Babak Akhgar

Babak Akhgar serves as Professor of Informatics and Director of CENTRIC (Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research) at Sheffield Hallam University's College of Business, Technology and Engineering, with additional affiliation to the Culture and Creativity Research Institute. Recognized as a Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS), he maintains active leadership in security informatics research and education.

His academic foundation includes a Software Engineering degree from Sheffield Hallam University, complemented by a Master's degree with distinction in Information Systems in Management and a PhD in Information Systems. This academic trajectory followed substantial industry experience as a Strategy Analyst and Methodology Director for multiple organizations.

Professor Akhgar's research program bridges theoretical knowledge management with practical security applications, focusing on cyber security, counter-terrorism, intelligence frameworks, and big data analytics for national security. His scholarly output demonstrates consistent evolution from foundational knowledge management systems toward contemporary security challenges including cryptocurrency tracing, AI accountability in law enforcement, and smart city security frameworks. Recent work shows particular emphasis on ethical considerations, citizen acceptance of security technologies, and practical implementation of security solutions.

• Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS)
• Co-editor of influential security publications including 'Intelligence Management: Knowledge Driven Frameworks for Combating Terrorism and Organised Crime'
• Member of editorial boards for three international journals
• Chair and program committee member for numerous international security conferences

As a doctoral supervisor, Professor Akhgar has guided research on cyber situational awareness, digital music ontology, and e-government services. His leadership extends to major EU-funded security initiatives including the MIICT project for migrant integration and development of the AP4AI accountability framework for artificial intelligence in security contexts. Through CENTRIC, he directs a research ecosystem that connects academic inquiry with real-world security challenges while addressing ethical, legal, and societal implications of security technologies.