Geoff Garrett
AO FTSE FAICD
Garrett circa 2016
Chief Executive of the CSIRO
In office
15 January 2001 – 31 December 2008
Preceded byColin Adam
Succeeded byMegan Clark
Personal details
Born1948 (age 75–76)
EducationCambridge University
OccupationMetallurgist and researcher

Geoffrey Graham Garrett AO, FTSE, FAICD (born 1948[1]) is the former CEO of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Queensland Chief Scientist 2011-2016.

Education and work

Garrett earned a doctorate from Cambridge University, where he studied metallurgy. He went on to hold academic positions at the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand (where he established the Fracture Research Group[2]), and visiting positions at Brown University, Oxford University and Sheffield University.[3][4]

He worked in various management roles at the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for almost a decade, supplementing the experience by attending business programs at Stanford University in 1991, before he was appointed President and Chief Executive in 1995. His five year tenure saw a 35% increase in government funding and a 61% increase in external funding, the latter eventually making up 58.4% of CSIR's income, while its spending on research and infrastructure increased 41%. Garrett also oversaw efforts to increase the number of black professional staff members, resulting in an increase from 5% to 22%.[3]

As CSIRO chief executive 2001-2008,[5][6] starting in 2003 Garrett introduced changes to the management structure which were intended to increase the impact of science research aimed at major industrial, governmental and community problems, and implemented "flagships" in order to increase revenue. He called it "one of the largest targeted scientific research programs in Australia's history".[7] His policies generated both approval and criticism.[8][5]

In 2008 he participated in the Australia 2020 Summit.[9][10] He went on to chair the Great Barrier Reef water science taskforce in 2016,[11] which reported on ways of reducing industrial pollution in the area of the reef. He said that if water quality continued to deteriorate, "we’re stuffed with a capital S", and expressed concern that insufficient funds had been assigned to meet water quality targets within the time proposed.[12] He continues to provide support to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation as a member of their Partnership Management Committee.[13]

Garrett was Queensland's Chief Scientist 2011-2016.[4][14] The Queensland premier called the appointment "a fantastic coup for science and innovation in Queensland".[15]

Awards and recognition

The South African Society of Professional Engineers named Garrett Engineer of the Year in 1999.[3] He received the Centenary Medal in 2001[16] and, in June 2008, was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in recognition of his work at CSIRO.[17][18]

He is an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia[19] and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.[20]

Publications

In 2010, Garrett and his co-author Graeme Davies, with a group of co-contributors, published Herding Cats: Being Advice to Aspiring Academic and Research Leaders, described as a "non-ideological, aphoristic little book" about managing academics and researchers.[21] He has also written at least 48 scientific papers and edited books on metals fracture analysis and materials engineering.[3]

Personal life

Garrett is married, with 4 children and 5 grandchildren.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Garrett, G. G. - Library of Congress, from LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress)". id.loc.gov. Library of Congress.
  2. ↑ James, M.N. "Fracture research at Wits : An overview of activities, results, and directions". journals.co.za. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
  3. 1 2 3 4 da Silva, Wilson (1 November 2001). "Winds of Change - Wilson da Silva". Authory. Newton Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Dr Geoff Garrett AO". chiefscientist.qld.gov.au (archived). Archived from the original on 26 February 2016.
  5. 1 2 Cauchi, Stephen (3 October 2014). "Volatile times for CSIRO". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Sandland, Ron; Thompson, Graham (2012). Icon in Crisis: The Reinvention of CSIRO. UNSW Press. ISBN 978-1-7422-4597-3.
  7. ↑ "Flagship gets to guts of cancer, but not all of CSIRO is on board". smh.com.au. The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 May 2004.
  8. ↑ Phillips, Nicky; Besser, Linton (12 April 2013). "Call for inquiry as CSIRO comes under the microscope". smh.com.au. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  9. ↑ "Australia 2020 Summit – List of Participants" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Australia 2020 Summit – full list of participants". smh.com.au. The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 March 2008.
  11. ↑ "Final Report - Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce" (PDF). qld.gov.au. Queensland Government. May 2016.
  12. ↑ Slezak, Michael (25 May 2016). "Great Barrier Reef: advisers call for cap on farm pollution". The Guardian.
  13. ↑ "Partnership Management Committee". barrierreef.org. Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
  14. ↑ "State's chief scientist Dr Geoff Garrett impressed with Algester Catholic school's environmental learning centre". The Catholic Leader. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  15. ↑ Bligh, Anna (6 October 2010). "New Chief Scientist for the smart State - The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "AUSTRALIAN HONOURS SEARCH FACILITY". honours.pmc.gov.au. Australian Government, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
  17. ↑ "AUSTRALIAN HONOURS SEARCH FACILITY". honours.pmc.gov.au. Australian Government, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "Queen's birthday honours list". Brisbane Times. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Canberra's Newest Honorary Fellows". engineersaustralia.org.au. Engineers Australia.
  20. ↑ "ATSE:All Fellows". atse.org.au.
  21. ↑ Gillies, Malcolm (9 December 2010). "Herding Cats: Being Advice to Aspiring Academic and Research Leaders". timeshighereducation.com (archived). Archived from the original on 25 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "About Geoff Garrett". Triarchy Press. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
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