Pawsey appoints new director

Perth-based Pawsey Supercomputing Centre has appointed Mark Stickells as its new director, less than a month after the federal government said it would invest $70 million into the facility.

Pawsey is one of two facilities that make up Australia’s research high-performance computing capability.

Mr Stickells is a 40under40 award winner who most recently served as innovation and industry engagement director at the University of Western Australia.

Previously, he was the director of the Energy and Minerals Institute and WA Energy Research Alliance chief executive.

Pawsey chair John Langoulant welcomed Mr Stickells.

“Mark’s experience with government, industry, research and technology will bring synergy to Pawsey, and will help him to lead this Centre into a new era,” Mr Langoulant said

“After Pawsey’s recent funding announcement, Mark will play a key role in shaping the future of Australia’s high-performance computing (HPC) and in bringing a new range of users to the facility from across industry sector.”

CSIRO, as the centre agent for Pawsey, will employ Mr Stickells.

Forty-five researchers, engineers and technicians are employed at the facility.

The news comes less than a month after the federal government pledged $70 million to the centre.

The funds will be used to procure a replacement for Pawsey’s flagship supercomputer, Magnus, as well as the real-time supercomputer, Galaxy, as both systems are close to the end of their operational lives.

“The investment in Pawsey will have a positive impact on the Australian research community,” executive director Ugo Varetto said.

“The centre has already been accelerating scientific outcomes and will now be able to solve even bigger scientific problems.”