After an extensive search we’re happy to announce the new Chair of the AURIN Board, Dr Chris Pigram. Dr Pigram takes over from Mr Greg Tucker, who has been the Interim Chair of the Board following the death of Dr Peter Woodgate late last year.

Dr Pigram is a geologist with over 40 years of experience in a wide range of geoscientific research and mapping. He is a leader in the research and management of minerals, marine and petroleum geoscience programs, and geospatial and earth monitoring. He was the CEO of Geoscience Australia from 2010-2017 and has extensive experience in managing the interface between science and government in stakeholder engagement.

He is currently the Chairman of AuScope Ltd and MinEx CRC, a member of CSIRO’s Deep Earth Imaging Advisory Panel, the Chair of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mines and of the Australia New Zealand IODP Governing Council. He was made a member of the order of Australia in 2019.

‘Chris has had a stellar career from a young graduate in geology at ANU to CEO of Geoscience Australia. As the current Chair of AuScope and the former interim director of the National Computational Institute, Chris has an intimate knowledge of the National Research Infrastructure Landscape and the NCRIS program. I’m looking forward to working with Chris during his tenure,’ says Prof Pascal Perez, Director of AURIN. 

Dr Pigram will play a crucial role in confirming AURIN’s key position between academia, government, and industry in the development of a sovereign capability, including the design and implementation of urban digital twins.