John Thangarajah is a Professor in AI and Director of Research at the Center for Industrial AI Research & Innovation (CIAIRI) at RMIT University, Melbourne. He leads research directions, academic partnerships, and industry collaborations, focusing on applied research with over $4M in government/industry funding. His expertise spans Autonomous Systems, Knowledge-Based Reasoning, and Agent-Based Modelling. He holds awards including the 2020 Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Award for fostering collaboration in Computer Science and the 2017 AAMAS Best Paper Blue Sky Track. Education: Extensive background in CS/IT education, transformed first-year Computer Science curricula to hands-on experiential learning. Research: Specializes in AI-driven smart systems, human-machine teams, and multi-agent systems. Member of IFAAMAS board. Publications: Over 147 peer-reviewed works in AI, including advancements in explainable agents, reinforcement learning, and medical imaging applications. Awards: Recognized for innovation in AI (Telstra 2011), demonstration excellence (2005), and leadership in academia. Grants: Secured significant funding from DST Group and industry partners, emphasizing practical impact. His lab focuses on AI applications in security, resilience, and industrial innovation through CIAIRI and the Security & Resilience Hub.












