The WA Government has announced the new chief executive officer at ChemCentre, the state’s chemical and forensic science provider.
The Public Sector Commission ran a national recruitment process with a selection panel chaired by WA police commissioner Col Blanch, and including ChemCentre board chair Tress Walmsley and representatives from the Department of Jobs, Science Tourism and Innovation and PathWest.
Paul Nicholls was appointed to the role for a five-year term, replacing the outgoing CEO Peter McCafferty, who is retiring after 32 years of service.
Nicholls is currently at Curtin University’s Centre for Crop and Disease Management and has previously held executive director and director roles at the University of Queensland, Curtin University, the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre and Scitech.
He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Neuroanatomy, and a Graduate Diploma in Education, Science and Computing from the University of Western Australia. Nicholls is a Fellow of Leadership WA and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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Science Minister Stephen Dawson welcomed the appointment of the new CEO.
“I look forward to working with Mr Nicholls as he continues the vital scientific services and world leading research that is being done by ChemCentre here in Western Australia,” Dawson said.
“ChemCentre is known for its proud history of service, integrity and performance, not just in WA, but around the world – and I know Paul, with his extensive background in the science and innovation sectors, will continue that legacy.
“On behalf of the Cook Government, I also want to pay tribute and congratulate Peter McCafferty on his lifetime of service to ChemCentre.
“Mr McCafferty has played a key role in the State’s science sector and in helping to safeguard the community, industry and the environment through the work of ChemCentre.”