CSIRO Petroleum is headquartered at the Australian Resources Research Centre (ARRC) in Western Australia - an initiative of the WA Government, CSIRO and Curtin University of Technology.

Former Director and Woodside Chair with the University of Western Australia's School of Oil and Gas Engineering, Professor Ronalds has extensive industry experience including design, installation and operations support for fixed and floating offshore platforms, in the Australian North West Shelf, the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

"Professor Ronalds has a distinguished career, both in research and in the application of that research to solving industry problems," said CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Geoff Garrett.

ARRC's international oil and gas research and development capability has been further consolidated by the signing in February of the Global Energy Research Alliance, of which CSIRO Petroleum is a participant.

Professor Ronalds' research interests include offshore structural reliability and production facilities selection, having worked with engineering companies such as Kvaerner Earl and Wright, Ove Arup and Hardcastle and Richards.

Professor Ronalds becomes the second Chief of CSIRO Petroleum since it was created in 1994, the inaugural Chief being Dr Adrian Williams. Mr Greg Thill has been acting in the position for the past twelve months.

Dr Garrett said that Professor Ronalds brings considerable practical expertise and experience to the position.

"CSIRO is fortunate to have someone of Professor Ronalds' calibre taking up this challenging and very exciting role, we look forward to working with her."

"I would also like to thank Mr Greg Thill for the significant contribution he has made to managing the Division over these last twelve months, " added Dr Garrett.