I am delighted that 2024 was a very busy and exciting year for MATRIX, we hosted 33 weeks of activity across 19 research programs spanning across the broader mathematical sciences. Next year looks to be no less exhilarating.

We are thrilled that the University of New South Wales has recognised the importance of MATRIX as national research infrastructure for the mathematical sciences and is joining MATRIX as financial supporter in a national consortium that also includes the Australian National University, Monash University, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Queensland. It is no secret that we live in times of financial challenges and MATRIX looks forward to further extending our national partnership for a prosperous future.

At the end of 2024 we said farewell to our long-serving Board Chair Prof. Anthony Guttmann. Tony’s role in the establishment of MATRIX goes perhaps back for more than thirty years, as a long term proponent and advocate for the establishment of an Australian research institute for the mathematical sciences. Over the past nine years Tony has been an incredibly steady supporter of MATRIX and I have personally immensely relied on his wisdom, ideas and suggestions. MATRIX would not have been able to grow to its current scope without his guidance. Dr Adelle Howse is succeeding Tony as the new Chair of the MATRIX Advisory Board.

With the support of the US based Simons Foundation, we were able to continue several MATRIX-Simons funding initiatives to enhance international research collaboration. Our philanthropic campaign performed above expectations. We warmly thank all our donors for allowing us to increase support for carers to attend MATRIX programs and enhance opportunities for students and early career researchers.

MATRIX has consolidated its network of international partnerships and regularly hosts joint workshops with the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach (MFO) in Germany and the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences (RIMS) in Japan. We are in conversation with others to extend this network more broadly. On the domestic front we have enhanced our outreach program through our engagement with the National Science Quiz and the schools program MathsCraft.

New developments in 2025 include new State Government support in South Australia for our MathsCraft outreach program and, importantly, the new Roadmap cycle for Australia's National Research Infrastructure. MATRIX will be making a submission to the consultation round and I invite you to engage with the process in support of national research infrastructure for the mathematical sciences. Another important consultation process is the Governments R&D review early in the new year.

I wish you a restful holiday and productive and successful new year, hoping to see you at MATRIX some time in the near future!

Jan de Gier

Director MATRIX

December 2024