Filippo Zerbi elected as chairperson of the SKAO Council from 2025

Italian astrophysicist Dr Filippo Zerbi has been elected as the next chairperson of the SKA Observatory Council, the intergovernmental organisation’s governing body. NRF is a key stakeholder and partner of SKAO.

With a long career in astronomy research and instrument development, Dr Zerbi’s most recent role has been as Science Director at Italy’s National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) from 2016 until October 2024. Dr Zerbi has been involved in the development and governance of large international research infrastructures and has contributed to the SKA Project in various capacities for more than a decade. 

Representatives of the SKAO’s 12 member states unanimously approved the appointment by election of Dr Zerbi during the Observatory’s thirteenth Council meeting in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa, on 5-6 November. The Council also appointed Ms Inmaculada Figueroa, Vice Director General for Internationalisation of Science and Innovation at the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and Spain’s representative on the Council, as the body’s new vice-chair. The Council meets three times per year and oversees the Observatory’s funding and strategic direction. 

Read the original article here.