Andy Whiteley

Andy Whiteley is the Research Director at CSIRO Environment, leading Industry Environments. With a PhD in marine biology from the University of Southampton, his career spans 30 years in natural sciences, molecular biology, and environmental biotechnology. He previously held roles such as Winthrop Professor of Microbial Ecology at the University of Western Australia and 10th West Australian Premier's Fellow.

His research focuses on microbial ecology, environmental biotechnology, and citizen science initiatives like MicroBlitz to decode soil microbiomes. He also pioneered biotechnological solutions for mine site rehabilitation and 3D bioprinting applications in environmental protection.

• Education: B.Sc. (Hons) from University of Plymouth (1990), Ph.D. in Marine Biology (1995).
• Achievements: Innovation Award for BioMATE, Distinguished Professorship (Chinese Academy of Sciences), and Vice Chancellor's Award (UWA).
• Key Roles: Research Associate at University of Newcastle (1995–1998), Principal Scientific Officer at CEH Oxford (1998–2012), and Visiting Professorships at University of Vienna and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Whiteley advocates science communication through citizen science projects and collaborates with institutions globally, including mentoring emerging leaders via the Barry Marshall-MicroBlitz Internship. His work bridges environmental science with commercialization, emphasizing practical applications for ecological challenges.