Associate Professor Rodney Lea is an academic leader in Computational Genomics at the Genomics Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) , with adjunct research affiliations at the Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle . He holds a PhD in Statistical Genetics from Griffith University (2002) and has 20+ years of experience in genomic data science. Research Focus: Developing bioinformatics algorithms for multi-omics analysis in complex diseases, including neurological conditions (multiple sclerosis, migraine, epilepsy), chronic kidney disease, and indigenous population genetics. His work bridges systems biology , predictive modeling , and personalised medicine . 7000+ citations (H=45) $13M+ in competitive grants (NHMRC, ARC, NIH) 17 PhD, 25 Masters/Honours students supervised Journal editorial roles (Bioinformatics, Gene) Conference leadership (GeneMappers, ANZGene)
Dr. Stuart Bell is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mech., Medical & Process Engineering at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) . His research focuses on high-temperature corrosion mechanisms in thermal energy storage systems for concentrated solar power (CSP), particularly examining material degradation in molten salts and stress-assisted corrosion. Stuart teaches core Mechanical Engineering subjects such as EGB314 - Strength of Materials and EGH414 - Stress Analysis . His research with the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute explores material compatibility and thermal cycling effects in CSP systems. Key Research Areas: Corrosion science in molten salts Thermal energy storage systems Finite element modeling of material behavior Photocatalytic water splitting
Professor Everson Kandare is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at RMIT University, Australia. His research focuses on advanced composite materials, nanotechnology, and sustainable materials engineering, with emphasis on aerospace and fire safety applications. He leads projects in the Composite Materials Group and holds industry collaborations through the CRC for Advanced Composite Structures. Research Interests: Composite materials and nanocomposites (including graphene and metal alloys) High-temperature materials and thermal barrier coatings Biocomposites and mycelium-based fire-resistant materials Additive manufacturing for hybrid joints Recycled materials integration in composites Key Contributions: Over 80 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters Developed novel fungal biomaterials and 3D-printed micro-pin reinforcements Recipient of awards including the 2012 Victoria Fellowship and SAMME Award Recent Article Trends: Focus on sustainable materials (e.g., waste rubber and glass composites) Innovations in fire-resistant composites and thermal barrier coatings Interfacial engineering for metal-composite joints Biomedical applications of auxetic biomaterials Awards & Recognition: Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellowship (2012–2014) American Institute of Chemists’ Outstanding Researcher Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Fellowship Advising & Grants: Supervising PhD/Masters projects on composites, fire safety, and additive manufacturing Industry partnerships with CRC for Advanced Composite Structures
Dr. Lauren Saling is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences at RMIT University, Australia. Her research focuses on psychology, philosophy, and their intersections with technology, health, and societal challenges. Key areas include technology-facilitated violence, misinformation dynamics, mental health interventions, and moral emotions. She actively supervises PhD and Master's students on topics like vicarious trauma in healthcare providers and predictors of judgment updating in political contexts. Her work bridges theoretical philosophy (e.g., moral responsibility, consciousness) with applied research (e.g., vaccine communication, veteran reintegration). She has published widely in journals like Philosophical Psychology and Communications of the ACM , addressing issues such as AI cooperation against misinformation and the psychological impacts of social media. Dr. Saling collaborates across disciplines, emphasizing translational research to address real-world challenges. Her articles span forensic psychology, health communication, and cognitive science, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary solutions for societal problems.
Michael Brand is an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University's School of Computing Technologies. His research focuses on cryptography, privacy-preserving technologies, machine learning, and algorithm design. Key areas include zero-knowledge proofs, secure financial systems like FinTracer, and computational theory. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in data security and real-time processing systems. Research interests span advanced cryptographic protocols, privacy-enhancing machine learning techniques, and distributed computing paradigms. Notable contributions include innovations in blockchain tracing mechanisms and foundational work in statistical estimation theory. He actively publishes in top-tier venues, addressing challenges in secure computation, network analysis, and database systems. Collaborations emphasize interdisciplinary solutions to modern computational and security challenges.
Edward Hurcombe is a Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow in the School of Media & Communication at RMIT University, Australia. His academic work focuses on the evolving relationship between journalism, digital platforms, and social media ecosystems. Based at RMIT's City Campus, he actively contributes to research and teaching in media and communication studies while supervising Masters and PhD students. Dr. Hurcombe's research centers on how news and journalistic practice are transforming in relation to the technologies, economies, and user cultures of social media platforms. He investigates both the challenges and possibilities emerging from these transformations, including tackling malicious actors on platforms and identifying new forms of socially-positive digital journalism. His current ARC DECRA project (DE250100115) specifically examines how journalist influencers ("newsfluencers") are reshaping news to reach and build trust with young adult audiences. His scholarly output reveals a strong focus on social news, disinformation dynamics, platform regulation, and the institutional impacts of algorithmic distribution on news media. His research often employs computational methods to analyze large-scale social media data, particularly focusing on Facebook and Twitter. Dr. Hurcombe's work demonstrates how digital platforms are not merely threats to journalism but are also driving innovative forms of news production that challenge traditional journalistic boundaries and norms. ARC DECRA Fellowship supporting research on journalist influencers Extensive publications in leading journals including Digital Journalism and New Media & Society Highly cited research on conspiracy theory dissemination during the COVID-19 pandemic Policy-relevant work on platform regulation and news media bargaining As an active supervisor, Dr. Hurcombe welcomes Masters Research and PhD students, with current projects including "AI in Saudi newsrooms: navigating new technology in journalism practice." His collaborative work with scholars like Axel Bruns and David Angus has significantly advanced understanding of social media's role in contemporary journalism and information ecosystems.
Dr. Jeff Hughes is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Science at RMIT University, specializing in analytical chemistry, environmental science, and food science. He holds a Ph.D. and is a recognized expert in chemometrics, experimental design, and spectroscopic techniques. His research focuses on applications of chemometrics in analytical chemistry, soil chemistry, and nutrients/metal interactions in aquatic environments. He also serves as Program Leader for Chemistry programs at RMIT. Teaching Roles: Physical Chemistry (2nd/3rd-year programs) Environmental Chemistry (3rd-year and Honours) Chemometrics/Data Processing (Honours/postgraduate) Applied Chemistry Honours Coordinator Research Interests: Applications of Chemometrics to Analytical Chemistry Soil Chemistry and Environmental Monitoring Food Science and Nutrient Interactions Experimental Design in Food Technology Supervision Projects: Encapsulation of Apo-lactoferrin for Nutraceutical Development Carbon Dynamics in Biosolids Bioacoustic Monitoring of Frogs Affiliations: RMIT University, City Campus, Australia ORCID: 0000-0003-1530-4405
Professor James Ogloff serves as the Executive Dean of Swinburne University of Technology's School of Health Sciences and holds a senior advisory role in forensic mental health at Forensicare , Victoria. He is a Fellow of multiple psychological societies and has led groundbreaking research in forensic psychology for over 40 years. Specializes in violence risk assessment, child sexual abuse consequences, and correctional mental health Actively supervises 18+ PhD projects on topics like online child exploitation, recidivism prediction, and forensic telehealth His work spans 350+ peer-reviewed articles and 18 books , with recent focus on: Algorithmic fairness in risk assessment tools Mental health outcomes for prison populations Developing forensic evaluation standards for youth Comparative studies of offender rehabilitation Notable awards include: Member of the Order of Australia (2015) Multiple national research excellence awards Presidential roles in major psychology-law societies Current research initiatives involve $5M+ in active grants from organizations like the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council , addressing violence prevention, bail risk assessment, and therapeutic treatment models.
Dr. Tharindu Fernando Warnakulasuriya is a Research Fellow at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), affiliated with the School of Electrical Engineering & Robotics. He holds a PhD from QUT and a BSc (Special Degree in Computer Science) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. His primary research focuses on Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Neural Memory Networks, Computer Vision, and Biomedical Signal Processing. He has received several awards, including the QUT Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award (2019), QUT Early Career Researcher Award (2022), and EER Rising Star Award (2023). His work bridges interdisciplinary fields such as healthcare, neuroscience, and autonomous systems, with notable contributions to medical anomaly detection, autonomous vehicle behavior prediction, and surveillance systems. Teaching roles include coordinating EGH404 and lecturing in EGB103. He supervises PhD students in areas like deep learning for biosignal analysis and multimodal perception. His research outputs span over 50 publications in top-tier journals like IEEE Transactions and ACM Computing Surveys. Key collaborations include projects on neural memory plasticity, autonomous steering, and stress detection using wearable devices. He actively reviews for journals like IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, and is part of professional networks like IEEE.
Dr. Luc Serge Doucet serves as a Senior Research Fellow at Curtin University's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He joined the Earth Dynamics Research Group in March 2018 under Prof. Zheng-Xiang Li, focusing on Earth's mantle dynamics, supercontinent cycles, and deep carbon processes. His work integrates field observations with advanced laboratory techniques to reconstruct planetary evolution. Dr. Doucet earned his PhD from Université Jean Monnet, St Etienne, France (2012), followed by a Belgium Fund for Scientific Research fellowship. After a two-year career break as a stay-at-home dad, he relocated to Australia. His educational journey reflects a strong foundation in geochemical methodologies applied to mantle and crustal studies. His research specializes in stable isotope systematics of mafic and ultramafic rocks, utilizing clean lab protocols, geochemical instrumentation, and data mining to investigate lithospheric formation. Current projects under his 2023 ARC Future Fellowship examine how the global carbon cycle influences carbonatite formation and critical mineral deposits. He frequently employs machine learning approaches to analyze tectonic settings and mantle heterogeneity patterns. Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on mantle isotopic anomalies, supercontinent-superocean evolution, and deep carbon cycling. His work bridges geochemistry with geodynamics, revealing connections between plate tectonic supercycles and large-scale mantle heterogeneity through innovative analytical frameworks. Key recognitions include: Université Jean Monnet Prize of Excellence in PhD Thesis (2012) Faculty of Sciences and Engineering Team of the Year award for Earth Dynamics Research Group (2020) ARC Future Fellowship for deep carbon cycle research (2023) Dr. Doucet leads significant grant-funded research, particularly his ARC Future Fellowship project linking carbon cycles to critical mineral deposits. He actively collaborates within the Earth Dynamics Research Group and contributes to academic mentoring. His teaching portfolio includes Mineralogy & Geochemistry and Indigenous Science integration courses. As a core member of the Earth Dynamics Research Group (http://geodynamics.curtin.edu.au/), he participates in international collaborations analyzing planetary evolution through mantle processes. The group's work combines field geology, laboratory analysis, and computational modeling to address fundamental questions about Earth's geodynamic history and resource formation.
Roberto Dillon is an Associate Professor and Academic Head of Science and IT at James Cook University (Singapore). He holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from the University of Genoa and a postgraduate certificate in Cybersecurity from Rochester Institute of Technology. His roles include lecturing on game design, project management, and cybersecurity, while leading the development of new programs like the Bachelor of Cybersecurity. Education: PhD in Computer Engineering (University of Genoa, 2004), Postgraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity (Rochester Institute of Technology). Research interests span game analysis frameworks (e.g., 6-11 Framework), serious games for training/health, VR applications, cybersecurity, and video game history. He founded Singapore’s first Museum of Video and Computer Games in 2013 and has authored influential books like On the Way to Fun and The Digital Gaming Handbook . Publications include works on cybersecurity workforce trends, behavioral analytics, VR stress training, and game design methodologies. He has led projects funded up to US$1 million and collaborates with IEEE and (ISC)². Teaching includes modules like Independent Project Lecturer (CP3103). He advises PhD students in multimedia technology and cybersecurity, and actively contributes to conferences globally.
Professor Tanveer Zia at Charles Sturt University is a leading researcher in cybersecurity, focusing on wireless sensor networks, IoT security, and privacy-preserving data sharing. He leads the Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing in Hyperconnected World research theme and serves as CSU lead in the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). PhD in Information Technology from the University of Sydney Active in cybersecurity research for over 15 years Extensive publications on wireless sensor network security, biometric security, and cloud security His work spans human-centric cybersecurity , machine self-control , and biomedical signal processing . Recent projects include developing frameworks for local differential privacy and security awareness programs for regional NSW youth. Key article themes include: advanced privacy mechanisms, IoT vulnerabilities, and deep learning applications in biometric systems. Notably, he explores user-driven privacy and cyber diversity metrics for resilient systems. Scientific Awards Emerging Researcher Award (2010) Research Excellence Awards (2010, 2011) Leadership Excellence Award (2013) Academic Excellence Award (2014) Prof Zia supervises doctoral students in digital forensics and contributes to cybersecurity education. His media engagements include appearances on identity theft, computer scams, and youth cybersecurity initiatives.
Leonie Simpson is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Faculty of Science. Her research and teaching are centered on cryptography and information security, with a strong focus on symmetric encryption, key management, and secure communications. Her research interests include: Symmetric encryption algorithms for real-time communications Authenticated encryption and security-efficiency trade-offs Boolean functions in cipher design for cyber attack resistance Information security management and threat information sharing IoT and vehicular communication security Leonie has published over 80 articles and three book chapters on symmetric ciphers. Her recent publications emphasize lightweight cryptography for connected vehicles, anomaly detection in key management via metadata, and secure frameworks for post-quantum migration. These works reflect a consistent trend toward practical, efficient, and resilient cryptographic solutions for emerging technologies. She has supervised 12 PhD and 1 Master’s student to completion and currently mentors 5 research students. Her grants include leadership in the Cyber Security CRC and an ARC project on secure stream ciphers. She also serves on the editorial board of the journal Cryptography and has chaired major conferences like ACISP 2013 and 2023. Notable professional roles include: Theme Leader, Resilient Systems, Cyber Security CRC Editorial Board Member, Cryptography journal Program Co-chair, ACISP 2013 and 2023 Referee for top journals and conferences in cryptography She has led industry security analyses and served as an expert witness in a Federal Court case on cryptographic telecommunications. Her teaching includes unit coordination for Cyber Security and previous development of multiple information security and cryptography units at QUT.
Dr. Wei Ni is a Professor at the School of Computer Science and Engineering, UNSW. He holds roles as an editor for multiple IEEE journals and publications, including IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials (since 2024) and IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security (since 2024). His research focuses on adversarial machine learning, cybersecurity, AI, and signal processing. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and actively seeks PhD candidates in applied AI/ML, adversarial machine learning, and graph learning. Dr. Ni's qualifications include a Fellowship from IEEE. He has an extensive publication record with 411 journal articles, 145 conference papers, and 3 books. His work spans theoretical and applied domains, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. He supervises research in areas such as information security and privacy, leveraging his expertise in cybersecurity and signal processing. His contributions to cyber-physical systems and vehicular technology are reflected in his editorial roles and research output.
Rebecca Jane LeBard is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Education, Innovation, and Student Experience) in the Faculty of Science at UNSW. She holds a dual role as Director of First Year in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences. Her academic career spans molecular microbiology and STEM education, with a focus on quantitative skill development in biology students. She earned a BSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of Sydney, followed by a MEd (Higher Education) from UNSW. Her research in molecular microbiology investigated plasmid DNA inheritance mechanisms in Staphylococcus aureus and archaea, alongside environmental microbiology projects like microbial source tracking in water pollution and secondary metabolite production. In education, she pioneered models for quantitative skills integration in science curricula and developed frameworks for evaluating teaching impact. Notable awards include the 2015 UNSW Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award and a 2016 Australian University Teaching Citation. LeBard has secured over $140k in grants, including a $123k initiative to build teaching evaluation resources through a community-of-practice model. She supervises honours and PhD students in both microbiology and education-focused projects. Her leadership roles include Vice-President (Communication) of the Australian Society for Microbiology and contributions to national education committees like the Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education. Teaching responsibilities include courses in biochemistry (BIOC2101/2181) and medical programs, alongside foundational biomolecular sciences units (BABS1201/1202). She advocates for numeracy in STEM through initiatives like Evaluating Teaching Practice and YouTube resources for educators and students.
