Professor Doug Hilton to lead CSIRO

Professor Doug Hilton AO has been appointed Chief Executive of CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.

Professor Hilton is the Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), the Lorenzo and Pamela Galli Chair in Medical Biology and head of the Department of Medical Biology in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

A molecular and cellular biologist investigating blood cell production and how cells communicate with each other, Professor Hilton has continued an active research program at WEHI for the past 14 years. He and his team hold more than 20 patents and have translated their research through collaboration with venture capitalists and the biopharmaceutical industry.

Commenting on Professor Hilton’s appointment, University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Duncan Maskell said:

“On behalf of the University of Melbourne, I congratulate Professor Hilton on his appointment as CSIRO’s new Chief Executive.

“The leadership of Australia’s leading scientific agency carries with it enormous responsibility and I have no doubt that Professor Hilton will do a fantastic job. We look forward to cooperating with CSIRO to ensure Australia remains at the cutting edge of research endeavour”.

Professor Hilton said he was honoured to lead CSIRO, describing it as a “national treasure”.

“(It is) there to deliver science for the benefit of the community. The intent of CSIRO and my personal values are completely aligned, and I am looking forward to leading CSIRO as we work to solve our nation’s greatest challenges,” Professor Hilton said.

“I will join CSIRO after leading WEHI where our staff and students strive to help people live healthier for longer. At CSIRO I know that same sentiment will be there and that’s incredibly important to me. I’m looking forward to meeting the researchers and those that support and enable them, and to hearing about the science.”

Professor Hilton will take up the role on 29 September. He replaces Dr Larry Marshall, who completes his third and final term as chief executive on 30 June.