National Manager, Forensic and Data Centres
Dr James Robertson
Dr James Robertson has been National Manager, and Head, of the forensic group with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Australia since 1989. Prior to this he spent nearly five years in the Forensic Science Centre in South Australia having come to Australia from Scotland where lectured in forensic science at the University of Strathclyde (1976-1985).
Under the direction of Dr Robertson, the Forensic and Data Centres group of the AFP has grown from modest beginnings to a multi-site, multi-discipline group.
Forensic and Data Centres includes Forensic operations, the Australian Bomb Data Centre (ABDC), the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Data Centre (CBRNDC) and the Australian Illicit Drug Data Centre (AIDDC). Within the order of 260 staff, the group covers almost all aspects of forensic science and technical information. The group has a strong research and development interest and has formed a number of strategic partnerships in Australia and overseas.
Dr Robertson has published over sixty papers and books and remains an active scientist and researcher. He is an Adjunct Professor at two Australian universities and a Courtesy Professor at the University of Florida, USA. In 2007 he was awarded the highest honour of the University of Canberra, a Doctor of the University. He is also a holder of the Australian Public Service Medal for services to forensic science and law enforcement.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has served on many government and university committees and advisory groups, is a past Chair of the Senior Managers Australian and New Zealand Forensic Laboratories (SMANZFL), is a member of the Council of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences and Editor of the Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences.