Sondoss El Sawah

Professor Sondoss El Sawah is a leading academic at UNSW Canberra's School of Systems & Computing, where she serves as Deputy Director of the Capability Systems Center. With over 90 publications including high-impact journal articles recognized by Web of Science, she has established herself as a prominent researcher in systems thinking and modeling.

Her research focuses on advancing systems thinking methodologies to address complex socio-environmental-technical challenges. Key application areas include climate change adaptation, defense strategic decision-making, resource management, and the water-food-environment-energy nexus. She has led numerous ARC and industry-funded projects tackling high-stakes policy issues, with significant impact on defense asset management and sustainable resource planning.

Professor El Sawah's recent work explores novel intersections between AI, education, and systems thinking, particularly through her ARC Discovery Project on 'Machine-education methodologies and algorithms for designing trusted multi-skilled evolutionary learners.' Her research has pioneered practical tools for promoting systems thinking in Australia's future force design and strategic asset sustainability.

• International Environmental Modelling and Software Society Research Award (2018)
• Australian Operations Research Society Rising Star Award (2016) - first female recipient
• Peter Cullen Trust Fellowship (Outstanding Fellow of the Year, 2014)
• Editor of the Journal of Environmental Modelling and Software (A*)
• Vice President of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (2020-)

She has significantly influenced policy through commissioned work for Queensland State Government and Department of Defence, developing good modeling practices for decision support. Her educational impact includes revitalizing systems thinking curriculum at UNSW and teaching at the European Summer School on decision making. Professor El Sawah also founded the IEEE Systems Modelling Conference and maintains strong international collaborations, including an honorary Associate Professor affiliation at Australian National University.