Alan Finkel - Biography

Alan Simon Finkel AM FTSE PhD is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2007, he was appointed as the new Chancellor of Monash University, a position he commenced on January 1, 2008.

Finkel was educated at Monash University, receiving a doctorate in Electrical Engineering in 1981. He then served as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Australian National University, before leaving academia to found Axon Instruments, a global science and technology company based in the US. During this time, he invented a device which substantially speeds up drug research, which was extremely successful commercially.

Since then, he has used his wealth to found the science magazine Cosmos, an environment magazine called G: The Green Lifestyle Magazine and contribute towards a number of research institutes. During a speech at Monash University's 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, he announced that he would be endowing a Chair in Global Health for the University.

In 2006 Finkel was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. In 2008 he was inducted as an honorary member of the Monash Golden Key Society to recognize his achievements. In 2009 Finkel was appointed as the Chief Technology Officer of Better Place Australia.