Education
Finkel was educated at Monash University, receiving a doctorate in Electrical Engineering in 1981.
Finkel was educated at Monash University, receiving a doctorate in Electrical Engineering in 1981.
In 2007 he was appointed Chancellor of Monash University, a position he commenced on 1 January 2008 with his term ending in January 2016. He then served as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Australian National University, before leaving academia to found Axon Instruments, a global science and technology company based in the United States. During this time, he invented a commercially successful device which substantially speeds up drug research. Since then, he has used his wealth to found the science magazine Cosmos, an environment magazine called G: The Green Lifestyle Magazine and contribute towards a number of research institutes.
During a speech at Monash University"s 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, he announced that he would be endowing a Chair in Global Health for the University.
In 2009 Finkel was appointed as the Chief Technology Officer of Better Place Australia. In 2012 he co-founded Stile Education, an education technology company based in Melbourne, Australia, where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer.
In 2013 he was appointed President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). Since 2013, Finkel also serves as the Patron of the Australian Science Media Centre.
In October 2015 it was announced by the Australian Government that Doctor Finkel would become the next Chief Scientist of Australia.
Since assuming his role as President of ATSE in 2013, Alan Finkel has advocated for the consideration of nuclear power in Australia in newspapers, at speaking engagements and in digital media broadcasts. Following his appointment as Australia"s Chief Scientist in 2015, Finkel suggested nuclear power should be considered as an option for potential inclusion in Australia"s future low carbon energy mix.