鈥淚 THREW a boomerang.鈥� That鈥檚 how John Stocker describes his
appointment last month as Australia鈥檚 next Chief 快猫短视频. When Science
Minister Peter McGauran called him to seek his advise about the position,
Stocker made two points. One, the position did not require someone working full
time. Second, it made little sense to have someone cloistered with the
bureaucracy in Canberra when the role of the Chief 快猫短视频 was to offer advice
on what was going on outside the capital. Based on those criteria, and the need
for a person with a science background, Stocker suggested four or five names. He
thought that was the end of the matter. But he obviously sowed a seed with
McGauran who later called him back to offer him the job.
The two previous incumbents, Ralph Slatyer and Michael Pitman,
were both trained scientists but they both had full-time appointments and they
both were based in Canberra. Stocker will be different鈥攁 lot different. He
lives in Melbourne (but spends his weekends at his farm near Seymour where he
grows grapes). Officially, he will spend a day, perhaps two, in Canberra each
week being Chief 快猫短视频 and chairing the advisory body, the Australian
Science, Technology and Engineering Council (ASTEC).
鈥淚 won鈥檛 have the meter running,鈥� says Stocker. 鈥淚鈥檓 not likely to switch my
brain off. I will be thinking about the job much of the time.鈥� Stocker will
advise McGauran and have what he calls a direct reporting role to Prime Minister
John Howard about the overall direction of science and technology. By
combining the position of Chief 快猫短视频 with chair of ASTEC, Stocker will help
set the agenda. ASTEC will meet once a month.
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Stocker is well qualified for his two new roles. He has medical degrees from
the University of Melbourne and a PhD from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
of Medical Research. After post-doctoral work in Switzerland, he worked his way
up to become director of pharmaceutical research at Hoffman La Roche in Basel
before returning to Melbourne in 1987 to become the first managing director of
AMRAD Pharmaceuticals. In 1990 he became chief executive of the CSIRO, but
declined to seek a second term in 1995. With three other prominent scientists,
Stocker recently established a consultancy, Foursight Associates (home
pages, 28 September). He is on the board of several organisations including
Telstra.
This plethora of positions points to a potential dilemma鈥攃onflict of
interest. 鈥淚t will arise,鈥� says Stocker, 鈥渁s it does all the time with
non-executive directors in companies.鈥� He has made available to government
details of his pecuniary interests. When a conflict of interest is likely to
arise, he will advise the Minister who will rule on whether or not Stocker
should participate. 鈥淢y goal,鈥� says Stocker is to improve the overall science
base in Australia. Sure, that will benefit my business, but it will benefit
everyone else鈥檚 business too. There are enough big, generic issues to deal with
without my having to get involved with detailed management.鈥�
Stocker declares himself a working scientist, though it is a long time since
he got his hands dirty in a lab. 鈥淎 working scientist is someone trained in
science who earns their livelihood through the application of science or
scientific principles.鈥� 快猫短视频s are involved in business, commerce,
government, academia鈥攁nd laboratories, he says. One of his goals is to
make people, specially young people, aware that choosing a career in science
isn鈥檛 the same as swearing vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 鈥淭he most
successful small businesses in Australia are run by those with science or
engineering backgrounds.鈥�
He will also devote his energies to finding ways of boosting private sector
investment in R&D. 鈥淭o throw up your hands and say business isn鈥檛 investing
because of government is simplistic,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t is under investing for a
whole lot of reasons. One is a lack of awareness of the resources available to
industry in Australia through the CSIRO and the universities. Lots of companies
don鈥檛 realise what a treasure there is to be mined.鈥� For its part, the
government needs to make a strong commitment to basic research.
Stocker formally takes over the two positions next week. 鈥淭he Chief 快猫短视频
is a conductor of a large orchestra,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t is not a dictatorial
position. I will coordinate input from the academies, FASTS and other groups.鈥�
Stocker was offered the positions for five years, but settled for two. The best
opportunity to make a mark, he says, is at the start.