Halil Ali is a Lecturer in Data Science (Education Focused) at the School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University. His research spans privacy-preserving machine learning, blockchain technologies, and cybersecurity. Key research areas include federated learning , quantum-enhanced AI , secure biometrics , edge unlearning , and privacy in healthcare data . His recent publications focus on resilient AI systems , blockchain applications , and ethical data handling in emerging technologies. His work demonstrates expertise in integrating machine learning with blockchain security across domains like IoT, smart grids, and metaverse healthcare. He contributes to practical frameworks for zero-trust architectures , lightweight consensus protocols , and quantum-classical hybrid models .
Dr. Bisan Alsalibi is a Lecturer at the School of Information Technology, Monash University (Malaysia campus). She holds a PhD (2017) and MSc (2013) in computer science from Universiti Sains Malaysia, specializing in Artificial Intelligence. Previously, she served as Senior Lecturer at Taylor's University (2022–2023) and Teaching Fellow at Universiti Sains Malaysia (2018–2020). Education: PhD in Computer Vision and Optimization (2014–2017), Universiti Sains Malaysia MSc in Artificial Intelligence (2011–2013), Universiti Sains Malaysia Research focuses on AI-driven solutions in feature selection, bio-inspired optimization techniques, and computer vision applications. Her work bridges membrane computing and real-world problem-solving, including privacy-preserving recommender systems for social networks. She currently supervises PhD students exploring bio-inspired algorithms for complex challenges. Advising & Grants: Acknowledged PhD project areas: Bio-inspired optimization techniques and evolutionary machine learning
Ron Steinfeld is an Associate Professor in the Department of Software Systems & Cybersecurity at Monash University, Australia. He holds editorial roles in Designs Codes and Cryptography (since 2017) and has served on technical committees for top-tier conferences like ASIACRYPT, CRYPTO, and EUROCRYPT. His research focuses on quantum-safe cryptography, lattice-based cryptography, and blockchain security, with over 80 refereed publications and AUD$4M+ in research funding. Education: BSc Mathematics and Physics (Monash University, 1998) BE (Hons., First Class) Electrical and Computer Systems (Monash University, 2000) PhD Computer Science (Monash University, 2003) Research Interests: Design and analysis of cryptographic algorithms, quantum-safe protocols, lattice-based security foundations, and blockchain applications. His work underpins NIST standard algorithms like Kyber and Dilithium through structured lattice problem research. Recent Articles Trends: Focus on privacy-preserving blockchain protocols, post-quantum signature schemes, encrypted data search, and cryptographic applications in adversarial AI. Recent work includes fair Bitcoin watchtower schemes and genomic database privacy solutions. Awards: ASIACRYPT 2015 Best Paper Award Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD projects on quantum-safe cryptography and blockchain security. Leads initiatives like the AUD$4M ARC-funded Quantum Information Technology project. Collaborates with industry partners including CSIRO/Data61. Labs/Teams: Key contributor to Monash’s cybersecurity and cryptography research groups, involving interdisciplinary projects on materials discovery ( Æinstein initiative) and post-quantum blockchain security.
Massimo Piccardi is a Professor of Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer Vision, and Machine Learning at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) , where he has been since 2002. He currently serves as the Head of the School of Electrical and Data Engineering and leads the Big Data Analytics program at the Global Big Data Technologies Centre. His research focuses on advancing NLP, machine learning applications in healthcare, and cybersecurity in IoT systems. He has authored over 200 journal papers and conference proceedings, secured significant ARC and CRC grants, and holds the IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Contributor Award (2022). Education & Professional Roles: Joined UTS in 2002, progressing from Associate Professor (2002–2007) to Professor (2008–present). Serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Big Data and Editor for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine. Active in professional societies including IEEE, ACL, and ALTA (President, 2023–2024). Research Interests: Core areas include NLP (translation, summarization, adversarial attacks), healthcare informatics (clinical NLP, health service analysis), and cybersecurity (IoT security, privacy-preserving systems). Cross-cutting themes include generative models, cross-lingual systems, and ethical AI. Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator on ARC Discovery/Linkage projects and CRC grants. Recent projects include controllable machine translation (Amazon), privacy-preserving digital agriculture, and STEM innovation (ASTRID project with NBN Co). Labs & Collaborations: Leads the UTS Global Big Data Technologies Centre, collaborating on projects like adversarial NLP attacks, medical machine translation, and secure IoT frameworks.
Professor Ernest Foo is a distinguished academic at Griffith University's School of Information and Communication Technology, specializing in cybersecurity with a focus on industrial control systems and cryptographic protocols. With over 15 years of experience in computer networking, he has established himself as a leading expert in SCADA security and smart grid cybersecurity. His research has significant practical applications in critical infrastructure protection, and he has developed hands-on security training programs that have trained professionals from major Australian utilities and government agencies. Professor Foo's educational background includes: Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Electronic and Computer Engineering from University of Queensland Doctor of Philosophy from Queensland University of Technology Professor Foo's research interests center around secure cryptographic protocols with specific applications in industrial control system security and cyber physical systems. His work spans SCADA security, smart grid protection, wireless sensor network security, and post-quantum cryptography. He has made significant contributions to understanding vulnerabilities in industrial protocols like Modbus and DNP3, and has pioneered the application of process mining and data mining techniques for attack detection in critical infrastructure systems. His research bridges theoretical security concepts with practical implementations in real-world industrial environments. Professor Foo's recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated security frameworks for critical infrastructure. His work shows a progression from foundational SCADA security research to advanced applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and formal methods in cybersecurity. A notable trend is the integration of zero trust principles with industrial control systems, alongside growing emphasis on post-quantum cryptographic solutions. His publications span high-impact journals and conferences in cybersecurity, with increasing focus on anomaly detection in cyber-physical systems and the application of graph-based machine learning techniques to network security challenges. Professor Foo's notable scientific achievements include: Best paper award at the 2nd International Cyber Resilience Conference for "Gap analysis of Intrusion Detection in Smart Grids" Professor Foo has secured significant research funding including an ARC Linkage grant with Powerlink Queensland focused on cyber security for electricity sub-stations. He currently leads multiple research projects including Westpac Micro-Credentials in Financial Crime Investigation, Digital Banking Micro-credentials with ANZ, and research on quantum-safe cryptography. As a dedicated educator, he serves as Program Director for multiple cybersecurity programs including the Master of Cyber Security, and has supervised numerous doctoral and masters students. His Cyber Security: Industrial Control System course, conducted annually from 2013-2018, featured innovative hands-on training with real-world participants from major Australian utilities. Professor Foo has been instrumental in establishing the SCADA security research laboratory with multiple vendor system miniatures running industrial PLCs. His work bridges theoretical security concepts with practical implementations, making significant contributions to the security of industrial control systems and critical infrastructure worldwide.
Dr. Sirui Li is a Lecturer at Murdoch University's School of Information Technology within the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning, Knowledge Graphs, Data Analysis, Temporal Data, and Multi-modal Models, with applications in medicine, agriculture, and mining. She collaborates with industry partners like BHP and has published in journals such as Food Chemistry and Knowledge and Information Systems , as well as conferences like ICSME and IJCNN. Education: Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Honours) in Computer Science at Australian National University Master of Computing (Specialising in AI) at ANU Ph.D. in Information Technology (AI) at Murdoch University Research interests include interdisciplinary applications of AI, such as clinical coding privacy solutions, disease spread modeling, and drug repurposing for pandemics. Her work emphasizes practical industry integration, demonstrated through awards like the 2024 EMNLP Best Demo Award and the 2023 Iron Ore Circuit Hackathon innovation prize. Professional roles include IEEE Western Australia Section committee membership, conference chair positions, and peer review for top journals. She actively mentors students pursuing Honours, Master's, or PhD projects in her areas of expertise.
Dr. Amin Sakzad is an Associate Professor in the Department of Software Systems & Cybersecurity at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology. His research focuses on lattice-based cryptography, wireless communications, and post-quantum security protocols. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Amirkabir University of Technology (2011) and has held academic roles at Carleton University and Monash since 2012. Dr. Sakzad’s expertise spans lattice coding theory, MIMO systems, and privacy-preserving technologies for genomic databases and blockchain applications. He leads multiple ARC-funded projects, including work on secure databases (SRDBMS) and post-quantum cryptographic primitives for FinTech and energy sectors. His research has been recognized through awards such as the FIT Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2021). Key collaborations include projects on blockchain security (CollinStar Lab), genomic data privacy, and energy market cybersecurity. His work addresses UN SDGs through contributions to quality education (SDG 4) and industry innovation (SDG 9). Recent publications highlight advancements in lattice-based cryptography (e.g., CRYSTALS-Kyber variants), privacy-preserving energy trading, and secure blockchain protocols like FPPW watchtower systems. His research bridges theoretical cryptography with practical implementations in embedded systems and 5G telecommunications. Grants: 16 active/completed projects including $1.2M in ARC funding Advising: Supervising PhD projects on lattice applications in post-quantum crypto and blockchain Labs: Core member of Monash’s Software Defined Telecommunications (SDT) Lab and CollinStar Lab
Aggelos Kiayias FRSE is Chair in Cyber Security and Privacy and Director of the Blockchain Technology Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh. He is also Chief Scientist at blockchain technology company Input Output. His academic work spans over two decades with more than 200 publications in cryptography, blockchain, and security. Dr. Kiayias received his Ph.D. from the City University of New York and was an undergraduate at the University of Athens Mathematics department. His research focuses on computer security, privacy, applied cryptography, and foundations of cryptography with particular emphasis on blockchain technologies, distributed systems, e-voting, secure multiparty protocols, and identity management. His recent work demonstrates continued innovation across multiple dimensions of blockchain technology, with publications spanning theoretical foundations, practical implementations, economic modeling, and privacy-preserving techniques. The research output shows strong emphasis on security analysis, consensus protocols, transaction processing, and economic incentives within decentralized systems. His work bridges theoretical cryptography with real-world blockchain applications. Among his notable recognitions are an ERC Starting Grant, Marie Curie fellowship, NSF Career Award, Fulbright Fellowship, election as Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2021, and the BCS Lovelace Medal in 2024. He has served as program chair for major conferences including the Cryptographers' Track of RSA (2011), Financial Cryptography (2017), Real World Crypto Symposium (2020), and Public-Key Cryptography Conference (2020), and as general chair of Eurocrypt 2013. Professor Kiayias has supervised over 20 PhD students, many of whom have gone on to academic positions at institutions including Imperial College, Stanford University, Royal Holloway University London, University of Glasgow, University of Sydney, and Virginia Commonwealth University. His current advisees include Yu Shen, Amirreza Sarencheh, and Christina Ovezik with expected graduations between 2025-2026. He leads the Blockchain Technology Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh and is involved in several major blockchain research projects including Panoramix and Fentec. His research has received significant funding from the European Union (Horizon 2020, ERC), UK research councils (EPSRC), US agencies (NSF, DHS, NIST), and Greek research bodies.
Sushmita Ruj is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. She serves as the Faculty of Engineering Lead for the UNSW Institute for Cybersecurity (IfCyber) and as the Taste of Research (ToR) Coordinator within the School of Computer Science and Engineering. Her academic journey includes previous positions as a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO's Data61 (2019-2022), Associate Professor at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, and Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore. Dr. Ruj's primary research interests focus on applied cryptography, post-quantum cryptography, cybersecurity, blockchains, and data privacy. She designs practical, efficient, and provably secure protocols for real-life applications, with particular emphasis on critical infrastructure including smart grids, cloud computing, ad hoc networks, and data sharing frameworks. As quantum technology advances, her work increasingly focuses on developing quantum-safe algorithms to ensure a more secure Internet infrastructure. Her research spans multiple domains including cryptographic key management, proofs of storage, verifiable computation, vector commitments, and privacy-enhancing technologies for cloud and IoT environments. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward post-quantum cryptography solutions, with particular emphasis on blockchain applications, DNS security, and privacy-preserving protocols for industrial IoT. The research shows increasing focus on practical implementations of theoretical cryptographic concepts, with applications across multiple sectors including finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Her work bridges the gap between theoretical cryptography and real-world security challenges, with growing emphasis on the transition from classical to quantum-resistant systems. Best Paper Award at ACISP 2024 JNCA Best Survey Award (2023) NSW Innovation Award (iAward) Merit Winner (2022) Women in Science Award from CSIRO (2020) ACM Senior Member (2016) IEEE Senior Member (2015) Samsung GRO award (2014) Dr. Ruj has successfully mentored numerous PhD and Master's students, with many of her former students now holding academic positions at institutions like IIT Indore, TU Wien, and CISPA Helmholtz Center. She has secured significant competitive funding including multiple Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, Samsung GRO Award, NetApp Faculty Fellowship, Cisco Academic Grant, and IBM Research grant. Her current research portfolio includes projects on blockchain-based quantum-safe digital medical passports, embedding trust in digital IDs, and resilience of supply chain unstructured data. As Faculty of Engineering Lead for IfCyber, Dr. Ruj plays a key role in UNSW's cybersecurity research initiatives. She has served on editorial boards for prestigious journals including IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security and has held leadership positions in major conferences such as ACISP 2021 and Indocrypt 2020. She was also a member of the working group on "Blockchain For Cybersecurity" for the National Blockchain Roadmap of Australia and the first Blockchain Working group set up by the Reserve Bank of India.
Professor Judy Kay is a leading academic in Computer Science at the University of Sydney, holding a Chair in Human-Centred Technology Research within the Faculty of Engineering and IT. Her work focuses on designing personalized systems that empower users to control their data, particularly in lifelong learning and health contexts. She leads the Human Centred Technology Research Cluster and is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education (IJAIED). Education: Studied at the University of Sydney, inspired to pursue academia due to its multidisciplinary environment and student collaboration opportunities. Research interests include user modeling, scrutable AI systems, and interfaces for personal informatics. Current projects span virtual reality learning environments, health data dashboards, and ethical AI transparency. Her work has led to commercialized technologies like the Personis system. Publications include over 200 peer-reviewed works in top venues like CHI, UbiComp, and AIED conferences. Awards highlight her contributions to computing education and AIED, including the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. Advises 4 current PhD/Master’s students focusing on topics like Open Learner Models in VR and health decision-making tools. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across computer science, health sciences, and education. Labs/Teams: Leads research groups in the School of Computer Science and collaborates with the Charles Perkins Centre on health-related projects.
Dr. Kanchana Thilakarathna is a Senior Lecturer in Distributed Computing at the University of Sydney's School of Computer Science, and a member of the Centre for Distributed and High Performance Computing. They hold a PhD from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and a B.Sc. Eng (Hons) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Prior to academia, they worked as a Research Scientist at CSIRO/Data61 and had industry experience as a Mobile Radio Network Engineer. Research Interests : Dr. Thilakarathna focuses on cybersecurity, privacy in mobile and IoT systems, mixed reality privacy, and distributed computing platforms. Their work emphasizes user-centric solutions like the Yalut social media app, which enables decentralized data sharing. Key themes include privacy-preserving techniques, edge computing, and secure federated learning frameworks. Recent Work : Recent articles (2023–2025) explore machine unlearning for large language models, federated learning security, and IoT network slicing using P4 programmability. Their work on synthetic video traffic generation (VideoTrain++) and drone detection (DronePrint) demonstrates cross-disciplinary innovation. Awards : Malcolm Chaikin Prize (2015), Meta Research Awards (2020/2022), and Heidelberg Laureate Fellowship (2019). Grants : ARC Research Hub for Future Digital Manufacturing (2024), NSW Defence Innovation Network Projects (2024/2021), and Facebook Research Awards (2022/2020). Students : Advising 4 current PhD students on topics like wireless trust establishment and machine unlearning. Labs/Teams : Part of the Centre for Distributed and High Performance Computing and Sydney Nano Institute.
Professor Jun Zhang is a leading academic in cybersecurity at Swinburne University, Australia, where he directs the Cybersecurity Lab. He has been honored as Australia's top cybersecurity researcher and instrumental in establishing Swinburne as a globally recognized cybersecurity research institution. His work includes high-impact papers and multi-million-dollar R&D projects, culminating in awards like the 2021 'Top Cybersecurity Research Institution' accolade. As course director of the Bachelor of Cyber Security, he pioneered an industry-driven teaching model with Deloitte and CSIRO, significantly boosting course enrollment. His collaborations extend to Adobe's Curriculum Innovation Program and the Australian P-TECH initiative, promoting STEM education and cybersecurity awareness. He supervises doctoral candidates and leads grants focused on AI-driven cybersecurity, smart home security, and blockchain-based edge computing. His research spans vulnerability detection, GAN forensics, IoT security, and privacy preservation in OSNs. Research interests include cybersecurity fundamentals, data science applications, and distributed systems. Notable achievements include the PTFix framework for Java vulnerabilities, the IoTFuzz smart home testing system, and CTI mining methodologies. Awards reflect his mid-career research excellence and industry partnerships. His grants with CSIRO and defense organizations emphasize real-world impact, addressing challenges from malware detection to adversarial machine learning. The Cybersecurity Lab and collaborative projects like Artchain demonstrate his commitment to bridging academia and industry. Professional activities include supervising over 20 HDR students and securing grants totaling millions. His work on blockchain-based edge storage (CSEdge) and SDCCP congestion control highlights innovation in networking. Future directions include advancing AI for design collaboration with CSIRO and enhancing privacy in smart energy technologies. His contributions span technical, educational, and community outreach domains, positioning him as a pivotal figure in cybersecurity's evolution.
Professor Ryan Ko is a leading academic in Cyber Security at the University of Queensland (UQ), serving as Chair and Director of the UQ Cyber Research Centre, Director of Research at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and a member of UQ's Academic Board. He holds a BEng (Computer Engineering) and PhD from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His research focuses on data provenance, industrial control systems (ICS) security, privacy-preserving technologies, and AI-driven cybersecurity solutions. Ko has pioneered initiatives such as the UQ Cyber Centre, interdisciplinary cybersecurity education programs (MCyber, PGDipCyber), and the Oceania Cybersecurity Challenge. He has attracted over AUD 20 million in competitive grants as lead investigator, including the NZ$12.2M STRATUS project. Ko’s work spans industry and policy, including advisory roles with INTERPOL, governments, and NGOs. He has authored over 100 publications, contributed to ISO standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 21878), and co-founded cybersecurity startups. Awards include Fellowships from the Australian Computer Society and Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the CSA Ron Knode Service Award. Education: Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering) (Hons.), Nanyang Technological University (2005) PhD in Computer Science, Nanyang Technological University (2011) Awards: Fellow, Australian Computer Society (2016) Fellow, Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences (2020) Young Professional Award, Singapore Government (2018) Grants & Leadership: AUD 20M+ lead investigator grants; NZ$12.2M STRATUS project (2014–2018) Established UQ Cyber Centre (2019) and NZ’s first cybersecurity graduate program (2012) His research emphasizes returning data control to users, with applications in agriculture, energy, and critical infrastructure. Ko’s contributions include patents, open-source tools (e.g., Kali Linux), and frameworks like TrustCloud for cloud accountability.
Professor George Siemens is a leading academic in the field of learning analytics and AI-driven education, serving as Professor and Director of the Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning at UniSA Education Futures, University of South Australia. His work focuses on advancing educational practices through data analytics, artificial intelligence, and understanding online learning dynamics. His research spans MOOCs, social and emotional learning analytics, and the ethical integration of AI in education. Notable contributions include the development of frameworks like the MOOC Replication Framework (MORF) and the DAIR infrastructure for educational AI research. Key publications include studies on student agency in AI environments, practicum effectiveness in teacher education, and synthetic data fairness in learning analytics. He collaborates internationally, with affiliations previously including the University of Texas Arlington. As a Research Degree Supervisor, he guides students in transformative educational technology research. His work emphasizes actionable intelligence for educators and scalable solutions for lifelong learning in the digital age.
Mark Andrejevic is a Professor in the School of Media, Film, and Journalism at Monash University. He specializes in the socio-cultural implications of digital surveillance, data mining, and automated decision-making. His research spans Big Data ethics, privacy regulation, and the impact of technology on democracy. He leads major projects like the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, focusing on AI’s societal implications. Andrejevic has been awarded Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities and the Nancy Baym Book Award. His work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goals addressing justice and innovation. Research interests include automated surveillance systems, digital privacy policies, and the ethical governance of emerging technologies. He collaborates on projects such as facial recognition technology ethics and pandemic-era surveillance practices. His recent publications analyze platform accountability, algorithmic bias, and the societal effects of workplace monitoring technologies. He actively contributes to public discourse via media engagements and policy-focused talks on topics like facial recognition in education and pandemic-era data collection. Projects: ARC QEII Fellowship ($390k, 2010–2014), Australian Public Attitudes to AI, and facial recognition ethics studies. Grants: Over $390k from ARC for privacy research, plus ongoing funding through collaborative initiatives. Awards: Australian Academy of Humanities Fellowship (2020), Nancy Baym Book Award (2014). He supervises graduate students in Digital Media, Surveillance Studies, and Critical Theory. His interdisciplinary work bridges academia, policy, and industry to address technology’s societal challenges while advocating for democratic values.
