ANA 2020 Award to Dr Adrian (Adi) Paterson

The Australian Nuclear Association Award for 2020 was presented to Dr Adi Paterson for his outstanding contribution to nuclear science and technology in Australia.

The Award recognises Dr Paterson’s contributions to nuclear policy and innovation in Australia, his participation in the global nuclear community, his willingness to provide factual and unemotive information on nuclear fuel cycle issues in the media and his support of the Australian Nuclear Association activities.

Dr Paterson holds a BSc (Chemistry) and a PhD (Engineering), both from the University of Cape Town. In 1984, he joined South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as a research scientist, and ultimately rose to positions of Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at CSIR. In 2006, he became General Manager of Business Development Operations at the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Company in South Africa, and held the position until December 2008.

In March 2009 Dr Paterson was appointed Chief Executive Officer at ANSTO. The ANA Award recognises the successes of his leadership as CEO of ANSTO over the past eleven years, the successful ongoing operation of OPAL to produce radiopharmaceuticals and research outcomes, integrating the Australian Synchrotron into ANSTO, negotiating funding and completing the new ANSTO Nuclear Medicine facility, leading construction of the Synroc waste treatment plant, establishing the Innovation Precinct and participating in the global community through the IAEA, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia and the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Asia and the Pacific. 

Dr Paterson was awarded 2012 Professional Engineer of the Year by the Sydney Division of Engineers Australia. His focus on the importance of diversity and equity, particularly in STEM, led to his appointment in 2016 as a Male Champion of Change for STEM. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Wollongong in 2017.

The ANA is very pleased to present the 2020 Australian Nuclear Association Award to Dr Adi Paterson.