Skip to Content
Skip to Navigation

Back to Full Website

A+
A-

Board

	Russell Potapinski - General Manager and Head of Intelligent and Autonomous Systems for Woodside Energy. (Chair of the Board) Russell Potapinski is the General Manager and Head of Intelligent and Autonomous Systems for Woodside Energy, responsible for leading the vision and implementation of these new technologies throughout the organisation. He joined Woodside in 1998 and has held a variety of roles in areas including engineering, mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, business unit leadership, artificial intelligence and robotics. Russell understands the importance of technology transfer between industries and is leading translational research and development in the areas of space and the resource sector. Russell has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan.
	Richard Sellers - Director General of the Department of Jobs Tourism Science and Innovation and Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Western Australia. Richard Sellers was appointed Director General of the Department of Jobs Tourism Science and Innovation in March 2020. In this role, he is also the Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Western Australia. Prior to his appointment, Richard held a number of senior roles in the public sector, including Director General of the Department of Transport, Commissioner for Main Roads WA, CEO of the Public Transport Authority and Director General of the Department of Mines and Petroleum. As head of the Transport Portfolio, Richard was responsible for setting the strategic direction of transport in WA, shaping the development of a number of major integrated transport plans and leading the implementation of the State’s transformational capital projects.
	Jan Drobik - Program Leader, Innovation, Defence Science and Technology Mr. Jan Drobik is currently the Defence Science and Technologies (DST) Program Lead in Innovation and International. The role covers a broad range of DST Innovation programs, including aspects of the Next Generation Technologies Fund and the broader Defence Innovation System. The role also includes International Engagement and oversight of the Australian Defence Science University Network. Previously he was the Minister-Counsellor for Defence Science & Technology (MINCONDSAT) at the Embassy of Australia in Washington DC and served as a representative for the Chief Defence Scientist. In this role he was responsible for deepening Australia’s Defence and National Security cooperation and collaboration with the United States and Canada in science and technology, research and development. Mr. Drobik also served as Australia’s Deputy Principal representative to The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) multilateral (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States) Memorandum of Understanding. Mr. Drobik served as Research Leader Aircraft Performance and Survivability, and Research Leader Flight Systems. In these two previous roles, he led DST research in aerodynamics, weapons clearance, signatures assessment, systems assessment, and aerial autonomy. Mr. Drobik earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautics from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1983. He was awarded a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies in 2000 and a Master of Strategic Studies in 2001 by La Trobe University. He has published in the fields of strategic studies, aerodynamics, communities of practice in aeronautical engineering, and modelling optimisation techniques such as genetic programming.
	Denise Goldsworthy – Founder of Alternate Futures Pty Ltd; Chair of the Navy Clearance Divers Trust. Denise Goldsworthy is an Independent Director of Western Power, and Chair of the Navy Clearance Diver Trust, which provides support to current and former members of the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Branch and their dependents. Denise has extensive experience as a non-executive director, and is the founder of Alternate Futures Pty Ltd, a consultancy that connects Australia’s research organisations, tech start-ups and industry bodies. Denise was named the 2010 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year, and she is a 2011 inductee into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame. Denise has a Bachelors Degree (First Class Honours) in Metallurgy from the University of Newcastle, and she is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
	Professor Chris Moran - Curtin Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research. Professor Chris Moran FTSE is Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at Curtin University, where he builds critical industry links to ensure University outcomes and performance. Previously, Professor Moran was Professor and Director, Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland, and prior to that was the Founding Director of the Centre for Coal Seam Gas and Founding Director of the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry. He has an international reputation for his research and expertise in soil science, natural resources and water management. Across a 16 year career with CSIRO, Professor Moran has held a range of leadership roles, and has been a Board Member of five Cooperative Research Centres. In the International domain, Professor Moran was Director of the International Mining for Development Centre, and also established an International Centre of Excellence for the mining industry in Chile. Professor Moran holds a bachelor of Agricultural Sciences (with Honours) and a PhD from the University of Sydney.
	Professor Simon Biggs - UWA Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor. Professor Simon Biggs is Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Western Australia. An internationally recognised chemical engineer and pioneer in the field of colloid and particle technology, he was, prior to his current appointment, Executive Dean of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at the University of Queensland, and was previously the Royal Academy of Engineering/BNFL Chair in Particle Science and Engineering at the University of Leeds. An author of over 270 refereed publications as well as 20 patents, Professor Biggs’ work has led to a substantial number of research partnerships with a wide range of industry bodies. Professor Biggs received the 2005 Beilby Medal from the RSC/IMMM/SCI, was elected as fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2011, and fellow of the Australian Academy for Technological Services and Engineering in 2016. Professor Biggs undertook his undergraduate and doctoral education in the UK at the University of Bristol, where he received a PhD in Colloid Chemistry.
	Professor Caroline Finch - ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Vice-President. Professor Caroline Finch is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Edith Cowan University. She is recognised as one of the most influential sports medicine researchers internationally, being well known for her sports injury prevention and injury surveillance research. She has authored over 700 research-related publications, and has earned more than $22m in research funding. She has previously held senior research leadership roles at the University of New South Wales, Monash University and the University of Ballarat/Federation University Australia. Professor Finch holds a PhD in Mathematics/Statistics from Monash University and a Research Masters in Mathematical Statistics from Latrobe University. In 2015, she was awarded the American Public Health Association Distinguished International Career Award from the Injury Control and Emergency Health Services Section. In 2018, she was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her “distinguished service to sports medicine, particularly in the area of injury prevention as an educator, researcher and author, and to the promotion of improved health in athletes and those who exercise”.
	Professor David Morrison - Murdoch Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research & Innovation Professor David Morrison is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Murdoch University, Australia. Prior to that, he was the Head of the School of Psychology and Winthrop Professor Psychology at the University of Western Australia. Heisa registered Psychologist with Organisational Psychology as an endorsed specialty, Chartered Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute, member of the Academy of Management (US) and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Professor Morrison began his career in human factors and engineering design, researching how humans solve complex problems and make decisions in complex industrial systems. This includes a 5-year project funded by Meat & Livestock Australia, which looked into the introduction of new technologies within the meat processing industry to enhance the organisational design and employee well-being. He also has a personal interest in animal production and manages a small farm which breeds and exports Boer goats to targeted markets. Professor Morrison’s board memberships include the Pawsey Supercomputer Centre; National Centre for Excellence in Desalination; and Western Australia Animal Resources Authority.

Contact:

telephone: (08) 6277 3000
email: dsc@jtsi.wa.gov.au

Also in this section