Acting Director of the Australian Synchrotron, Dr George Borg, and La Trobe University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Tim Brown, today announced the appointment of a new Head of Science at the Australian Synchrotron, Dr Andrew Peele.

Dr Peele who is an Associate Professor and Reader at La Trobe University, Melbourne and Head of the Department of Physics X-Ray Science group joins the Australian Synchrotron on secondment.

The Australian Synchrotron has also appointed a new Head of External Relations, Dr Shirley Lanning.

Dr Borg said the two appointments came at an exciting time in the Australian Synchrotron’s development, as it plans to expand its scientific capabilities.

As an investigator on grants totalling more than $25 Million, Dr Peele has significant experience in team management and science administration, having previously been the Victorian Branch Chair of the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) and Co-Chair of the AIP Congress. He also has extensive experience in synchrotron science having published over 80 refereed articles.

Dr Peele said, by synchrotron standards the science facility was still very young and its credentials and performance, first class. “In its short life, the Australian Synchrotron has attracted some of the best minds in synchrotron science and, in addition to supporting the research needs of over 2000 domestic and international scientists since its opening in 2007, it continues to run its existing beamlines (research stations) at better than 99% per cent reliability,” said Dr Peele.

“The Australian Synchrotron has realised its aims in establishing its first suite of beamlines covering research techniques ranging from imaging and medical therapy to powder diffraction, but it must grow so as to continue to provide Australian and international researchers with access to a world-class science and research facility.”

Dr Shirley Lanning, who is the new Head of External Relations, is a science professional with over 25 years experience working in the life sciences sector in the UK and Australia, focusing on technology commercialisation, marketing, corporate and scientific communications, and general management.

In her new role, Dr Lanning will be responsible for the facility’s stakeholder relations, communications and outreach activities.

Dr Lanning has held senior management positions at a number of companies, including: Rothschild Australia, where she led the establishment of the company’s first Australian Bioscience Investment Fund; and Hill & Knowlton (UK) Ltd where she managed the public relations needs of public and private sector organisations, including government departments, multinational pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology companies. She also worked as Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of British Biotechnology, which she repositioned as the BioIndustry Association, now the peak organisation for biotechnology in the UK.

Dr Lanning has held a number of advisory positions, and is a former Non-Executive Director of NanoVentures Australia; Nanotechnology Victoria; the Pig Research and Development Corporation; and the Australian Biotechnology Association (now AusBiotech Pty Limited).

What is the Australian Synchrotron?

The Australian Synchrotron is a state of the art scientific research facility that provides researchers with access to cutting edge X- ray and infra-red techniques with a wide range of applications in fundamental science and industrial research.

Synchrotron technology and its uses are now considered an essential component in the development of many knowledge-intensive industries, including biotechnology and nanotechnology, as well as more traditional industries such as pharmaceuticals, mining and telecommunications.

For more information contact Nick Green at the Australian Synchrotron on (03) 8540 4289 or 0405 825 181.