Alan Finkel

Alan Finkel
8th Chief Scientist of Australia
In office
25 January 2016 – 31 December 2020
Preceded byIan Chubb
Succeeded byCathy Foley
Personal details
Born
Alan Simon Finkel

(1953-01-17) 17 January 1953 (age 71)
NationalityAustralian
SpouseElizabeth Finkel
EducationMount Scopus Memorial College
Alma materMonash University
OccupationElectrical engineer
ProfessionNeuroscientist

Alan Simon Finkel AC FAA FTSE[1][2] (born 17 January 1953) is an Australian neuroscientist, inventor, researcher, entrepreneur, educator, policy advisor, and philanthropist. He was Australia’s Chief Scientist from 2016 to 2020.[3] Prior to his appointment, his career included Chancellor of Monash University, President of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), and CEO and founder of Axon Instruments, and CTO for the electric car start-up Better Place Australia.[4]

Among his current roles, Finkel is Special Adviser to the Australian Government on Low Emissions Technologies, Chair of Australia's Low Emissions Technology Investment Advisory Council, and Chair of Stile Education. In March 2021, he published his quarterly essay, Getting to Zero,[5] which received widespread acclaim.

  1. ^ Recognition in Queen’s Birthday Honours
  2. ^ Alan Finkel AM Archived 8 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, 50 Years of Monash Engineering, Monash University.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Finkel, Alan". Encyclopedia of Australian Science.
  5. ^ Finkel, Alan (March 2021). Getting to Zero. Quarterly Essay.