Holstein Wong
Key Account Manager, Industrial Automation in Mining, Minerals and Metals, Schneider Electric
Holstein is a mining and resources professional, delivering industrial automation and energy management solutions to the mining, minerals and metals sector at Schneider Electric. Using her experiences as a mine site process engineer and various commercial roles, she is passionate about advancing and communicating the evolving nature of Australia’s resources and energy sector.
Holstein won the QLD Exceptional Young Woman in Resources Award in 2018, was recognised as a Finalist for the Exceptional Young Woman in Resources National Award, and serves on various boards and committees.
She studied Materials Science and Engineering at UNSW and is a strong advocate for inclusion and diversity in STEM. -
Cathy Ma
Fatigue Risk Management Program Manager, Qantas
Cathy is a UNSW Alumni with a Bachelor in Aviation (Management) and ten years of experience working within the Aviation industry. She's held several roles at Qantas and, in her current role, she is responsible for leading the implementation and operation of the Cabin Crew Fatigue Risk Management Program.
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Dr Emma Mitchell
Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
Dr Emma Mitchell is a Senior Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Quantum Devices at CSIRO Manufacturing, Lindfield. Her research is focussed on the development of superconducting electronics capability, including the manufacture, characterization, design and development of Josephson junction-based sensors such as Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs). Most recently her work has focussed on extending this research to arrays of SQUIDs for applications requiring ultra-sensitive magnetic field detectors in the mineral exploration, defence, medical and aerospace industries. Emma Mitchell received her undergraduate honours degree in physics from Macquarie University in optics and completed her PhD at the University of NSW on low-dimensional semiconductor systems in the quantum limit. She has previously worked on the biophysics of artificial lipid membranes, and the surface physics of emulsions and organic monolayers.