[ASA] SKA role for CSIRO Chief

[Tony.Crawshaw at csiro.au]

For Release: 5/9/2012 at 5pm.

Dr Philip Diamond, Chief of CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, has been appointed as the Director-General of the Square Kilometre Array Project Office - the team that will coordinate global activities for the world's largest telescope.

Dr Diamond will step down from his role as Chief of CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science on 12 October 2012 and head back to Manchester with his family to take up the position on 15 October.

CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Megan Clark said, "This is an outstanding achievement for Phil and is recognition of his exceptional leadership of CASS and the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) project."

"While we will miss Phil's leadership greatly, this is an unprecedented opportunity for him to shape the future of radio astronomy across the globe," Dr Clark said.

As Director-General of the SKA, Dr Diamond will provide overall leadership of the pre-construction phase of the SKA with the end goal of realising construction readiness at the end of 2015, and preparing for the construction phase to follow. He will develop and maintain strategic relationships with national agencies, partners, governments, industry and other private sector entities, and all other project stakeholders.

Since taking on the role of Chief at CASS on 1 June 2010, Phil, along with his colleagues, has led some high profile and highly successful projects: the delivery of ASKAP (which will be officially opened next month); the 50th birthday celebration at Parkes Observatory; Australia's tracking role in the recent Mars Rover landing and his participation in the team that delivered the SKA site outcome.

"He has enhanced CSIRO's reputation for exceptional radio astronomy, and has also maintained the excellent track record that the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex has in supporting NASA's space missions, while strengthening the linkages that naturally occur between astronomy and space science," Dr Clark said.

CSIRO will now commence an international search for Phil's replacement. In the interim, Sarah Pearce, CASS Deputy Chief, will take on the role of Acting Chief of CASS, commencing 15 October.



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Tony Crawshaw
Communication Manager
CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science
PO Box 76 Epping NSW 1710
T: (02) 9372 4528  F: (02) 9372 4310 M: 0402 770 403
E:  Tony.Crawshaw at csiro.au  W: www.csiro.au

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