Leadership

Director

Dr Yulia Uvarova

Director, Science strategy – Mineral resources

  • Dr Uvarova is the Director for the Autonomous Sensors Future Science Platform at CSIRO. She has a BSc in Geology from Moscow State University and a PhD in Geology from the University of Manitoba. Yulia joined CSIRO in 2012, and primarily worked on projects with Deep Exploration Technologies and Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centres developing technologies, workflows and software solutions for mineral exploration. Yulia has 15 years of experience in research and technology development spanning the boundaries of industry and academia, and a record of innovation as a national and international expert in the field of geochemistry and mineralogy and development of new tools and technologies for mineral exploration.

Theme Leaders

Brianna Ganly

  • Brianna started with CSIRO in 2014 as an industrial trainee in the sensing and sorting program during her undergraduate degree. She went on to do a PhD in physics with the University of New South Wales and traveled to Canada in 2016 to conduct part of her PhD research with the PIXE research group at the University of Guelph. In 2017 she was hired as a research scientist in the CSIRO X-ray technologies team at the conclusion of her PhD. Brianna is now the team leader of the X-ray Science team within the Sensing and Sorting research program. Brianna also has a keen interest in In-situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) for space exploration research, and is part of the CSIRO ISRU project funded by the Space Technologies FSP.

Andreas Marouchos

  • Andreas is a Principal Mechanical Engineer and Research Group Leader in the Engineering and Technology Program in the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) National Collections and Marine Infrastructure (NCMI) Research Unit. He provides engineering and technical support to scientists engaged in a variety of research fields across CSIRO. Andreas and his group specialise in the design of bespoke science systems and platforms for use in the marine and atmospheric research fields. This includes the design and manufacture of ship based systems and instrumentation, autonomous science platforms, and oceanographic moorings. In addition, Andreas is involved the development of new leading edge engineering technologies and methods to meet present and future engineering challenges. The Engineering and Technology program has a strong track record for delivering technical solutions to address challenging science problems in the field.

Sensor Prototyping Hub Leader

Andrew Filisetti

  • Andrew Filisetti is the Sensor Prototyping Hub Leader in the Autonomous Sensors Future Science Platform. With a background in Mechanical engineering and over a decade of experience, Andrew has specialised in the delivery of complex systems for environmental research. More recently, Andrew has been focussing on overseeing the accelerated development of sensors and autonomous platforms for a wider range of application areas from within the Sensor Prototyping Hub, including mining/ minerals, space, agriculture and environmental monitoring domains. Andrew’s continued passion for marine observations remains, through his strong affiliation to develop autonomous marine systems to enhance mission efficiency and performance.

Program Manager

Simone Janney

  • Simone has worked in scientific research organisations for over 25 years in private industry, for universities and at CSIRO. The two distinct roles that she has worked in are as a laboratory/ field technician and as a scientific support officer. Having come from a strong laboratory background within the agricultural sector she has an in-depth knowledge of the unique challenges that complex science research programs entail. While working for CSIRO HSE she brought practical and real experiences to this support function to improve processes and policies. She thoroughly enjoyed getting back to the field while working with the Site Entity team on the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) supporting the ASKAP, MWA, EDGES and SKA projects. Now working within Mineral Resources she brings the capacity to deliver a high level of Project Management support to the Autonomous Sensors Future Science Platform.

Science Steering Committee

Everard Edwards

  • Everard Edwards started his career in the UK, with a BSc (Hons) in Plant Sciences at The University of Sheffield in 1992, followed by a PhD in post-harvest physiology of potatoes at Nottingham Trent University in 1997. He also has a Diploma in Computing from the Open University in the UK. Everard then undertook post-doctoral fellowships at The University of York and The Australian National University. Both positions examined climate change effects on plants, the former investigating the impact of soil warming on root growth and the latter the interaction between elevated CO2 and phosphorous availability on nitrogen fixation. Since 2006, Everard has been applying his background in whole plant physiology to perennial horticulture at CSIRO. Much of this has been in optimising winegrape management, including studying vine balance (in collaboration with the Charles Sturt University and NSW DPI), the long-term impact of deficit irrigation, the interaction between temperature and water status during heat-waves and the role of rootstocks in driving water use efficiency. This latter work, together with his earlier experience in studying plant roots, has led to an involvement with the almond industry, where Everard aims to improve resource use efficiency through more resilient root-systems. Everard has also been involved in a number of collaborative projects including with The University of Adelaide, SARDI, and Agriculture Victoria.

Andrew Jenkin

  • Andrew is currently the acting Deputy Director of the Mineral Resources Research Unit. He joined CSIRO in 2020 as the Research Director of Mineral Processing. He has over 30 years of experience in the minerals industry, across a range of technical, operational and strategic leadership roles. He completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) from Melbourne University in 1987, and an MBA at Melbourne Business School in 1996. Following employment as a Senior Research Engineer with Comalco Ltd (now Rio Tinto Aluminium) from 1988-1996, he worked for WMC Resources Ltd from 1997-2005 in a number of strategic and operational management roles. Andrew re-joined Rio Tinto in 2006 as GM Technology for the Iron Ore product group, before moving into Rio Tinto’s corporate Technology & Innovation group as GM Innovation and then Director Partnerships. While working for Rio Tinto, he also served as a Director on the Boards of CRC Mining and the Parker Centre.

Mark Hedley

  • Mark is currently deputy director of the Cyber-Physical Systems Program in Data61. He received a B.Sc degree, majoring in Computer Science and Pure Mathematics, and a B.E. (Electrical) degree with University Medal and First Class Honours, both from the University of Sydney. He subsequently completed a Ph.D. in medical imaging, and was a member of the academic staff also at the University of Sydney, where he undertook research in medical imaging, image processing and video compression. During this time he was also part of a start-up company, Dilithium Networks, developing video coding solutions for transcoding gateways. Mark then joined CSIRO, where he has led projects in video coding, acoustic imaging, wireless communications and tracking, before moving into more senior leadership positions. Mark is an author of over one hundred international publications, numerous reports for industry, over ten patents and been a recipient of multiple industry awards. Mark is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Allison Hortle

  • Allison Hortle is a Senior Researcher with CSIRO Energy and the Research Group Leader for the Reservoir Dynamics Group in the Oil Gas and Fuels Program. As a petroleum hydrogeologist, Allison worked for many years in the hydrodynamic analysis of petroleum reservoirs. Allison began research into CO2 storage with the GeoDISC program in 1999. Her research is focused on the relationship between CO2 storage reservoirs, hydrodynamic aquifers and groundwater. Allison’s recent research has been focused on the need to couple large scale CO2 injection to local and regional hydrogeology, including an assessment of far-field effects and adjacent aquifer units. In conjunction with this is the need to develop cost-effective techniques for long-term, scientifically valid monitoring strategies. As a Research Group Leader Allison provides scientific leadership to a group of approximately 25 scientists and engineers working across the value chain of hydrocarbon exploration and carbon storage.

Tim Malthus

  • Tim Malthus is a Senior Principal Research Scientist of the Aquatic Remote Sensing Group in the Environment Research Unit. He has 30+ years experience in remote sensing of water quality with a focus on optics, calibration and validation, field spectroscopy and sensor development. Tim’s most recent research has focussed on tools for the detection of harmful algal blooms in both inland and coastal waters. This has ranged from the development of low cost optical sensors, apps for use by citizen scientists and observations using satellites in space. Tim is a co-creator of CSIRO’s patented HydraSpectra near surface sensor for the measurement of water quality parameters. As part of the AquaWatch Australia Mission he leads the In Situ Sensor Networks Work Package working with optical and electronic engineers and scientists overseeing the challenge of development and deployment of sensor networks at wide spatial scales.

Megan Astle

Paul Savage

  • Dr Paul Savage is currently the Science and Deputy Director of CSIRO Manufacturing Research Unit. Our focus is to solve complex challenges using innovative science and technology to help grow the Australian hi-tech manufacturing industry. Dr Savage has a BSc (Hons) and PhD (synthetic heterocyclic chemistry) from the University of Queensland; and an MBA (Technology Management) from the Chifley Business School, La Trobe University.

Alex Held

  • Dr. Held is currently the AquaWatch Australia Mission Lead at the Centre for Earth Observation in the CSIRO Space and Astronomy Resaerch Unit. Alex serves as the CSIRO Principal on the international Committee on Earth Observation Satellites . Previously, Alex served as a co-lead of the “Landscapes Assessment” facility of Australia’s “Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network” – TERN, which provides free and open access to various satellite-derived products for ecosystem science and land management. He also served as the Head of COSSA (the CSIRO Office of Space Science and Applications) from 2004 -December 2007, representing Australia at several space-related international committees, and served as member of the National Committee for Space Science of the Australian Academy of Science. He was part of the team which held the 2016 Chair of the international Committee on Earth Observation Satellites – CEOS. He is a plant physiologist from the University of California, Davis, and has been linking remote sensing and vegetation mapping at CSIRO since arriving in Australia 29 years ago.

Ilona Stobutzki

  • Dr Ilona Stobutzki is currently the Science Director and Deputy Director of CSIRO National Collections and Marine Infrastructure (NCMI) Research Unit. NCMI hosts national facilities and collections that underpin essential research to deliver evidence-based support for biosecurity, conservation and the development of sustainable land and marine management systems. The Research Unit undertakes scientific research based on collections and facilities and innovative engineering and technology development. Ilona’s focus is research for decision-makers, with more than 20 years leading multi-disciplinary research programs in partnership with managers, policy developers, industry and community stakeholders. She has spent most of her career working at the science-policy interface across fisheries, forestry, biosecurity risk assessment and land-use management. She has led policy teams focused on fisheries and threatened species listing and management. Ilona is interested in increasing our ability to deliver science that has an impact and how we communicate to build two-way understanding of what the problems are and how research can contribute.

Andrew Martini

  • Andrew is the Research Director for the Engineering & Technology Program. The E&T Program works with researchers to deliver next generation marine instrumentation solutions including autonomous systems, biological platforms, environmental imaging, moored sensor systems, science software and data tools, and vessel connected systems. Andrew’s previous work within CSIRO includes marine systems engineering, structural design and analysis, and moorings analysis. Prior to joining CSIRO, Andrew worked in the aerospace sector on such platforms as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), Boeing 747-8 and KC-46, and the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).