CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Australian National Imaging Facility Closing date: April 11, 2021 Administering organisation Nodes of NIF CONTENTS Letter from the Chair, NIF Board 3 About the Australian National Imaging Facility 4 NIF Governance and Management 7 Duty Statement 8 How to Apply 10 The University of Queensland: Administering Organisation of NIF 11 Why choose Brisbane, Australia? 12 LETTER FROM THE CHAIR, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL IMAGING FACILITY (NIF) BOARD On behalf of the Board of NIF, and the Administering Organisation, the University of Queensland, I have great pleasure in inviting applications for the appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of NIF. NIF provides state-of-the-art imaging capabilities that support world-class science for the Australian research and innovation communities. The facility provides critical infrastructure and capability to address national and global challenges in medicine, human health, food security and new materials. NIF is looking for an innovative, collaborative, inclusive and inspiring leader to lead the next stage of the organisation’s development. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, with strong business acumen, able to harness diverse interests, with experience in delivering outcomes at scale. He or she will have a proven track record of building collaborative partnerships with various stakeholders, and a deep understanding of navigating the nuances of Government, academia and industry. A science and technology background that provides the basis for strong and influential engagement with the imaging community and outstanding and persuasive communication and presentation skills are essential for the role. The successful candidate will be expected to play a significant national and international role to promote NIF especially in solving current and emerging national priorities in the post COVID social and economic recovery. I look forward to receiving your application. Margaret Harding, PhD, DSc, FRACI, MAICD Chair, NIF Board 3 ABOUT THE NATIONAL IMAGING FACILITY (NIF) Overview NIF is a $300 million project providing state-of-the-art imaging capability of humans, animals, plants, and materials for the Australian research community. NIF’s grid of imaging facilities spreads across Australia, offering a range of leading-edge imaging instrumentation and expertise in the optimal use of imaging technology to the Australian research community. NIF is an Unincorporated Joint Venture (UJV), established in 2007, with eleven participants. It has received substantial funding through the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) with co-funding from Australian and state government agencies and partners to provide imaging capabilities. NIF’s Mission is to provide users with reliable, state-of-the-art technology and highly specialised expertise that deliver advanced imaging solutions. NIF’s Vision is to provide a national capability of advanced imaging that delivers innovation and growth. Through the facilities and knowledge supported by NIF, researchers are using imaging to advance human health, agriculture, food security, crops, livestock, materials, specimens, composites, ecology and biosciences applications. Research in three thematic areas are supported by the infrastructure. Human Imaging The Human Imaging Theme is experienced in all aspects of imaging the human body, from fundamental research through to clinical trials. Techniques include MRI, PET, CT, and MEG. A national initiative of the Human Imaging Theme is to create the Australian Biomedical Imaging Research Database (ABIRD), to facilitate data sharing and re-use. Theme members aim to provide an accessible resource with diverse population sets for biomedical research, beginning with healthy brain imaging data. Molecular Imaging and Radiochemistry As an enabling capability, the Molecular Imaging and Radiochemistry (MIR) Theme enables researcher access to state-of-the-art radiochemistry and molecular imaging facilities for basic and translational science projects, and clinical trials. The MIR theme has two ongoing national initiatives to establish an information platform to facilitate access to radiotracers and molecular imaging infrastructure; and implementation of a quality assurance program for preclinical PET scanners, for harmonisation across the national network. Animals, Plants, and Materials Imaging From crops to museum specimens, the Animals, Plants & Materials Imaging (APM) Theme specialises in non-human and pre- clinical imaging, providing technology and expertise for imaging of animals, plants, and materials for research and industry. The group’s expertise covers a wide range of imaging technologies including CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, MPI and optical imaging methods. The APM Theme is developing a national framework for consistent acquisition, storage and management of images from museum and fauna specimens. This initiative targets the museum/collection sector’s need for a consistent approach to specimen imaging data and aims to generate an accessible resource for education, research and the general public. 4 Nodes of NIF NIF is delivered through a series of nodes based throughout Australia. The University of Queensland’s Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI) cai.centre.uq.edu.au and the Herston Imaging Research Facility (HIRF) hirf.com.au University of Sydney/ANSTO University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre sydney.edu.au/research/facilities/sydney-imaging.html and ANSTO Camperdown ansto.gov.au/our-facilities/national-research-cyclotron UNSW analytical.unsw.edu.au/facilities/bril imaging.neura.edu.au/#partners research.unsw.edu.au/research-imaging-nsw Western Sydney University westernsydney.edu.au/nanoscale/nanoscale_organisation_and_dynamics/bmrf Swinburne University of Technology swinburne.edu.au/research/facilities-equipment/swinburne-neuroimaging-facility/ Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health florey.edu.au University of Melbourne medicine.unimelb.edu.au/school-structure/medicine-and-radiology/research/mbciu Monash University monash.edu/researchinfrastructure/mbi Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility pirl.com.au/imaging/large University of Western Australia cmca.uwa.edu.au/facilities/bioimaging National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) NCRIS is a national network of world-class research infrastructure projects that support high-quality research that will drive greater innovation in the Australian research sector and the economy more broadly. Projects support strategically important research through which Australian researchers and their international partners can address key national and global challenges. Through NCRIS, the Government works with the research sector to drive research excellence and its application by: • Collaboratively identifying priorities for research infrastructure investment over the coming decade. • Catalysing research infrastructure that improves research projects by expertly addressing the scope of researcher needs. • Simultaneously addressing related end-user needs, including industry, Government and other end users. • Supporting identified priority national research infrastructure projects through the provision of grants for operating and capital expenses, supplemented by co-investment from other parties. 5 In 2021, the Australian government will undertake the National Research Infrastructure Roadmap to take into consideration the current context, both in Australia and internationally. It will include the following analysis: • Stocktake and review of Australia’s national research infrastructure and investment since the 2016 Roadmap. • Identify thematic areas for the 2021 Roadmap framework and the connection to Government priorities. • Identify opportunities to maximise the impact and outcomes of existing research infrastructure investment. • Identify opportunities to improve level of collaboration through research infrastructure between the research and industry sectors and particularly small to medium size enterprises. • Examine and identify emerging research infrastructure areas of greatest need for Government attention, including examining international trends. In Summary NIF is on exciting path having dramatically increased both its funding and the number of nodes since its inception thirteen years ago. The 2021 NCRIS Roadmap presents the opportunity to set a new vision and strategy for NIF that continues the present trajectory that is dynamic, impactful and valued. It is into this environment that the Board of NIF, and UQ, seeks to appoint a CEO to continue the current delivery of outstanding research infrastructure supporting world-class research and advance NIF to the next stage of its development as a critical component of Australia’s national research infrastructure. Further information NIF website anif.org.au NIF Newsletters anif.org.au/news/newsletters 6 NIF GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT NIF is an unincorporated organisation administered by The University of Queensland (UQ) and governed by a Board acting within the Statutes and Policies of the University. The NIF CEO reports to the Board on all NIF matters and to the PVC (Research Infrastructure) on compliance with UQ Policies. The CEO, NIF is employed by the UQ and may, at the University’s discretion, hold academic status at UQ. Current Board Members Em. Professor Margaret Harding Chair, NIF Board Professor Joe Shapter Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure), The University of Queensland Dr Erol Harvey Head of Strategy and Transition,