Leadership insights from CSIRO's COO

How do you approach financial modelling in an environment when research and technological advancements can move quickly, and the decisions made today can have lasting impact on industries and society?

This question is central to chief operating officer (COO) Tom Munyard’s role at the CSIRO, where his job is to ensure that the organisation’s operational strategies are aligned with its ambitious research goals.

“The fast pace of research and technological progress often presents challenges when it comes to financial modelling and long-term planning, because the implications of these innovations can be hard to predict,” Munyard says.

“It’s essential to adopt a flexible, forward-thinking strategy that balances both short-term and long-term considerations,” he adds.

Working at Australia’s national science agency offers an enviable front-row position to groundbreaking innovations.

From pioneering the technology behind wi-fi to creating plastic banknotes, contact lens and life-saving vaccines, CSIRO has been at the forefront of global scientific advancements for more than a century.

Collaborating with some of Australia’s leading minds to prioritise the organisation’s impact across a range of industries and issues is a privilege that Munyard acknowledges.

“The most rewarding part about working at CSIRO is the people — the passion and drive they have for what they do. The difference it can make to everyday lives is huge, and I describe working here as a unique and special privilege,” he says.

Social policy and service delivery

Born and bred in Canberra, Munyard worked in various finance roles in the Australian Government before joining the CSIRO, with a focus on service delivery organisations such as the Department of Human Services and the Department of Immigration.

It was those experiences that he says prepared him for the demands of leading a team of almost 1000 across 48 sites and a wide range of industries including agriculture, health, energy, environment and technology.

 

"There’s a lot that makes the organisation run effectively. My teams do an amazing job — and without that, quite clearly, there’s no research impact or innovation for the wider community."

 

In 2015, Munyard took the opportunity to join CSIRO and in 2017 became chief finance officer. It was a move that allowed him to step into his current role as COO with a 360-degree view of the organisation.

“As CFO, I led an amazing team of finance professionals and people who were passionate about the organisation and worked closely with our research units.

“Being able to represent them in my executive team and in board meetings gave me a fantastic insight into what makes the organisation run. It helped me to understand how our research areas operate and how to support them,” he says.

Operating at the cutting edge of research means navigating a landscape that is in constant flux. For CSIRO, managing a future vision while responding to the rapid pace of scientific discovery is part of the day-to-day.

“It’s an ongoing challenge for us,” says Munyard. “While we are focused on the long-term, science and research can evolve incredibly fast. We have to establish processes that foster innovation without disrupting the organisation’s impact.”

Currently, CSIRO is focused on addressing some of Australia’s most critical challenges: ensuring food security and quality, advancing sustainable energy and resource management, and fostering the next wave of industry innovation.

Munyard points to the urgency of these issues, particularly food security, which is expected to escalate globally in the coming years.

“Looking ahead, it’s clear that food security will become a global challenge. This is where our high-performance computing capabilities play a critical role. By analysing years of data, we can make informed predictions about future trends,” he says.

“Our annual State of the Climate report is a crucial tool, helping us forecast the future and guiding our research priorities. This data allows us to plan for the long-term, identifying where to focus efforts to ensure the most impactful outcomes for Australia in 2030, 2040 and beyond.”

Finding the right balance

Balancing costs with long-term viability is key when making decisions about infrastructure, says Munyard. It’s about ensuring strong financial management and operational efficiency while also making sure the facilities are modern and fit for purpose.

“A key challenge is striking the right balance between strategic planning for research programs and adapting to changing technology and emerging research needs,” Munyard adds.

It is a team effort, he says. There are not only high-performance computing facilities, such as the energy-efficient ‘Virga’ cluster, vital for AI-driven research and data analysis, but also an extensive national infrastructure.

 

"The most rewarding part about working at CSIRO is the people — the passion and drive they have for what they do. The difference it can make to everyday lives is huge, and I describe working here as a unique and special privilege."

 

This includes over 40 sites across Australia, with specialised laboratories like the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (a biocontainment facility in Geelong where research into viruses such as Hendra takes place), and energy research hubs in Newcastle, focused on solar power and battery technologies.

“There’s a lot that makes the organisation run effectively. My teams do an amazing job — and without that, quite clearly, there’s no research impact or innovation for the wider community.

“It’s an organisation where some of the brightest minds in the country come together to solve critical challenges facing Australia and the world. Hearing about them working in a collaborative way with partners nationally and internationally is really, really inspiring. And it’s really as simple as that.” 

Tom's top five CSIRO innovations

“CSIRO’s legacy is woven into everyday life in Australia. Its contributions span a wide spectrum and, while it is hard to to choose favourites, Munyard lists his five stand out CSIRO inventions.

1. Wi-fi: In the 1990s, CSIRO researchers developed technology known as the patented wireless local area network (WLAN). This technology underpins modern wi-fi, allowing for wireless internet connectivity. It’s one of Australia's most notable innovations on the global stage.
2. Improving the sustainability of agriculture: We’ve seen tremendous developments in alternative meats and using food waste to create valuable products. CSIRO has been heavily involved in the development of companies such as v2food and Eden Brew, which are essential in maintaining and growing the sustainability of Australia’s agricultural industry.
3. Extended-wear contact lenses: In the 1970s, CSIRO worked on innovations in contact-lens technology and the research led to the development of soft contact lenses that could be worn for extended periods and even overnight.
4. Vaccines: CSIRO has been instrumental in developing vaccines for infectious diseases including Hendra virus, COVID-19 and Lumpy Skin disease.
5. Digital health: We have worked on some incredibly innovative projects, including AI, cyber security, robotics and quantum technologies. Through our digital health program, we’re exploring how digital products can improve health outcomes. In cyber security, we’re focused on protecting our national assets, ensuring resilience and safety in an increasingly digital world.”

One piece of advice

Good leadership involves qualities like being consultative, empowering, decisive, and acting with integrity and honesty — especially in tough times. Listening to stakeholders is key.

Leadership isn’t just a job title it’s a role that everyone can embrace, particularly in times of rapid change.”