Sir David (Albert Cherbury) Rivett KCMG FRS

, 1985

Sir David (Albert Cherbury) Rivett KCMG FRS (1885- 1961) was a scientist who graduated with first-class honours in chemistry from the University of Melbourne and who played an influential role within Australia's scientific community. He was appointed professor of chemistry at Melbourne University in 1924, and three years later became chief executive of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO), a position he held for 18 years. Rivett advocated scientific self-reliance for Australia and is perhaps best known for the eradication of prickly pear through the introduction of Cactoblastis cactorum.