Director AAD
Director's Introduction
Lyn Maddock
| Welcome to the Australian Antarctic Division web site.
Australia has a long and close association with the Antarctic going back to the 1800s. Amongst our earliest associations were an 1899 expedition to Cape Adare, on which Tasmanian-born physicist Louis Bernacchi travelled; support of Scott's 1901-1904 expedition and Shackleton's 1907-09 expedition; and the Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by Sir Douglas Mawson in 1911.
The Australian Antarctic Division was formed in 1948 to administer and coordinate Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions, which later became the Australian Antarctic program.
Today's modern program supports and pursues the Australian Government's goals in Antarctica. Staff at the Australian Antarctic Division achieve this through their expertise in the areas of policy, science, logistic support, polar medicine and administration.
You will find out more about our people, our history, our research and other activities, and of course, Antarctica, on this web site, which aims to raise awareness and understanding of the Australian Antarctic Division's role and value in the Australian Antarctic program.
On a personal note, my arrival at the Antarctic Division in February 2009 has coincided with some significant changes underway at the Division and in the Antarctic. These include the effect of Australia's new airlink between Hobart and Antarctica on our operations, an increase in the number of nations active in Antarctica, the critical need for further climate change research, decisions about how to meet our future shipping needs (our flagship, Aurora Australis, is ageing), budget pressures, and a continuing focus on national security objectives.
These changes are all occurring together and I hope to be able to help the organisation find its path through and beyond these issues in the next three to four years.
I am enjoying this wonderful opportunity to be part of an organisation that is highly regarded for its operational and scientific prowess, which has a complex set of objectives to fulfil, and to be with people who have a passion for their work and for Antarctica.
I hope you enjoy learning more about Antarctica and the Australian Antarctic Division through this web site.
Lyn Maddock
Director
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