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Hon Dr Barry Jones

Barry Jones is a former Labour politician, writer and broadcaster who has steadfastly earned a reputation as one of Australia's most respected public figures.

He was a Member of the House of Representatives for the Victorian Electorate of Lalor 1977 to 1988, and in the first three Hawke Governments became Australia's longest serving Science Minister (1983-90). As Science Minister, Barry saved the CSIRO, created the Australia Prize, the National Science Centre in Canberra and the Commission for the Future. He was National President of the Australian Labour Party 1992 to 2000.

Elected as a fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences (FAA) in 1996, Barry was one of the only three Australian politicians so honoured. He became a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) in 1992 and of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (FAHA) in 1993.

Barry's book Sleepers, Wake! Technology and the Future of Work (1982), has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Swedish and Braille and is now in its 24th impression.