During the 2023/24 period, AAL began engaging with the Department of Education on their upcoming National Digital Research Infrastructure (NDRI) Investment Plan, which will be funded and implemented through NCRIS. A total of $850M will be invested across NDRI, Research Translation, and Collections. In addition, AAL coordinated with the National Committee for Astronomy (NCA) and the Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) to submit feedback to Australia’s Chief Scientist Cathy Foley for the draft National Science and Research Priorities.
AAL continued to work towards securing full membership for Australia to the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Consistent with the Decadal Plan, “Australia in the era of global astronomy: The decadal plan for Australian astronomy 2016–2025”, full membership of ESO remains a top priority for the Australian astronomy community. AAL also responded to requests from the various working groups writing the Decadal plan for Australian astronomy 2026–2035. As always, AAL was on hand to serve the community and provide information to the authors during the first stages of production for this important guiding document.
One project that commenced in recent months was an initial study into an Australian Gravitational Wave Observatory. To be completed over an 18-month period, the study will be funded by NCRIS ($300k) and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery ($100k). The announcement of this initial study was made by AAL to the Australian-based astronomy community in April 2024. It included a call for institutions and individuals to express their interest in participating in the study.
Operationally, there was a significant change to AAL that was communicated during the 2023/24 period. In April 2024, Mark McAuley announced that he would be stepping down after 17 years as AAL’s founding CEO, in a joint decision made with the AAL Board. Mark will be staying on in his current position until a new CEO commences. At the Board’s request, Mark will continue to work for AAL, working two days a week. At the end of the 2023/24 period, the recruitment process for a new CEO was underway and it is expected that an appointment will be made before the end of the 2024 calendar year.
As always, AAL wishes to thank its member institutions for their support during the 2023/24 period.
At a project level, AAL has seen many success stories emerge from individual projects during the 2023/24 period. Click on an image below to see the full story. You can also find out more regarding AAL-supported projects by visiting the “What we do” section of this website.
Other AAL-supported projects with successes this past year include the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). During the 2023/24 period, MWA celebrated a decade of operations, marking the significant occasion with a gathering of the global astronomy community at Curtin University, Perth, in July 2023. See more here.
AAL executive and staff are based in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra and have responsibility for: governance and oversight of the programs under AAL’s contractual arrangements; reporting to the Board on the status of projects and progress with AAL’s strategic objectives; and liaising with stakeholders including advisory committees, project leaders, AAL members and government departments.
AAL is proud that it has member representatives from all institutions in Australia with a significant astronomy research program. In the 2023/24 financial year there were 15 institutional members of AAL. Each member organisation has a nominated representative who attends the Annual General Meeting (AGM), where Board Directors are elected. Member representatives are also consulted throughout the year on key astronomy infrastructure and investment decisions. To see a list of AAL representatives, please visit the “Member Institutions” page of this website.
The independent, skills based AAL Board of Directors comprises seven individuals with expertise in astronomy, management and finance. The board is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of AAL. They make key decisions about projects based on the recommendations of advisory committees, their own considerable and diverse expertise, and with consideration of the priorities and recommendations in the Decadal Plan. To see current AAL Board members, please visit the “Board of Directors” page of this website. The names of the AAL Board members in office at any time during the 2023/24 period are listed below – click on the links to see a biography for each director:
AAL’s two advisory committees – the Science Advisory Committee (ASAC) and Project Oversight Committee (APOC) – continue to play an important role in ensuring the relevance and quality of AAL’s programs. Committee members are appointed to provide the relevant breadth of expertise, and an appropriate mix of gender, seniority and institutional diversity. AAL’s advisory committees provide strategic advice to the AAL Board in implementing the infrastructure priorities of the Decadal Plan, and support AAL in oversight of, and promoting improved outcomes for, AAL-funded projects. AAL also maintains a number of resource allocation committees, including two new groups – the Industry Engagement Advisory Committee and the Space Science Leads Committee. For more information, please visit the “AAL Committees” page of this website.
As well as these internally managed groups, AAL appoints astronomers to external boards and committees. AAL then provides support to these appointees to represent the interests of Australian astronomers nationally and internationally. For more information, please visit the “External Representatives” page of this website.
AAL has a long-standing commitment to equity and diversity. AAL’s employment philosophy is open and flexible, with a mix of full and part-time positions. It matches work modes with situations and needs, aiming to combine the best of office-based and virtual work, and having regard to the work/life balance and individual needs of AAL’s staff. With a responsibility for determining representation on a variety of external bodies related to astronomy, as well as membership of its advisory committees, AAL has a selection process for all these positions that addresses principles of inclusion and gender balance.
AAL’s values statement reflects AAL’s desire to consider the environment in its everyday operations while maintaining our existing emphasis on upholding respectful interactions with all people.
AAL endeavours to be an environmentally sustainable organisation built upon equity, diversity and mutual respect for its staff and stakeholders.
For more information, please visit the “Environmental, Social and Governance” page of this website.
Financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024 were independently audited by William Buck. Please see this link for the complete audited financial statements and auditor’s report.
