Bell, John Donald (1941 - )

Summary

John Bell has worked in research, Government agencies, and consulting. His PhD from Sydney University was followed by postdoctoral appointments at University of California Los Angeles and the Australian National University (ANU). He worked as a Government adviser in Australian government departments responsible for the environment, science and industry (and also two periods at the OECD) rising to Deputy Secretary and Chief Science Adviser. After leading the ANU's commercial arm and serving as Acting Director at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) he commenced consulting in 2001. John was a non-executive Director of the Australian Genome Research Facility 2015-23. He was awarded a Centenary of Federation medal for his strategic contribution to Australian R&D.

Details

Other appointments and awards included:
* Member of Hong Kong Chief Minister's Advisory Group on Science and Technology (1997).
* Member of the Australian Research Council (1998-2000).
* Member of the Industry R&D Board (1998-2001).
* Elected a Fellow of ATSE.
* Elected a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical institute.
* Appointed a Companion of Engineers Australia.

Chronology

1963 - 1964

Education - MSc, Auckland University, Chemistry Department (supervised by Professor D. Hall and Professor N. Waters)

1964 - 1969

Career position - Teaching Fellow and PhD candidate, Sydney University Crystal Structure Group with Professor H.C. Freeman and the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering

1969 - 1972

Career position - Post-doctoral fellow, University of California Los Anmgeles, Molecular Biology Institute and Chemistry Department working with Professor D. Eisenberg

1972 - 1974

Career position - Research fellow, Australian National University Research School of Chemistry with Professor G. Roberston

1974 - 1977

Career position - Public servant, Australian Department of Environment and Conservation. Adviser to Redcliff Inquiry, Government witness at Fraser Island Inquiry, advised the Government on DDT, drafted and administered environmental impact legislation, advised on Ranger Uranium and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

1977 - 1980

Career position - Assistant Secretary, Australian Department of Science. Advised the Government on science policy and related matters, set up and was a member of the Recombinant DNA Monitoring Committee

1977 - 1980

Career position - Science and Environment Counsellor, Australian Permanent Delegation to the OECD, Paris. Represented Australia on the Committee for Science and Technology Policy, the Environment Committee, the Committee for Information Computer and Communications Policy, the Chemicals Committee (where he played a key role in getting it established).

1980 - 1984

Career position - First Assistant Secretary, Australian Department of Science and Technology. Led Technology Development Division, advised the Government on the adoption of information technology, incentives for venture capital, promoting business investment in research and development

1984 - 1988

Career position - Division Head, OECD Directorate for Science, Technology & Industry. Led an international team undertaking studies and country reviews for the Committee on Science and Technology Policy and its subcommittees. Commissioned consultancies and managed high-level relations with OECD member countries and their diplomatic representatives in Paris

1989 - 1991

Career position - First Assistant Secretary, Australian Department of Industry. Advised Government on industry, innovation, research and related matters

1991 - 1997

Career position - Deputy Secretary and Chief Science Advisor, Australian Department of Industry. Responsible for advice to Government, with responsibility/oversight of a number of Divisions, agencies and statutory authorities, represented the Government on numerous Boards (e.g. National Association of Testing Authorities) and Committees (e.g. Chaired the Commonwealth Coordination Committee on Science and Technology, and the Oil Industry Forum). Non-executive director of the Australian Technology Group Ltd. Secretary to the Prime Minister's Science and Engineering Council [check dates, ed.]. Member of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science Committee & Chief Science Adviser, Australian Department of Industry

1997 - 2000

Career position - Managing Director, ANUTECH Pty Ltd. Commercial arm of the ANU responsible for technology commercialisation, development aid contracts with AusAID and the ADB, teaching English to foreign students. Spun off Australian Scientific Instruments Pty Ltd, manufacturer of the SHRIMP. Led ANUTECH team involved in startup of Biotron Ltd

2001

Career position - Acting Director, Australian Institute of Marine Sceince, Townsville. Recruited new Director, built a new research vessel (RV Cape Ferguson) and contracted the redevelopment of the laboratories at Cape Cleveland

2001 - 2013

Career position - Associate Director, Allen Consulting Group. Led or contributing author to hundreds of reports. Managed the Canberra Office for several years

2003

Award - Centenary of Federation Medal for strategic contribut8ion to research and development in Australia

2013 -

Career position - Senior Associate, ACIL Allen

2015 - 2023

Career position - Non-executive Director, Australian Genome Research Facility Ltd (AGRF)

Related entries

Published resources

Reports

• ACIL Allen [John Bell sole author], Cooperative Research Centres Program: Impact Evaluation (Melbourne: ACIL Allen, 2022), 152 pp. https://acilallen.com.au/projects/program-evaluation/cooperative-research-centres-program-impact-evaluation. Details
• Bell, John; Dodgson, Mark; Field, Les; Gough, Paul; and Spurling, Tom, Translating research for economic and social benefit: country comparisons: Report for the Australian Council of Learned Academies (SAF09) (Canberra, ACT: Australian Council of Learned Academies, 2015), 124 pp. https://acola.org/research-social-economic-benefit-saf09/. Details
• Bell, John; Frater, B, Butterfield, L; Cunningham, S; Dodgson, Mark; Fox, K; Spurling, Tom; and Webster, E, The role of science, research and technology in lifting Australian productivity: Report for the Australian Council of learned Academies (SAF04) (Canberra, ACT: Australian Council of Learned Academies, 2014), 170 pp. https://acola.org/role-science-research-tech-lifting-aust-saf04/. Details