Simon Doe Departs ANFF for New Role at Weld Australia
ANFF bids a fond farewell to ANFF-SA Facility Manager Simon Doe, who has been a cornerstone of the organisation for 16 years, including 9 years as ANFF’s National Facility Manager. Simon’s leadership, dedication and vision have significantly contributed to ANFF’s growth and continued success.
As ANFF-SA Facility Manager, Simon made remarkable contributions, notably advancing the Node’s impact on national priorities and fostering a key partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). This collaboration opened ANFF’s facilities to DSTG researchers, enabling groundbreaking technological advancements that have benefited academia and industry alike.

Reflecting on his tenure, Simon shared, ‘Working within the ANFF family was an incredible and humbling experience. Seeing the work done by the highly skilled people within the ANFF network to help realise complex solutions to real world problems across such a vast array of industry sectors was quite the buzz. Knowing that I would be working across these different sectors where the work we do really helps people so regularly always kept the level of excitement high.’
ANFF-SA Node Director Craig Priest expressed heartfelt gratitude: ‘Working with Simon has been wonderful. His professional and collaborative approach alongside his quality team leadership have turned his passion for emerging manufacturing technology into a thriving innovation hub. He will be greatly missed at ANFF-SA and throughout the ANFF Network.’
As National Facility Manager, Simon played a crucial role in facilitating access to critical design and fabrication equipment and expertise for Australian researchers and industry. ‘All of us at ANFF owe a lot to Simon Doe, the outgoing National Facility Manager. He has been a wonderful leader in our network, championing continuous improvement, staff support and development and adding to the cohesion that makes ANFF such a success. While we all wish him nothing but the best as he moves on to the next stage in his career, he will leave a gap that will be hard to fill,’ said ANFF CEO Jane Fitzpatrick.
Simon now takes on the role of Director of Engineering at Weld Australia, the peak body for welding in Australia offering a broad range of engineering services related to the welding industry. Weld Australia connects members with industry, research and education, fostering innovation and excellence in welding engineering.
ANFF extends its deepest gratitude to Simon for his invaluable contributions and wish him great success at Weld Australia. His legacy at ANFF will continue to inspire, and we look forward to following his future achievements.
Posted 23 January 2025