Sriram named WA’s new chief scientist

Science and Technology Australia president Sharath Sriram has been named WA’s new chief scientist, taking the helm from Peter Klinken.

Professor Sriram starts his three-year tenure today, bringing extensive experience within the engineering and commercialisation of medical technology.

He is currently the president of Science and Technology Australia, the peak body for the industry, having been elected to a two-year term in November 2023.

Professor Sriram has led RMIT University’s discovery to device facility for the past three years and was the co-founder of medical sensor companies Lubdub.Ai and Fragment BioTech.

It will be the first time Professor Sriram has led a WA-based organisation.

STA chief executive Ryan Winn congratulated Professor Sriram and said he would continue in his role with STA until the end of his term in November.

“Sharath is an outstanding and innovative Australian researcher who has the runs on the board taking great ideas through to product development and then turning them into economy-boosting businesses,” he said.

“He is also a great communicator of complex research insights into policy-making – he’s a superb choice to be Western Australia’s new Chief Scientist.”

Professor Klinken was first appointed WA’s chief scientist in 2014, the longest stint of any of WA’s three chief scientists.

During his tenure, Professor Klinken developed the state’s 10-year science, as well as sector-specific strategies across health; space; innovation and the energy transition.

WA Premier Roger Cook said he welcomed the experience Professor Sriram would bring to the role.

“WA is in a safe pair of hands when it comes to further unlocking our science and technology potential,” he said.

“I would also like to thank our outgoing and longest serving chief scientist, Professor Peter Klinken AC, who has made an incredible contribution to our state.”

Professor Sriram will be WA’s fourth chief scientist.