This month our short interview features Michael Tonroe, the Australian Synchrotron’s chief financial officer and company secretary.

Describe your job in 25 words or less.
Looking after the finance and reporting requirements, safeguarding assets, financial and business controls assisting the Management team and board to make decisions about the future.

Best thing about your job?
Working with the people at AS – there is a fascinating diversity of disciplines and backgrounds.

Worst thing about your job?
Can’t think of anything

Biggest challenge facing your team?
Improving the business systems to help the AS run smoothly

Apart from the Australian Synchrotron, what's the coolest job you've ever had?
Working for a travel company that sold volunteer and teaching holidays all over the world

Best things about living in Melbourne and why?
It’s warmer, gets more sun and less rain than my home town of Manchester in the UK.

Your favourite overseas destination and why?
Savannah Georgia, USA – most of my family live there and my brother sells the best burgers in the USA.

A little-known fact about the Australian Synchrotron?
Twenty percent of the electricity consumed by AS is from renewable sources.

What’s the most unusual or interesting question you’ve been asked in relation to your work at the AS?
Can you power anything using the beam?