EXCLUSIVE

The directors of CSIRO's digital and manufacturing research arms have resigned amid ongoing turmoil and job cuts at Australia’s national science agency.

The head of CSIRO's digital research business Data61, Dr Jon Whittle, and the head of CSIRO’s manufacturing research unit, Dr Marcus Zipper, will leave their roles simultaneously on Friday, 14 November.

Their departures were announced in an email to staff on Wednesday, seen by Information Age.

Whittle, who has been at CSIRO for over five years, led hundreds of staff in data science and research spanning artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, and autonomous systems.

Zipper, who has spent over two decades at the agency, also previously held senior leadership roles across four different units of the organisation.

“CSIRO acknowledges the valuable individual contributions Dr Zipper and Dr Whittle have made to the organisation and wishes them well in the future,” a CSIRO spokesperson said when asked to comment.

The CSIRO Staff Association declined to comment, while Whittle and Zipper did not respond.

The departures come after the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said Data61 had been “gutted” by budget restrictions, with around 20 per cent of its staff recently cut.

Whittle's former deputy director of Data61, Aaron Quigley, also departed in October to join the Australian National University (ANU).

Fewer job losses have occurred in manufacturing, Information Age understands.

CSIRO’s deputy CEO Kirsten Rose left the agency earlier this year to join the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), while CSIRO science director Paul Savage also left the organisation and retired.

CSIRO’s executive director of future industries, Dr Jen Taylor, and mineral resources director, Dr Rob Hough, told staff there was “a smooth transition plan already underway” following the departures of Whittle and Zipper.

Dr Katja Digweed would be acting director of manufacturing, they said, while Dr Liming Zhu would become acting director of Data61.

CSIRO says it 'acknowledges the valuable individual contributions' of Dr Jon Whittle and Dr Marcus Zipper. Image: Shutterstock

CSIRO's job losses and budget pressures

Both research and supporting roles have been cut at CSIRO in recent years, as the agency has seen its federal funding dip.

Chief executive Doug Hilton announced in August 2024 that between 375 to 500 supporting roles would be axed as the agency attempted to save $100 million.

Hundreds of research job cuts were also expected to be cut across the organisation this year as part of major cost-saving measures.

Staff have been asked to review programs and research, and possibly merge some research units, Information Age understands.

CSIRO was provided $454 million as a one-off pandemic boost in the October 2020 budget, which ended in 2023-24.

The agency was to receive $916.5 million in funding for 2024-25, according to the 2024 federal budget papers, while the 2025 budget estimated its funding would return to closer to $1 billion in 2025-26.

In a statement of expectations sent to CSIRO chair Ming Long in October, Minister for Industry, Innovation, and Science, Tim Ayres, said CSIRO's board and executive needed to “clearly prioritise activities and the allocation of resources” to make sure the agency was “financially sustainable over the long-term".

“I expect CSIRO to demonstrate disciplined financial planning and work to monitor expenditure, identify efficiencies and reduce operating costs, while ensuring appropriate levels of co-investment to maximise the impact from its research,” he said.

“I expect CSIRO to look for opportunities to further consolidate its property portfolio, as part of efforts to strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

“Consolidation may also present opportunities to enhance research impact through co-location with industry and other partners.”

Ayres said CSIRO’s research should focus on the transition to net zero, as well as AI and quantum technologies.

The agency’s job cuts come amid new lows in domestic research and development (R&D) funding, which the government has asked a group of experts to review by the year’s end.

Whittle and Zipper’s contributions remembered

Whittle was honoured in Taylor and Hough’s email to CSIRO staff, for developing “a forward-looking strategy for Data61 that has seen the Unit become a leading voice in AI in Australia”.

“Jon led the creation of Australia’s National AI Centre and built Australia’s largest Responsible AI team, which has helped to shape government guidance around AI,” they wrote.

“… He is one of Australia’s trusted thought leaders in AI and he has educated, guided and mentored the next generation of researchers, business leaders, and the wider Australian public in how we can approach responsible and trusted AI.”

Zipper was honoured for “a rich and wide-ranging contribution to many parts of CSIRO”.

“Marcus established CSIRO Services (now Science Connect) to host impactful activities such an Indigenous STEM Education program and research facilitation services for SMEs,” they said.

“He was instrumental in the initial implementation of the CSIRO Missions program and acted as the Executive Director for Future Industries for most of 2020, a particularly challenging time due to the COVID pandemic.

“As Director of Manufacturing, he achieved greater focus on emerging industry challenges and opportunities, and the [research unit] now delivers on many strong external partnerships including Boeing, Department of Defence and ARENA.”

While Zipper will leave his role on 14 November, he is expected to take leave from CSIRO before formally leaving the organisation in February.