The CSIRO has appointed Perth-based digital executive Rebecca Ostergaard as its first Chief Digital Officer.

 Ms Ostergaard, who was most recently digital services project officer at WA’s Office of Digital Government, will be tasked with leading the science agency’s digital strategy.

She takes up the job on March 17.

CSIRO Executive Director of Digital National Facilities and Collections Elanor Huntington welcomed the appointment, saying Ms Ostergaard was a skilled executive who has led digitisation across multiple sectors.

“CSIRO has profound ambitions to disrupt the way science is done, to empower our researchers through leading edge digital technologies, skills and ways of working, which will ultimately support CSIRO in using science to create a better future for Australia,” Professor Huntington said.

“(Ms Ostergaard) will lead our digital strategy, working with researchers across CSIRO to define and deliver the digital thread that runs through our Corporate Plan.” 

Commenting on social media, Ms Ostergaard has described her new position as “very exciting”.