ANSTO Chairman, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, today announced that scientist and business woman Ms Erica Smyth has been appointed to the ANSTO Board.
Dr Switkowski welcomed Ms Smyth’s appointment, saying her scientific and business experience would be a great asset to the organisation.
“Ms Smyth has over 30 years experience in the mineral and petroleum industries and started work as an exploration geologist with BHP Minerals before becoming one of its Principal Geologists,” he said.
“She has also had extensive project management and community consultation experience, and she will further strengthen the Board's appreciation of government processes,” said Dr Switkowski.
Ms Smyth has held roles in the oil and gas industry in WA with BHP Petroleum and Woodside Petroleum. She was the General Manager External Affairs for Woodside from 1999 to 2004.
Ms Smyth is currently the Chair of ScreenWest, the Western Australian Government’s screen industry body, and of Scitech, a hands-on science museum.
She is also a director of the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing, the Swan Care Group, the Diabetes Research Foundation, Leadership WA and Toro Energy, where she is also a member of the company's Audit Committee.
Ms Smyth has served also as Chairman and Board member of the Pilbara Development Commission. She is a former Pro Chancellor and Senate member of the University of Western Australia (UWA) and was a member of UWA’s Geosciences Foundation Advisory Board.
Ms Smyth has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Geology from the University of Western Australia, a Masters in Science from McGill University in Canada and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2008 Ms Smyth was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Western Australia.
“I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Ms Smyth to the ANSTO Board and look forward to working with her and the ANSTO Board in 2009,” Dr Switkowski concluded.