This biography, written by Colin Ward, is republished with permission from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)’s CSIROpedia.
Born: 1958, Australia
Died: NA
Country most active: Australia
Also known as: NA
Dr Megan Clark was appointed to the Board of Rio Tinto and stepped down as Chief Executive of CSIRO 20 November 2014.
Dr Clark is a geologist with a BSc (Hons) in Geology and PhD in Economic Geology from Queen’s University Canada and began her career as a mine and exploration geologist.
Prior to CSIRO, Dr Clark led BHP Billiton’s global efforts in Health, Safety and Environment and Community Engagement after heading BHP Billiton’s Global Technology unit.
Prior to joining BHP Billiton Dr Clark led a small high-tech venture capital fund with NM Rothschild and Sons Australia and worked in a corporate venture fund with Advent International in Boston.
Dr Clark is a Principal in the Global Research Alliance which brings together nine global applied research peers to support inclusive innovation for the world’s most disadvantaged. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Bank of Merrill Lynch in Australia, Japan’s Science and Technology Forum Council,Trustee of the Science and Industry Endowment Fund and a member of the Advisory Board of the World Economic Forum’s Risk report.
Dr Clark was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, AC in the Queen’s birthday honours this year for eminent service to scientific research and development through fostering innovation to science administration through strategic leadership roles and to the development of public policy for technological sciences.
Dr Clark is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Public presentations
Minerals in 2025: The Incoming Revolution (September 2014)
Australian Heads of Independent Schools Association – Occasional Address (October 2013)
Minerals Council of Australia’s 2013 Sustainable Development Conference (October 2013)
Nufarm Global Chemistry Conference 2013 – Collaboration, deep science and agility to deliver profound impact (September 2013)
PACIAs 2013 national conference (June 2013)
Innovation: The key to productivity and growth – CEDA State of the Nation 2013 conference (June 2013)
The innovation imperative – article in Independence (May 2013)
The innovation imperative – positioning Australia for a prosperous and sustainable future(September 2012)
Australia’s Water Challenges – The role of Research and Development (November 2011)
Integrated science for our carbon future (April 2011)
Towards a vibrant future minerals industry in Western Australia (March 2011)
Science and Australia’s place in the world (November 2010)
Modern Farmers: 2010 National Congress (September 2010)
Pearcey Oration: World Computer Congress 2010 (September 2010)
Digital Economies: creating a new wealth of nations (July 2010)
Global megatrends: driving new connections between science and industry (July 2010)
Boosting innovation in Australia’s minerals industry (June 2010)
Climate change: where science meets markets (March 2010)
Safeguarding agriculture and the environment: Global Biosecurity Conference (March 2010)
A new era of discovery: University of Western Australia ‘In the Zone’ conference (November 2009)
ABC Radio Australia – interview with Dr Megan Clark (October 2009)
Boosting the growth of the biotechnology sector: AusBiotech conference (October 2009)
Sustainable Agriculture: Feeding the World: Science and Technology in Society Forum (October 2009)
National Press Club – presentation by Dr Megan Clark (September 2009)
Australian National University Conferring of Degrees (July 2009)
Generating and transforming new industries: Cooperative Research Centre Association Pathfinders conference (May 2009)
The future of Australian manufacturing: 2020 Future Manufacturing Conference (May 2009)
Reading the greenhouse future: GREENHOUSE 2009 Conference (March 2009)
Growing the green collar economy: 2009 Skills Conference (March 2009)
Curriculum Vitae
Dr Megan Clark PhD, BSc, FTSE, FAICD
Qualifications
Bachelor Science with Honours in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, 1981
Doctor of Philosophy in Economic Geology from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 1987.
Current positions
CSIRO Chief Executive
Member, Australia Advisory Board of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Trustee, Science Industry Endowment Fund
Member, Advisory Board of the World Economic Forum’s Risk report.
Previous positions
Commissioner of the International Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change
Member of the Advisory Board of the Ian Wark Research Institute for Particle Science
Member, National Innovation Review Panel – Australia
Member, National Research Infrastructure Council
Vice President Health, Safety, Environment, Community and Sustainability, BHP Billiton
Vice President Technology, BHP Billiton, 2003-08
Director, NM Rothschild and Sons (Australia), 2001-03
Member of the Australian Research Council Collaborative Grants Committee in the areas of engineering and geosciences
Various positions with WMC Resources till 1999 culminating in Manager New Business Technology
Member of Board of A J Parker Co-operative Research Centre
Director, Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing
Member of the CSIRO Minerals Sector Advisory Council
Prime Minister’s Science Engineering Innovation Council – Working Group on China and India
Member of the St Vincent’s Hospital Foundation Board
Panel Member, Automotive Industry Innovation Council.
Memberships
Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.
Awards and Honours
Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology Science and Engineering, 2006
Honorary Doctor of Science Degree awarded by University of WA, 2006.
Honorary Doctor of Applied Science awarded by Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, 2010
Honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causa, Monash University, 2013.