Dr Peter Mayfield

Peter has worked in research and development for more than 25 years in both industry and government sectors, including extensive experience in research management over the breadth of the Environment, Energy and Resources domains.

He has qualifications in Chemical Engineering, graduating from the University of Queensland, where he also undertook his PhD studies into Gas Separations using Adsorption Technology.

Peter was with BHP (later BHP Billiton) for 20 years where he was responsible for delivering research solutions across the company’s global businesses, firstly as a Research Engineer supporting the ironmaking Blast Furnace operations of the three BHP Steel works, and subsequently undertaking and leading laboratory, pilot scale and plant based research into new pyrometallurgical processing options for materials such as manganese, magnesium and ilmenite.

In 2001, Peter took on responsibility for the management of the BHP Billiton Newcastle Technology Centre and this continued until June 2010 when BHP Billiton moved to a decentralised Technology model.

After joining CSIRO Peter held senior research management roles including Chief of Technology and then Director of the Energy Business Unit where he played a significant role in shaping and implementing the CSIRO Energy Strategy. Under his leadership CSIRO research has made a range of contributions from developing technologies for more greenhouse effective ways to use fossil fuels such as coal, to the development and integration of renewable technologies such as solar and wind as well as finding more efficient ways to generate, distribute and use energy. Peter also has a strong professional commitment to workplace safety across all facets of the organisation.

Peter is currently CSIRO’s Executive Director – Environment, Energy and Resources. In this role he has responsibility for approximately 1400 researchers who aim to provide science and technology solutions to enhance the value Australia derives from its vast energy and minerals resources while maintaining and enhancing our unique environment.