Professor Jim Piper is the president of Science & Technology Australia. He is an emeritus professor of physics and currently the node director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics at Macquarie University. He has had a distinguished career over 40 years as an academic and researcher in optics and laser physics including as director of the ARC Special Research Centre in Lasers and Applications, dean of Information and Communication Sciences, and 11 years as deputy vice-chancellor (Research) of Macquarie University, before retiring in 2013. Professor Piper has also had significant experience of translation of research outcomes to industry, both in Australia and internationally. In 2014 he became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to tertiary education, particularly through research in applied laser physics.

Before coming to Science & Technology Australia, Kylie Walker was Director of Communications and Outreach at the Australian Academy of Science. She has worked in senior communication and advocacy roles within the science and health sectors, including Catholic Health Australia and the Australian Medical Association. She's also been a Press Gallery journalist for Australian Associated Press and the ABC.