Alan Finkel

Dr Alan Finkel
AO FTSE
8th Chief Scientist of Australia
Assumed office
25 January 2016
Preceded by Ian Chubb
Personal details
Born Alan Simon Finkel
(1953-01-17) 17 January 1953
Nationality Australian
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Finkel
Education Monash University
Occupation Electrical engineer
Profession Neuroscientist

Alan Simon Finkel AO[1] is Australia's Chief Scientist.[2] An Australian neuroscientist, engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, he served as Chancellor of Monash University in 2008-2016.[3]

Finkel was educated at Monash University, receiving a doctorate in Electrical Engineering in 1981. He then served as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Australian National University, before leaving academia to found Axon Instruments, a global science and technology company based in the US.[4] During this time, he invented a commercially successful device which substantially speeds up drug research.[3][5]

Since then, he has used his wealth to found the science magazine Cosmos, an environment magazine called G: The Green Lifestyle Magazine and contribute towards a number of research institutes. During a speech at Monash University's 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, he announced that he would be endowing a Chair in Global Health for the University.[6]

In 2006 Finkel was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM)[7] and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE). In 2008 he was inducted as an honorary member of the Monash Golden Key Society to recognize his achievements.[8] In 2009 Finkel was appointed as the Chief Technology Officer of Better Place Australia.[9] In 2012 he co-founded Stile Education, an education technology company based in Melbourne, Australia, where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer.[10] In 2013 he was appointed President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).[11] Since 2013, Finkel also serves as the Patron of the Australian Science Media Centre.[12]

He was the 2015 winner of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Mountbatten Medal, for his promotion of electronics or information technology and their application.[13]

He is married to Elizabeth Finkel, an Australian science journalist.[6]

Nuclear power advocacy

Since assuming his role as President of ATSE in 2013, Alan Finkel has advocated for the consideration of nuclear power in Australia in newspapers,[14][15] at speaking engagements[16] and in digital media broadcasts.[17] Following his appointment as Australia's Chief Scientist in 2015, Finkel suggested nuclear power should be considered as an option for potential inclusion in Australia's future low carbon energy mix.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Recognition in Queen’s Birthday Honours (born 17 January 1953)Alan Finkel AM, 50 Years of Monash Engineering, Monash University.
  2. ↑ http://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/ Australia's Chief Scientist; Sturmer, Jake (17 October 2015). "Simon McKeon takes top job at Monash University". Waverley Leader. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 New Chancellor appointed by Monash University for 2008, 26 April 2007, Press release, Monash University
    New Chancellor installed Archived 16 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine., 13 March 2008, Press release, Monash University; McGinn, Christine (17 October 2015). "Simon McKeon takes top job at Monash University". Waverley Leader. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Alan Finkel, In Conversation, 9 June 2005
  5. ↑ Five minutes with our new Chancellor, Around Monash, Issue 19, Autumn/Winter 2007, Monash University
  6. 1 2 Ancora Imparo, June, 2008, Monash Memo, 4 June 2008, Monash University
  7. ↑ Member of the Order of Australia (AM), It's an Honour
  8. ↑ Honorary Members Archived 26 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine., Monash Golden Key Society
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
  10. ↑ http://www.stileeducation.com/contact
  11. ↑ ATSE Board 2013, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
  12. ↑ AusSMC
  13. ↑ IET Awards - Mountbatten Medal
  14. ↑ Finkel, Alan (2013-10-28). "We need abundant, reliable power. Why not nuclear?". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  15. ↑ Finkel, Alan (2015-04-05). "Switch on to the electric planet". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  16. ↑ Twomey, David (2013-07-26). "ATSE head: Aust 'hiding head' on nuke energy". Eco News. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  17. ↑ Finkel, Alan (2014-03-14). "Alan Finkel: Electric Planet - Seeing the Possibilities of an Electron Economy Over an Oil Economy". Big Ideas. ABC. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  18. ↑ "Chief Scientist Alan Finkel calls for dialogue on alternative energy, including nuclear". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
Academic offices
Preceded by
Jerry Ellis		 Chancellor of Monash University
2008–2016 		Succeeded by
Simon McKeon
Government offices
Preceded by
Ian Chubb		 Chief Scientist of Australia
2016–present 		Incumbent
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