Dr Lewis Ball has made his return to antipodean shores to head up the CSIRO’s Astronomy and Space Science (CASS) division.

Dr Ball returns to the CSIRO following his tenure as Deputy Director at the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, where he presided over the start of scientific works.

Previous to his ALMA appointment, Dr Ball had been with the CSIRO for nine years in a number of senior astronomical management roles.

As the new CASS Chief, Dr Ball will manage a 280-strong team and will be responsible for a world class facility during an unprecedented period of activity in Australian astronomical studies, with the Square Kilometre Array set to begin operations later this year.

Dr Ball will also be responsible for driving CSIRO's contribution to the first phase of the Square Kilometre Array telescope in Australia and for heading up, on behalf of NASA, the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex based at Tidbinbilla.

Dr Ball's appointment fills the role made vacant by Dr Phil Diamond, who left CSIRO in October 2012 to take up the position of Director General of the SKA Organisation.

"I look forward to enhancing and building on CSIRO's national and international reputation in the fields of radio astronomy and space science. I'm excited and honoured to be leading such a world-class team and thrilled to be a part of the international SKA effort,” Dr Ball said.