Zena Assaad

Dr Zena Assaad is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Engineering at The Australian National University and a Fellow with the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre (TAS DCRC). Her work focuses on safety assurance in human-machine teaming (HMT), autonomous systems regulation, and UAS traffic management. She holds a PhD in decision-making under uncertainty for air traffic flow management and has industry experience in aviation regulation and satellite-based systems.

Education:

• Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering
• PhD in Decision-Making Under Uncertainty (Aerospace Engineering)

Research Interests: Dr Assaad explores the intersection of human factors and autonomous systems, particularly in aviation and defense contexts. She investigates regulatory frameworks for AI, safety protocols for human-machine collaboration, and ethical implications of emerging technologies. Her work bridges technical innovation with policy through roles in ISO standards committees.

Recent Research Trends: Her publications emphasize trust frameworks for HMT, AI-driven library systems, and safety assurance methodologies. These reflect her dual focus on applied technical solutions and systemic regulatory challenges.

Grants & Supervision:

• Project Lead: 'A path forward for assuring complex software in aviation' (2024)
• Co-Investigator: 'AI and Library Services Report' (2021)

Labs/Teams: Active in ANU's Aerospace cluster and the TAS DCRC. Co-hosts the Algorithmic Futures podcast exploring tech ethics and societal impacts.