Research head looks to the stars to grow partnerships

Charles Darwin University has welcomed the new Director of Research and Innovation Dr Steve Rogers, who brings with him research and high-level leadership experience in the environment sector, mining exploration and mineral processing industries.

Dr Rogers comes to CDU from the position of CEO at the Centre for Appropriate Technology Ltd (CfAT Ltd), an Aboriginal-controlled, not-for-profit technology and infrastructure solutions company based in Alice Springs, operating across rural and remote Australia.

“CDU has established itself as a progressive research-intensive university with a regional focus that prioritises the complex issues facing Northern Australia and the Asia-Pacific,” Dr Rogers said.

“I am excited at the prospect of expanding the opportunities for research at CDU to meet the needs of government, industry and the community.”

An experienced company director, Dr Rogers has held positions with a number of commercial organisations. He recently led the establishment of a new company CfAT Satellite Enterprises Pty Ltd that partnered with Viasat Inc, a global satellite technology company, to establish a multi-million-dollar commercial satellite ground station under construction at CfAT Ltd’s property in Alice Springs.

“The NT is perfectly positioned to be involved in growing sectors such as the development of the commercial space industry and Indigenous enterprise, along with the more traditional sectors of agriculture, mining and gas,” he said.

“I am eager to build stakeholder engagement and partnership opportunities that deliver triple bottom line outcomes in terms of social, environmental and economic impacts and help to expand our research footprint nationally and internationally.”

With a PhD in Microbiology, Dr Rogers spent 13 years with the University of Adelaide and CSIRO Land & Water at the Waite Research Institute in Adelaide. His research interests include using microorganisms to clean contaminated industrial sites. He has worked in agricultural research centred around soil science and nutrient cycling. As CEO of the CRC for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration, Managing Director of the Parker CRC for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions and WA program manager with the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Dr Rogers has worked closely with the global mining and oil and gas sectors.