Memories from Fellows

Dr John Zillman AO FTSE FAA

As ATS Assistant Hon Sec in the early 1980s, I was called on occasionally to fill in for the Hon Sec, John Nixon, in recording the minutes of Council and Executive meetings. One day, when I was called for that role at short notice, I had to explain to the President, Sir Ian McLennan, that I was babysitting my four-year-old daughter for the day. Sir Ian  was a tough and demanding operator but he also had a soft spot. He said 'No problems, bring her along' and I have very fond memories of my daughter Leanne kneeling quietly on the floor beside Sir Ian at the head of the table while I took the notes of the meeting. 

Dr Carrie Hillyard AM FTSE FAICD

I was elected in 1997, when there were very few female Fellows and I was a lot younger than almost everyone. I had strong support from Peter Andrews and Don Nicklin from the Queensland Division, who knew the work I had been doing in the biotech industry and as a member of boards advising Commonwealth and State governments on growing a biotech industry as well as establishing venture capital in Australia.  

It was very funny at the formal dinner at Randwick Racecourse where I received my certificate. There were 36 new Fellows that year and only 2 of us were female. The President at the time was Sir Arvi Parvo and many of the Fellows were senior business leaders. The people on my table kept asking me what my husband did and I couldn’t work out why, as it didn’t seem relevant to me. When my name was called, their chins dropped! I think Don and Peter thought this was highly amusing. 

Dr Therese Flapper FTSE

My favorite memory of ATSE Fellowship was bringing my mother to my welcome dinner and reception, and it was her birthday and she didn't know I was becoming a Fellow. So that was completely special. On a more serious note, the other most special moment was delivering the webinars and package of essays for the A thriving Murray Darling Basin in 50 years project, and the impact and influence that that has driven.

So we've had 50 years of ATSE. I can see the huge changes that have occurred in the last five years in terms of diversity and all sorts of policy positions and the impact and influence that it's having. What can we do to accelerate that in the next 10 and 50 years from now? What will the Fellows 50 years from now be saying about us?

Emeritus Professor Lindsay Falvey FTSE

I offer three moments I am particularly proud of:

• the awarding of the AgriFood Award to outstanding young female and male researchers (and potential future Fellows) over the past 8 years;
• a joint ATSE and AAS deliberation in agriculture in Australia, and other Joint Academies' studies and advisory actions;
• and personally, when at a relatively tender age, I was elected a Fellow in 1997, and – soon after – learning from peers as a member of the Victorian Committee. 

Dr Joanne Daly PSM FTSE

ATSE reaching its 50th anniversary is very exciting actually. And it may be a reflection on my own life because 50 years ago I started at the ANU in a PhD, and so it only seems like yesterday, but I think ATSE’s really changed over that time. You know, originally it was a men's club in a way, a club of very senior and capable men. And I think in more recent years it's tried to represent a greater diversity of Australians in science and technology. And I think it's doing a really good job of doing that.

Dr Liz Dennis AC FTSE FAA

I think one of the very good things that ATSE did and I was a bit involved in was the agricultural subgroup that Snow Barlow led. I think that was a very successful bringing together of a subgroup of ATSE to discuss agricultural futures and problems.  

I think it's great that ATSE got to 50 years. I think that we actually seem to be more outcomes focused, determined to provide good advice and to achieve practical goals. I feel ATSE makes a very good complement to the Academy of Science in that it is for industry and bringing together industry with academics with some sort of purpose. 

Emeritus Professor Doreen Thomas AM FTSE

I really think the Academy has made a difference to people aspiring to a career in STEM, but I do believe that we've also made a great difference to government policy. Our expert advice is taken up and used.

My favorite time as a Fellow was one of my really earliest memories in the Academy. As a new Fellow, we were invited to dinner with other Fellows of the Academy – we were sort of presented and we had to make a presentation about the work that we'd done through our careers and our contribution to applied science or technology. And I met many Fellows at that meeting who I've been friends with and collegiate with over the years since 2012.

And I actually feel that the Fellows themselves get so much out of being Fellows. I've generally found when I've asked somebody to assist in something or to make a contribution that they always say yes. They are very busy people, the younger Fellows especially, and I'm glad that there are some younger Fellows coming in as well as some of our Fellows who've been fellows over the last 50 years. I'm sure that those who've been here for a long time are just as valued and have contributed a lot over the years. 

Emeritus Professor Annabelle Duncan PSM FTSE

It's the camaraderie that comes from being a Fellow. You gain another family through ATSE. Because of the discipline mix, the fact that there's industry, university and government people there, there are a lot of really, really lovely Fellows, and it's really nice to be part of that family and to be welcomed by them. So I think it's the interactions between people that are some of the best memories that I have. And to see some of the things that we've done starting to enter into public discourse, seeing some of those ideas being picked up and incorporated into that public discussion, gives you a bit of a buzz as well. 

Most of us technologists, we see the application of our science. We see where we can make that contribution. And I think that's why we are so well placed to make those contributions and to be listened to by politicians. I think that ATSE’s got a very valuable role to play in education and informing public debate. 

Dr David Cook AO FTSE

The thing that I think needs to be recognised is the work that the membership committee has done – because it involves many meetings, it involves reading nominations and these Fellows I think are our unsung heroes of the process. Since the new process started in 2015 with the expanded committee, probably 250, closer to 300 Fellows have been involved with the membership process. I think it's a key plank of Fellowship engagement that I am proud of.

The Fellowship to me was extremely important because I think in some cases, in terms of your career, you can become isolated technically. I think the Academy, for me over the course of my career, which has been quite eclectic, has always provided me with an environment where I could engage with my peers, with people in other disciplines. And I think it's something that over the years, and particularly since I retired, and up until quite recently, it enabled me to become quite engaged in what was relevant in terms of science and technology in Australia.

The fellowship has been extremely valuable to me. I value my cohort, my friends, as many of them have become, and we all share a common view of advancing at STEM.

Dr TJ Higgins AO FTSE FAA

My favorite experiences of being a fellow in the Academy are spending social time with other Fellows, Fellows who have a very different background to me. We would meet once a month to talk about our various areas of science. This was absolutely fascinating for me and one of my favorite things about ATSE.  

The Academy has made a huge contribution to science in Australia, science translation, commercialisation, advice to governments, and I see this as being very important. 

Dr John Bell FTSE

I'm generally proud of what ATSE has achieved over the years, but when I focus on perhaps one or two particular achievements, I think ATSE’s involvement in the Securing Australia's Future project was perhaps one of the highlights. ATSE led two of the major reports, one was looking at the influence of technology on productivity, and the other one was looking at the translation of research into economic outcomes and looked at policies and practices in different countries and how it's done.

I think that ATSE’s objectives are very much on the rest of the world at the moment in terms of the importance of technology to economic growth, and ATSE is the right place to help make sure that that happens in Australia.