b'Education matters were doing the operational activities;people, the right science infrastructureof the key things I enjoy about CSIRO planning, designing, costing, andand laboratories, and the right funding(although it can also be frustrating) is implementing the engineering or thearrangements with the right partners toyou simply dont have the opportunity policies to put the research outcomeskeep the wheels turning. to just do the one thing all day. However, into practice. The collaboration betweenyou do have the opportunity to be able the science, government and industryMP: As a governmental organisation,to see the big picture and see how all really taught me how to make thatwhat does CSIRO expect from tertiarythe different parts fit together. To see connection between the work that weeducation nowadays? and be able to understand where your do in the labs, and the importance ofAH: I think its important to continuouslypiece of the puzzle fits into the whole aligning that with practical solutionshave new recruits and new studentsproblem that youre trying to solve. So, to really solve the problem beingcoming in. Apart from intellectualfor a graduate coming into CSIRO, having addressed. curiosity, the influx of the enthusiasm,that opportunity to think holistically is excitement, and new ways of thinkingattractive.One of the key qualities weand approaching problems brings aMore specifically, I think that it is need for a smooth transition iswhole new energy to our research,important to understand data and how so that in itself is exciting andto engage deeply with computers in open mindedness, willingness toreinvigorating. an immersive digital environment. For question your own assumptionsmy generation, computers were still a For example, I remember about ten years and the flexibility to totallyago a friend of mine asking me aboutnovelty, a learned thing. But for my kids reimagine our energy systems. capturing carbon dioxide directly fromand current generations, its just second the air, and I just laughed and said: No,nature. Its natural to them, there has Consequently, my time in the CO 2 CRCthats a silly idea. Nobody would evernever been a world without computers. was really very important, and quitedo that. But here we are and now itsThats just how they interact, and there is formative for me because of thata rapidly developing technology andstill so much to learn and understand in collaboration aspect. We worked verya key part of our portfolio of climatethat space. For me thats a really different smoothly across multiple organisations,solutions. So, remembering to check yourway of being, and its exciting and multiple disciplines, and multiplebiases, and reminding yourself that theperhaps a little scary.expertise and levels of knowledge,impossible can become possible andMP: What do you think changed in across the globe. As a hydrogeologistfreeing your imagination is an importantrecruitment process in the last 10-20 and chemist, I was working withpart of our innovation landscape, andyears?reservoir modellers, engineers, chemists,something our graduates do very well.geologists, reservoir engineers,AH: Its changed an awful lot. And for petroleum engineers, communitythe better in many ways. When I am engagement people, mathematicians,We are in danger of forgettingreviewing CVs I try to be aware of my petrophysicists and many otherabout the enormous resourcesown unconscious bias, and make a point professionals. We were all happy to workcontained in the subsurface andof not looking at names, titles, age, together and produce exciting researchthe enormous dependence thataddresses, and I dont like to see photos. and to share the outcomes. SharingI try to focus only on what is written outcomes, through conferences andenergy transition will have onon the screen (I dont print them out papers, was a very strong part of thethose resources, particularly inanymore).collaboration. Wed get together everythe mineral industry, but alsoTheres a growing recognition about the year for a week and everybody wouldin other forms of subsurfacevalue of diverse teams and Im a strong share what theyd been doing, wed findbeliever in the benefits that brings. I new projects to work on and new waysstorage, such as hydrogen, believe the natural tendency of people to work together. It was really a verycompressed air and carbonis to move towards something that exciting, informative time. capture and storage. is familiar. So, if you have a particular MP: Sounds like a perfect environment togroup of people, and theyre all very work in. Although the world is very different nowsimilar, whatever their traits may be, if than it was when I went to university,theyre interviewing somebody they will AH: Well, it wasnt perfect, but it was fun. some things are the same. We usednaturally gravitate towards someone to say that we didnt go to uni to readthat is like them. Learning to actively My current role is as the Deputy Directortextbooks, we went to learn how to think,overcome those unconscious biases and the Science Director for Energy. Itsand I believe that is still true. With all theby having a diverse panel of people at two roles really. The Deputy Directoronline resources at our fingertips, theinterview is the first step to building role supports the Director and its aboutability to think critically, to be adaptablediverse teams.setting the strategy and making sureand open minded and willing to learn is that we have the right environment forcrucial. The types of knowledge availableWe also try to ask behavioural or open-our research to operate in. The Scienceat university is much more diverseended questions, to understand the Director represents Energy within thetoday, but the ability to think critically isperson more broadly than just their greater CSIRO science strategy. The twofundamental. academic ability, because theres so much go together, really, you cant have onemore that you need to bring to a job without the other. Our leadership teamI also think its harder these days to bethese days. You need to bring flexibility work together to make sure everythingtotally focused on just one thing. Theand a team ethos, as well as your actual runs smoothly and that we have the rightworld is so much more complicated. Oneskill set. One thing about contemporary OCTOBER 2023 PREVIEW 26'