Sackett, Penny D. (1956 - )

Summary

Penny Sackett was Chief Scientist of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2008 to 2011. Her research interests include dark matter, galactic structure and the search for extrasolar planets using gravitational microlensing, and involved managing large and complex science projects across broad international partnerships. After a research career in the United States and the Netherlands, Sackett was appointed Director of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Australian National University in 2002. Here she strengthened the connections between astronomy, astro-engineering, and the Australian industrial sector, as well as raising the international profile of Australian astronomy. She was responsible for the management Siding Spring Observatory in Coonabarabran, New South Wales and Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra. After Mt Stromlo was destroyed in 2003 by bush fires she led the multi-million dollar effort to rebuild the Observatory, restoring it to its place as an international centre for research, training, and high-tech instrumentation, and initiating its partnership in the Giant Magellan Telescope. As Chief Scientist Sackett worked to introduce long-term, cross-portfolio and cross-disciplinary policy discussions into the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council. In 2011 she founded Strategic Advisory Services as a provider of strategic advisory services in sustainability, science and science communication.

Details

Chronology

1978

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Nebraska at Omaha, U.S.A.

1979 - 1981

Award - Andrew Mellon Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A.

1984

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A.

1991 - 1992

Career position - Program Director of Education, Human Resources and Special Programs Division, Astronomical Sciences, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

1992 - 1995

Career position - Research member and J. Seward Johnson Fellow, Princeton University, U.S.A.

1995 - 1997

Career position - Assistant Professor, Kapteny Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Netherlands

1995 - 1997

Career position - Visiting Research Member, School of Natural Sciences, Princeton University, U.S.A.

1996 - 1998

Career position - Member, Facilities Program Committee, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research

1998 - 2000

Career position - Associate Professor, Kapteny Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Netherlands

1999 -

Career position - Visiting Scientist, Anglo-Australian Observatory

2000 -

Career position - Visiting Member, Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies, U.S.A.

2001 - 2002

Career position - Professor of Extragalactic Optical and Infrared Astronomy, University of Groningen, Netherlands

2002 - ?

Career position - Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University

2002 - 2007

Career position - Member, Australian Gemini Steering Committee

2002 - 2007

Career position - Director of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University

2002 - 2007

Career position - Member, National Committee for Astronomy, Australian Academy of Science

2002 - 2007

Career position - Member, Board of Management, Australian Astronomy Major Research Facility Award

2005 - 2010

Career position - Member, Board of Directors, Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)

2006 - 2008

Career position - Member, Board of Directors, Giant Magellan Telescope

2008 -

Career position - Adjunct Professor, Australian National University

2008 - 2011

Career position - Chief Scientist, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

2011 -

Career position - Founded Strategic Advisory Services

2015 -

Career position - Deputy Chair, ACT Climate Change Council

2016 -

Career position - Board Member, ACT Renewable Energy Innovation Fund

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Bhathal, R., 'Some Aspects of the Scientific Development and Astronomical Research of Penny Sackett', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 146 (2013), 142-52. Details

Resources

• 'Sackett, Penny D (19560228-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1030375. Details