Steve Stirling

Steve Stirling is the Deputy Director and General Manager of Operations at Questacon. He is responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of all Questacon’s local, national and international activities.

Throughout his thirty-year career, Steve has focused on fostering innovation and commercialisation across industry sectors, with a particular interest in technology. Prior to joining Questacon, Steve was General Manager of the ICT Operations Branch in the CIO Division at the Department of Industry, Science & Resources. In this role, Steve led the branch to provide end-user ICT services to the Department and Minister, delivered significant ICT programs and projects for the department and was instrumental in the implementation of increasingly flexible working arrangements during lockdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, Steve held several senior executive positions in the Department’s AusIndustry Division, delivering the Commonwealth’s flagship Cooperative Research Centre Program, the Entrepreneurs’ Program and a range of other innovation-based granting programs aimed at fostering research and development, collaboration and commercialisation in Australian businesses.

Steve is passionate about the practical application of science, technology and innovation to create and build efficient organisations.  Steve has formal Project Management qualifications and has also attended the Strategic Leadership Program at the SAID Business School, University of Oxford.

Steve and his wife Jacquie have five kids aged between 28 and 12, with three still at home.