STA lands new CEO

Science & Technology Australia (STA) has landed a new CEO with Ryan Winn stepping into the role.  

New STA CEO, Ryan Winn

Winn joins Australia's peak body for scientists and technologists which is home to more than 225,000 scientists, technologists, mathematicians and engineers. 

He steps over from the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) where has held the chief executive spot since 2019.  

Winn is expected to start his new position this May. 

He will become a part of the STA after an established career working across the Australian public service involving policy issues within both the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Education. 

In the STA statement, his policy expertise involves work on “higher education, research infrastructure, early childhood education, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs.”

“I’m excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to get started as CEO of Science & Technology Australia”, Winn stated.

Ready to initiate action 

Winn told Digital Nation his main role and duties as CEO “is to represent the views and expertise" of STA’s membership cohort. 

He will do this by, “engaging with policymakers, decision-makers, and the non-government sector”.

As well as this Winn has said that “continuing to build on work being done by the organisations” allows him to ensure “that Australia’s deep scientific expertise maintains and builds on its position at the heart of policy decisions”.

Once settled into his new role Winn stated his first point of action will involve the federal government which has shown interest in building STA’s knowledge economy.

This involves the government's participation in building a knowledge economy by, “outlining a blueprint for our university sector through the Universities Accord.

He added it also includes "refreshing our national science and research priorities, understanding diversity in our STEM sector, establishing new guardrails and supports for emerging technologies and has put in place investments in Australia’s research commercialisation landscape."

Despite this Winn has described Australia’s research funding as constrained by outlining, “commercialisation gaps, skill gaps, and readiness that requires real action and leadership”, to meet local needs.

Therefore, Winns said the first point of action involves working with the government on the restrained funding by, “drawing insights, experiences and passions” within STA.

Although STA is an established organisation Winn outlined how practical experiences acquired by STA “has the reach, membership and capacity to harness the ideas and commitment of scientists to be trusted partners for governments”.

He explained how STA should be able to harness the opportunities of their sector.

“STA has a key role inspiring Australia’s future scientists”, Winn said.

However, he also described an urgency to “improve a strong pipeline of STEM-skilled workers and innovators” as Australia’s “student results are declining global indexes”.

Winn added via LinkedIn that he "can’t wait to join the board and amazing STA team in leading the future and impact of Australian."