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 (born 17 January 1953)[1] is an Australian neuroscientist, engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2007 he was appointed Chancellor of Monash University, a position he commenced on 1 January 2008[2] with his term ending in January 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.[2][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]

In October 2015 it was announced by the Australian Government that Dr Finkel would become the next Chief Scientist of Australia.[14]

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,[15][16] at speaking engagements[17] and in digital media broadcasts.[18] 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.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Alan Finkel AM, 50 Years of Monash Engineering, Monash University.
  2. 1 2 New Chancellor appointed by Monash University for 2008, 26 April 2007, Press release, Monash University
    New Chancellor installed, 13 March 2008, Press release, Monash University
  3. ↑ 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, Monash Golden Key Society
  9. ↑ http://australia.betterplace.com/our-company/our-team/
  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. ↑ Sturmer, Jake (17 October 2015). "Simon McKeon takes top job at Monash University". Waverley Leader. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  15. ↑ Finkel, Alan (2013-10-28). "We need abundant, reliable power. Why not nuclear?". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  16. ↑ Finkel, Alan (2015-04-05). "Switch on to the electric planet". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  17. ↑ Twomey, David (2013-07-26). "ATSE head: Aust ‘hiding head’ on nuke energy". Eco News. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ "Chief Scientist Alan Finkel calls for dialogue on alternative energy, including nuclear". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
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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