The ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization) Board recently appointed Dr Ian Smith as ANSTO's new Executive Director to lead the organization into the era of the Replacement Research Reactor (RRR). Dr Smith will begin his appointment in early May. He has been the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Enterprise & International) at the University of Otago, New Zealand, since 1995.

Dr Smith's 36 years in metallurgical engineering includes a long list of academic and research achievements, contributing to the international reputation he has established for himself. His early research was conducted at the former Atomic Energy Commission, now ANSTO. Dr Smith's background in the management of research and its commercialization makes him strongly suited to ANSTO, as the organization seeks to make its science and technology increasingly commercially relevant. He also aims to maintain and improve the quality of ANSTO's internationally recognized research.