1. Alan Simon Finkel was born on 17 January 1953 and is an Australian neuroscientist, inventor, researcher, entrepreneur, educator, policy advisor, and philanthropist.
19 Facts About Alan Finkel
1. 2.
Alan Finkel was Australia's 8th Chief Scientist from 2016 to 2020.
3.
Alan Finkel has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and PhD in Electrical Engineering from Monash University.
4.
In 1983, Alan Finkel founded Axon Instruments Inc, in Silicon Valley, California.
5.
Alan Finkel was CEO from 1983 until the company was sold for $140 million in 2004 to the Molecular Devices, and was involved in hands-on design or management of most of the company's products.
6.
Axon Instruments co-founded Optiscan Imaging Limited in 1994, and Alan Finkel served as a director until 2002.
7.
Alan Finkel stayed on at Molecular Devices Corporation for 18 months as the Senior Vice President for Global Engineering, the Chief Technology Officer, and a member of the board of directors.
8.
Alan Finkel co-founded Cosmos Media Pty Ltd to publish the science publication COSMOS Magazine in 2004.
9.
Alan Finkel served as the Executive Publisher of Cosmos Media until he and his wife, Elizabeth, gifted it to the Royal Institution of Australia.
10.
From 2009 to 2012, Alan Finkel served as Chief Technology Officer at the electric car charge network company Better Place Australia.
11.
In 2012, Alan Finkel co-founded and Chaired Stile Education, Australia's leading provider of science curriculum materials to schools.
12.
Alan Finkel developed, led, and provided initial funding for the Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience, an advanced, intensive three-week course for young scientists.
13.
Alan Finkel served on the Board and as the Chair of the National Research Centre for Prevention of Child Abuse at Monash University for two years, became the inaugural Chair of the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics, and the Foundation Chair of the Program Steering Committee for the Australian Government's Securing Australia's Future project.
14.
In 2008, Alan Finkel commenced as Chancellor of Monash University, the first alumnus of the University to become Chancellor.
15.
Alan Finkel has stated that Australia should be open to discussing nuclear electricity as a zero-emission energy source.
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Alan Finkel participated in more than 700 public engagements, giving countless speeches.
17.
Alan Finkel was asked to continue his role as the Chair of the Low Emissions Technology Investment Advisory Council to develop Australia's long-term emissions reduction roadmap.
18.
Alan Finkel is Jewish, the son of Polish-born Holocaust survivors.
19.
Alan has been married to science journalist and biochemist Dr Elizabeth Finkel AM since 1982.