About

Professor Mary O'Kane

Professor Mary O'Kane was appointed NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer on 23 October 2008.

Professor O'Kane is also Executive Chairman of Mary O'Kane & Associates Pty Ltd, a Sydney-based consulting practice specialising in innovation and major reviews, and a company director.

Born in central Queensland, Professor O'Kane is an expert in computerised speech recognition.

She has been a member of a number of high-level committees, including the Australian Research Council and the panel for the Federal Government's Review of the National Innovation System.

Professor O'Kane holds a number of honourary positions, including:

  • Chair of the Development Gateway;
  • Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information
  • Director of PSMA Ltd, the Capital Markets Cooperative Research Centre and Business Events Sydney.

She has chaired major reviews of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the Co-operative Research Centres Program.

Professor O'Kane was Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide from 1996 to 2000.

She was Chair of the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy from 2010 to 2012.

She is a former member of the Australian Research Council, the Co-operative Research Centres Committee, the board of FH Faulding & Co Ltd and the board of the CSIRO.

She is a Fellow and Vice-President of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and an Honorary Fellow of Engineers, Australia.

In her role as the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Professor O'Kane is currently a member of a range of different government committees and advisory groups including:

  • The Medical Devices Expert Group (Chair)
  • The Renewable Energy Taskforce (Chair)
  • The International Education and Research Taskforce (Research Working Group – Chair)
  • The Coal Innovation Council
  • The Innovation and Productivity Council
  • The NSW State Statistical Council

The NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer is a member of the Forum of Australian Chief Scientists, which includes State and Territory Chief Scientists and is chaired by the Chief Scientist for Australia.

The role of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer

As NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, Professor O'Kane consults widely with academia, industry and government to ensure scientific knowledge and research can be adapted and used to benefit NSW.

She is responsible for:

  • providing the NSW Government with the best quality advice on policy decisions requiring science and engineering input
  • seeing that the State's research system operates to maximise its productivity, economic value and social responsibilities
  • brokering partnerships and strengthening connections within and between the public and private sectors to expand the State's research capabilities and networks
  • promoting and encouraging high levels of research and development in NSW with global impact – including supporting the growth of vibrant and high impact research institutions and technology companies
  • encouraging research excellence, concentration and skills development in areas facing significant challenges including engineering, energy, environment, health
  • backing investment in knowledge creation and research in alignment with the needs of the State's future industries

Professor Mary O'Kane