Peter Andrews

Interviewed by
Chris Salisbury
May 10 2012
Peter Andrews

Scientist Professor Peter Andrews AO reflects on his appointment by Peter Beattie as Queensland's first Chief Scientist from 2003-10. In particular he focuses on his role in supporting the Beattie Government's Smart State strategy.

Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:00

Peter Andrews talks about his schooling and tertiary education in Melbourne, and lists the institutions at which he worked in the 1970s and 1980s. He recalls that he was one of the first scientists in Australia working in the field of drug design.
00:01:03

Peter Andrews describes hearing a radio interview in 1988 with Professor Don Watts, the inaugural Vice-Chancellor of Bond University, and deciding he wanted to be involved in the country's first privately-owned university. He tells how he moved to Queensland shortly afterwards to become the first Dean of Science and Technology at Bond University.

 Bond University, Don Watts, Gold Coast
00:01:35

Peter Andrews tells how the bankruptcy of Bond University's founders, Alan Bond and Japanese businessman Harunori Takahashi, meant there was no available funding for the Science School. He recalls being invited in 1991 to take up a posting at the University of Queensland by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Wilson.

 Alan Bond, Bond University, Brian Wilson, University of Queensland
00:02:03

Peter Andrews describes the state of scientific research in Queensland upon his arrival in the late 1980s. He recalls his first impressions of the University of Queensland and its research community.

 Brian Wilson, Research and Development, University of Queensland
00:03:16

Peter Andrews talks about the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Brian Wilson, and how his moves in the early 1990s to establish new research centres and institutes laid the groundwork for later investments at the University of Queensland. He lists some of the eminent researchers attracted to the University by initiatives in Wilson's time.

 biotechnology, Brian Wilson, John Mattick, research, University of Queensland
00:05:22

Peter Andrews outlines the process whereby he and others were recruited to the University by its senior management, and how this created tension between the newcomers and the 'older establishment' of faculty-appointed academics.

 Brian Wilson, John Mattick, University of Queensland
00:08:20

Peter Andrews describes the interest of state government in supporting scientific research in Queensland. Beginning with the Ahern Government, he details how subsequent Premiers lent varying levels of support to the state's research sector.

 Anna Bligh, Brian Wilson, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, John Mattick, Mike Ahern, Peter Beattie, research, Rob Borbidge, Wayne Goss
00:11:51

Peter Andrews details the establishment of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland. He explains how the state government came to be involved in its foundation and funding.

 biosciences, biotechnology, Brian Wilson, Chuck Feeney, Jim Soorley, John Hay, John Mattick, Ken Fletcher, Lawrie Powell, Mike Ahern, Primary Industries and Fisheries, Rob Borbidge, University of Queensland
00:22:07

Peter Andrews describes the impact that American philanthropist, Chuck Feeney, had on the growth of research investment in Queensland.

 AIBN, Chuck Feeney, Peter Beattie, Queensland Brain Institute, Research and Development, University of Queensland
00:24:49

Peter Andrews talks about entrepreneurial leaders at the University of Queensland who promoted and significantly expanded the institution's research strengths.

 John Hay, Paul Greenfield, University of Queensland
00:27:13

Peter Andrews talks about how, after retiring from the University of Queensland, he was approached by Premier Peter Beattie to become Queensland's Chief Scientist. He outlines what the role involved and the senior Ministers he provided advice to, including when he produced the draft Q2 agenda for later Premier Anna Bligh.

 Anna Bligh, biotechnology, Innovation, John Glaister, John Mickel, Pat Bell, Paul Lucas, Peter Beattie, Q2, Smart State, State Development Department
00:40:39

Peter Andrews describes the workings of the Office of the Chief Scientist. He details the operating budget of the Office and the output of the Smart State Council.

 Chief Scientist, Melanie Gray, Q2, Research and Development, Smart State
00:47:03

Peter Andrews revisits the theme of state government involvement in developing the scientific research sector in Queensland. He recalls some of the senior bureaucrats and government Ministers he worked with through his office.

 AIMS, Brian Wilson, Chief Scientist, Henry Palaszczuk, Jim Miller, Joe Baker, John Hay, Mike Ahern, Paul Greenfield, Peter Beattie, Primary Industries and Fisheries, Rob Borbidge, Wayne Goss
00:59:41

Peter Andrews discusses his role as Chief Scientist in helping shape the Smart State agenda. He outlines some of the issues on which the Smart State Council reported, and how the Council operated.

 Anna Bligh, biotechnology, Brisbane City Council, Chief Scientist, health, Michael Rayner, Peter Beattie, Smart State
01:15:47

Peter Andrews talks about the successes of the Smart State strategy as well as the platform established for further advances in scientific research. He lists some of the individuals playing key roles in the research sector.

 Anna Bligh, biotechnology, Chief Scientist, CSIRO, Geoff Garrett, Ian Frazer, John Mattick, Lawrence Springborg, Paul Greenfield, Peter Beattie, Peter Gray, Research and Development, Smart State, Tim Nicholls, University of Queensland
01:25:22

Peter Andrews describes the competitive rivalry between Queensland and Victoria to establish areas of research excellence, and how Premiers Peter Beattie and Steve Bracks respectively pursued this agenda simultaneously. He tells how this rivalry was viewed among the scientific and research communities.

 AIBN, Anna Bligh, biotechnology, John Brumby, Paul Greenfield, Peter Beattie, research, Smart State, Steve Bracks, Synchrotron
01:33:24

Peter Andrews discusses the changes he has witnessed in Queensland's research capacity and across its society generally in his time here as an academic and advisor to government.

 biotechnology, John Button, pharmaceutical industry, Smart State
01:40:02

Interview ends
Position:
Other
Decade:
2000s
Sound byte: 

Peter Andrews

Biography

Peter Andrews

Professor Peter Andrews AO is an eminent scientist and previously an academic at the University of Queensland. In 2003 Premier Peter Beattie appointed him as Queensland’s first Chief Scientist.

Peter Andrews was born in Sydney in 1943. After his family relocated to Melbourne via Brisbane, he completed a Bachelor of Science (with Honours) and a PhD in pharmacological chemistry at the University of Melbourne. For over thirty years he worked in academia at several Australian universities, leading multidisciplinary scientific teams in establishing entrepreneurial research centres and laboratories in the field of drug design and development. Together with Professor John Mattick AO, in 2000 he founded and co-directed the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, the first of a number of world-class biomedical research institutes born of the ‘Smart State’ collaboration between the University, Atlantic Philanthropies and the state and federal governments. In 2003, he was appointed by Premier Peter Beattie as Queensland’s first Chief Scientist in a role designed to promote and bolster the Beattie Government’s Smart State strategy. Over the next seven years he chaired the Select Committee of the government’s Smart State Council and provided scientific and policy advice on the nature and direction of Smart State initiatives to the Premier and senior government ministers. In 2004 Professor Andrews’ contribution to scientific research and the biomedical industry was recognised with his award as an Officer in the Order of Australia.

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