AusSMC – Australian Science Media Centre

Staff

• Dr Susannah Eliott: CEO

  Susannah has a PhD in cell biology from Macquarie University, a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Technology, Sydney and more than 18 years of practical experience in science communication with the science-media nexus as her primary focus. In 2000, Susannah moved to Stockholm, Sweden as Communications Director for the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), an international network of scientists working on global environmental change. She moved to Adelaide in September 2005 to help establish the Australian Science Media Centre. In 2010, she chaired the Expert Working Group on Science and the Media for the Federal Government. For a more detailed bio of Susannah Eliott, click here.

• Lyndal Byford: Media Manager (part-time)

  

  After completing an Honours degree in Biotechnology, Lyndal joined the Shell Questacon Science Circus and promoted science throughout regional Australia. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication and went on to work at a range of science museums and as a specialist representative within the pharmaceutical industry. Moving to the UK in 2005, Lyndal co-ordinated the education programs at the Grant Museum of Zoology before joining the UK Science Media Centre as engineering press officer in 2006. She returned to Australia in November 2007.   
  

• Nigel Kerby: Project Manager

  Nigel has more than 15 years experience in the media having worked with the Seven, Nine and Ten Networks in areas including programming, publicity and promotions. An ongoing interest in science led Nigel to pursue further studies in March 2004 and he recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation at Flinders University.

• Marilyn Arnold: Office and Corporate Relations Manager (on maternity leave)

  Marilyn joined the AusSMC full time as Office Manager in August 2006. She has a BA in Psychology and Sociology, a Diploma in Business and Marketing and more than 12 years of experience in the areas of office administration, finance, marketing and event management. She has vast experience within the food, wine and irrigation industries and has contributed to the development of many small to medium size not-for-profit associations.

• Georgina Howden-Chitty: Media Officer

  Georgina Howden-Chitty has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Deakin University in Victoria. Since completing her double-degree, Georgina worked as journalist and chief-of-staff at The Colac Herald newspaper in regional Victoria for three years before moving to Adelaide to join the Australian Science Media Centre in mid-2010.

• Carol Atkinson: Funding and Administration

  Carol joined the team in July 2011 after an extensive work history in both the not-for-profit and the community-media sectors as a fundraising and development manager, communications coordinator and executive assistant. She specialises in organisational administration, fundraising and sponsorship, relationship building, database and subscriber management and general communications. Carol will be assisting the CEO and Office Manager to ensure the smooth running and continued growth of all office administration and management, business development and fundraising endeavours.

• Lucy Simmonds: Media Officer

  Lucy Simmonds has a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma in Japanese from the University of Adelaide. Following Honours, Lucy moved to Japan to teach six to 15-year-olds with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. She then worked in health research, before joining the Shell Questacon Science Circus and promoting science to children in regional Australia. After completing a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication, she returned to Adelaide to co-ordinate a biotechnology education program for high school students. Lucy joined the Australian Science Media Centre in mid-2011.