Published on the 16th May 2025 by ANSTO Staff
ANSTO welcomes the appointment of Rear Admiral Katherine Richards AM CSC to the ANSTO Board as a part-time member for a 3-year term, commencing from 24 March 2025.
Rear Admiral Richards has served for over 36 years in the Royal Australian Navy and brings extensive engineering and leadership experience to the ANSTO Board.
As a former Head of Nuclear-Powered Submarine Design with the Department of Defence, Rear Admiral Richards has a significant understanding of nuclear safety and regulation.
Over the past 10 years, Rear Admiral Richards’ long-standing career has included appointments as the Defence Seaworthiness Regulator and the Naval Technical Regulator, and Head of Naval Engineering.
RADM Richards has previously served on the Radiation Health Council of Australia and the Nuclear Safety Committee at the invitation of Dr Gillian Hirth, the CEO of ARPANSA. She is a member of the Order of Australia (AM) and was recognised with a Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for her time in Command at HMAS CERBERUS in Victoria.
In November 2024, she became one of only 200 engineers nation-wide to be appointed as an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia, and is currently Chief Engineer at Engineers Australia.
ANSTO CEO Shaun Jenkinson said it is an honour to welcome Rear Admiral Richards to the ANSTO Board.
“Rear Admiral Richards brings a wealth of public sector governance and regulatory expertise to her appointment,” Mr Jenkinson said.
“Her extensive background in engineering and nuclear will strongly complement and be an invaluable contribution to ANSTO’s broad range of operations and nuclear safety capabilities.”