President Professor Hugh Bradlow, CEO of ATSE Kylie Walker, Professor Lyn Beazley, Professor Ian Chubb, Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell, Ladies and gentlemen.

It is a privilege to begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we all stand today and I pay my respects to elders past, present and future.

I extend my respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people, the world’s most ancient continuous civilisation. Today, I am standing on Gadigal land of the Birrabirragal Nation. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.

I am honoured to be invited to join you and delighted to be in the company of so many accomplished scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.