Alan Finkel is a hard act to follow as chief scientist but Cathy Foley will make the stage her own

Dr Foley’s scene-setter at the National Press Club yesterday was a winner, wonderfully-written and appealingly-informed by her own experience. There are not many Commonwealth agency heads who admit to ideas acquired out running or explain what is to be learnt from the Japanese team in the four by 100 metres relay at the Rio Olympics.

And it set out what she wants to do and why she wants to do it.

It was a Sam Seaborne of a speech, constructed to inspire and enthuse, with ideas embedded to a policy purpose

Tough job, great start. (Scroll down for a full report).