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Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte with student at the awards ceremony for the Premier's Coding Challenge, 18 December 2018
Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, the current NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, with a student at the awards ceremony for the Premier's Coding Challenge, 18 December 2018.

Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte

Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte is the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer.

Professor Durrant-Whyte's Curriculum Vitae.

Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer

Professor Durrant-Whyte manages the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE), which has four distinct functions:

Independent Advice

OCSE is tasked with delivering evidence-based scientific advice to government on a range of difficult challenges. In compiling this advice, OCSE assembles panels and committees comprised of eminent academics and experts in relevant fields. Examples of recent work includes independent reports on the 2023 Mass Fish Deaths in the Darling-Baaka River at Menindee, Synthetic Turf in Public Spaces and the annual Assessment of Summer Preparedness for the NSW Energy Market.

Research Support

OCSE manages the NSW Government’s Research Attraction and Acceleration Program, which ensures that NSW attracts and retains researchers and research infrastructure. Support is provided to NSW facilities successful in receiving funding at the Commonwealth level through programs including the Australian Research Council’s Centres of Excellence, National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and Cooperative Research Centres. OCSE also provides sponsorship support to research conferences held in NSW and manages investment in targeted research, including the Quantum Computing Fund and Macquarie University’s Synthetic Biofoundry.

Industry Development

OCSE brings academia, government and industry together to drive the commercialisation of research excellence, with the aim of producing prosperous outcomes for the state. Examples include:

  • The new $4.5 million Biosciences Fund progresses new and innovative devices and systems towards commercialisation within NSW across the branches of the biological sciences (biotechnology and life sciences), including biomanufacturing, genetic engineering, synthetic biology and agrifood.
  • The Small Business Innovation & Research program provides competitive grants to NSW small and medium-sized enterprises to develop and commercialise innovative solutions to well-defined problems for NSW Government agencies.
  • The Natural Hazards Technology Program provides competitive grants to accelerate technology innovation and adoption in NSW. The program enables better preparation for and response to natural hazards by trialling field-ready technology with end-user NSW Government agencies.

Science Outreach and Education

OCSE is committed to ensuring that both students and the general public are given the opportunity to engage with science and scientists. The Office offers funding to NSW high school and tertiary students participating in science-, technology-, engineering- and mathematics-related courses, competitions and events through several programs including the Natural Hazards STEM Support Program, Science & Engineering Challenge, the Supporting Young Scientists Equity and Access Program and the STEM Student Competition Sponsorship Program.

OCSE funds the appointment of the Inspiring Australia NSW Manager, tasked with coordinating the presentation of both National Science Week and Year-Round Science Events throughout NSW and is a Foundation Sponsor of the Australian Science Media Centre, which supports science journalism across Australia. Lastly, OCSE manages the NSW Science & Research Breakfast Seminar Series and the annual NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering.