The NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer consults widely with academia, industry and government to ensure that knowledge and research can be adapted and used to benefit NSW. The role of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer has two main responsibilities: (1) to foster and encourage a lively state innovation system, particularly by promoting productive links between business, the professions, universities and government (2) to provide independent advice on how to address difficult policy problems that involve engineering or science. The appointment of world-renowned robotics expert Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte as the new NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer was announced on Monday 28 May 2018, by Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Professor Durrant-Whyte, who was previously Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Ministry of Defence, commenced on 3 September.