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 .
Professor Jiyuan Tu is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering at RMIT University's School of Engineering. He specializes in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multiphase flows, and their applications in renewable/nuclear energy, biomedical engineering, and built environment systems. His research has led to over 500 peer-reviewed articles, 9 books, and $10M+ in ARC grants. He has supervised over 50 postgraduate students and received prestigious awards such as the RMIT Research Excellence Award (2012) and Fulbright Senior Scholar Award (2008). Research interests include CFD modelling of bioaerosol transport, drug delivery systems, and thermal energy storage. He pioneered numerical models for multiphase flows, contributing to software implementations in industries. Notable works include books on CFD and multiphase flow analysis, and leadership in international conferences like COBEE 2018. He holds honorary professorships at Tsinghua University and is Editor-in-Chief of the Experimental and Computational of Multiphase Flow journal. Industry experience includes roles at ANSTO (1996-2001). Awards span fellowships from JSPS, KOSEF, and Fulbright programs. Grants include ARC Discovery, Linkage, and LIEF projects. His work ranks him among the world’s top researchers in pebble bed reactors and airborne infection studies (SciVal 2016-2025).
Roles and Affiliations: Professor David Levinson is a Professor of Transport in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney since 2017. He holds adjunct faculty status at the University of Minnesota's Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering (since 1999–2016). He previously directed the Accessibility Observatory and the Networks, Economics, and Urban Systems (NEXUS) research group. He is a member of The Net Zero Institute and leads the TransportLab research group. Education: PhD 1998 in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. Research Interests: Focuses on transportation networks, urban systems, accessibility analysis, and policy. Key themes include spatial equity, transport economics, and the co-evolution of land use and transport infrastructure. His work emphasizes data-driven approaches to urban mobility challenges, including modeling transport networks and evaluating infrastructure impacts on accessibility and equity. Grants and Projects: Recent grants include Design of micro-decisions in automated transport (2022, ARC) and Reducing pedestrian crashes through better intersection design (2021, Australian Road Safety Innovation). Collaborates internationally on projects like the Accessibility Observatory. Labs and Teams: Leads the TransportLab and collaborates with the NEXUS group. Active in interdisciplinary research, including urban analytics and transport policy.
Dr. Xinan Zhang is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering at The University of Western Australia (UWA), specializing in Electrical, Electronic, and Computer Engineering. He holds a BEng from Fudan University (2008) and a PhD from Nanyang Technological University (2014). Before joining UWA in 2019, he held roles as a Lecturer and Research Fellow in Singapore and Australia. His research focuses on power electronics, electrical machine drives, and renewable energy, with over 60 top-tier publications. He is the Portfolio Lead for Industry Engagement in UWA's School of Engineering and co-leads the Power and Clean Energy (PACE) research group. Education: BEng in Electrical Engineering, Fudan University (2004–2008) PhD in Electrical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (2010–2014) Research Interests: Dr. Zhang’s work spans power electronics, renewable energy systems, energy storage, and smart grid technologies. He emphasizes practical applications, such as battery management systems for vanadium redox flow batteries and adaptive control strategies for microgrids. His contributions address challenges in energy efficiency, grid stability, and sustainable power solutions. Articles & Trends: Recent publications focus on advanced control algorithms for inverters, battery modeling, and renewable energy integration. His work combines data-driven methods with traditional control theory to enhance system efficiency and reliability. Notable areas include DC microgrid control, vanadium redox flow battery optimization, and model predictive control for power electronics. Awards: Listed in Stanford University’s Top 2% Scientists (2020–2022) Grants & Collaborations: He leads or co-leads projects funded by the Australian government and industry partners, including the GenX Betavoltaic Battery Pilot Manufacturing Process and Mine Electrification . These projects aim to advance clean energy technologies and industrial applications. Labs & Teams: As co-lead of the PACE group, he fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle global energy challenges, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals for affordable and clean energy (SDG 7).
Dr. Ly Fie Sugianto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting at Monash Business School, Monash University. Her research focuses on the integration of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in accounting and business systems, with applications in the energy sector and organizational behavior. Monash Business School, Monash University Department of Accounting Specialization: Accounting Information Systems, Data Analytics, AI Her research interests span Accounting Information Systems , Agent-Based Simulation , Decision Support Systems , and Technology Adoption . She applies computational methods to study competitive dynamics in deregulated electricity markets and the impact of digital tools on employee well-being and organizational resilience. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in using AI and simulation to analyze complex socio-technical systems, particularly in energy markets and leadership dynamics. Keywords across her work include agent-based modeling , data analytics , servant leadership , and enterprise social media , indicating interdisciplinary research at the intersection of information systems, management, and public policy. Her scientific awards include competitive grants from the ARC (SPIRT/Linkage) , the Australia Indonesia Governance Research Partnership (AIGRP) , and the Sumitomo Foundation . ARC Grant: Dispatch Optimisation in the Australian National Electricity Market Sumitomo Foundation: Technology Use and Employee Well-Being AIGRP: Governance and MSME Resilience during Pandemic Dr. Sugianto has advised research projects and collaborated with industry partners such as Western Power , Ecogen Energy , and AEMO . She is currently accepting PhD students and leads externally funded research initiatives. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to industry innovation and responsible consumption. She is affiliated with research teams focusing on intelligent decision support systems and digital transformation in business , with active collaborations in Australia and Indonesia.
Dr Nima Izadyar serves as a Senior Lecturer and Course Chair of the Bachelor of Building Surveying (NBBS) at Victoria University's School of Built Environment and Engineering within the College of Sport, Health and Engineering. He leads curriculum innovation, applied research, and student-industry engagement in building regulation and performance. His educational background includes a PhD from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia (2020), with academic and research experience spanning Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Dr Izadyar's research focuses on developing practical, data-driven solutions for sustainable built environments. His work connects engineering principles with building science to improve indoor environmental quality, enhance ventilation performance, and integrate renewable energy systems. He has secured competitive funding for projects targeting sustainable housing design, digital transformation in construction, and energy efficiency through nature-based and AI-enabled solutions. His research output appears in high-impact journals in building, energy, and sustainability fields. His scholarly contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards including the Signato Medal and the AIRAH Higher Education and Research Award. Signato Medal AIRAH Higher Education and Research Award As an academic supervisor, Dr Izadyar mentors HDR students on critical topics including greening private outdoor spaces for improved indoor environmental quality, regulatory frameworks in Class 2 buildings, ventilation system optimization, occupant-centric window design, and BIM integration in construction education. His supervision approach emphasizes applied systems thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and alignment with national sustainability goals. He has secured competitive funding for projects targeting sustainable housing design, digital transformation in construction, and energy efficiency solutions. Dr Izadyar actively contributes to industry engagement through international collaborations that generate tangible outcomes in the built environment, serving as a reviewer, editor, and guest editor for scholarly publications while maintaining strong connections with industry partners to bridge research and practice.
Lee Yong Lim is a Professor of Pharmaceutics at The University of Western Australia (UWA), leading the Laboratory for Drug Delivery. She specializes in innovative drug delivery systems, particularly for pediatric populations and marine aquaculture. Her work focuses on overcoming medication challenges for children through taste-masked formulations and stable drug-loaded scaffolds for ear diseases. She has secured over $4.5 million in research grants from diverse funding bodies. Education: BSc (Pharmacy) Hons, National University of Singapore PhD, University of Manchester Research: Her team developed a patented chocolate-based formulation for bitter drugs and conducts pediatric trials. Collaborations include WA hospitals for safe compounded medicines and international projects in nanotechnology. Key research areas include pediatric medicinal products, veterinary drug delivery, and sustainable drug formulations aligned with UN SDGs. Grants & Funding: Major supporters include NHMRC, ARC, Telethon, and industry partnerships. Current active grants focus on pre-procedural chewables for children and perioperative analytics. Labs/Teams: Heads the Laboratory for Drug Delivery and collaborates with the Centre for Optimisation of Medicines and Institute for Paediatric Perioperative Excellence.
Associate Professor Oliver Diessel is a faculty member at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) within the School of Computer Science and Engineering. He has been actively teaching and conducting research at UNSW since at least 2000, with teaching experience spanning various computer architecture and digital systems courses. Dr. Diessel completed his education at the University of Newcastle, Australia, earning a B.E. (Computer, Hons) and B.Math. in 1991, followed by a PhD in 1998. His academic career has focused on reconfigurable computing systems and computer architecture. His primary research interests center around the design, test, and implementation of digital systems in reconfigurable logic devices called Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Specifically, he focuses on dynamically reconfigurable digital systems where circuits can be modified while the system is operational. His work aims to develop architectures, design methods, and tools that enhance the benefits and reduce the costs of reconfigurable systems. Current research projects include fault-tolerant FPGA-based systems for space applications and fine-grained accelerators for heterogeneous devices. Dr. Diessel has published extensively with 2 books, 1 book chapter, 16 journal articles, 67 conference papers, 1 edited conference proceedings, and 7 conference presentations to his credit. His publications reflect a strong emphasis on reconfigurable technology, computer architecture, and electronic design automation. As a supervisor, Dr. Diessel currently mentors two MPhil students: Tong Wu working on Runtime reconfiguration and Junning Fan working on Fault-tolerance of FPGA-based applications. He has previously supervised six students to completion. His supervision interests include reconfigurable technology and systems, electronic design automation, and computer architecture. Dr. Diessel is an active member of the professional community, serving on the Editorial Board of ACM Transactions on Reconfigurable Technology and Systems and as an IEEE Member. He has taught numerous courses including Configurable Systems (COMP4601), Computer Architecture (COMP3211, COMP4211), Digital Systems (COMP3222), and FPGA Implementation of Digital Systems using Verilog.
Professor Hala Zreiqat AM is a leading biomedical engineer at The University of Sydney , serving as the Director of the ARC Training Centre for Innovative BioEngineering . A Fellow of all major Australian academies (AAS, ATSE, FAHMS, FRSN), she develops 3D printed bioceramics for bone regeneration while championing diversity through initiatives like the IDEAL Society and BIOTech Futures mentorship program. Her work bridges academia, clinical practice, and industry in musculoskeletal research . Research Focus: Her lab creates synthetic bone scaffolds that mimic natural bone architecture, strength, and porosity, enabling non-rejected bone regeneration via patient-matched implants. Key applications include orthopaedic, dental, and maxillofacial repair , with over $18M in competitive funding and multiple patents. Current projects explore AI-driven scaffold performance prediction and anti-senescence strategies for aging-related bone loss. Scientific Trends: Recent publications highlight 3D printed nanovoxelated ceramics , antisenescence biomaterials , and multifunctional theranostic platforms . Her team integrates machine learning for scaffold design, atom probe tomography for interface analysis, and two-photon imaging for cellular monitoring in 3D environments. 2021-2022 Fulbright Senior Scholar 2018 NSW Premier's Woman of the Year 2019 Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology Fellow of Australian Academy of Science (2021) Over $18M in research funding Teaching & Leadership: She designed core courses like Tissue Engineering and Nanomaterials in Medicine , mentoring 158 students in 2020 alone. As Chair of CAAR (2020-2023), she strengthens Australia-Arab collaborations. Her lab trains early-career researchers , with alumni now in academia and industry.
Associate Professor Bambang Trigunarsyah holds a position at RMIT University since 2018, affiliated with the School of Property, Construction and Project Management (PCPM). He earned his BSc in Civil Engineering from Colorado School of Mines, a Master's in Civil Engineering (Construction Management) from the University of Indonesia, and a PhD in Engineering Project Management from the University of Melbourne. His career spans industry roles, including project engineering in Indonesia's oil and gas sector, academic leadership at the University of Indonesia, and international teaching/research appointments at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. Research interests focus on post-disaster reconstruction, infrastructure project governance, constructability of infrastructure, and project management in developing countries. Notable projects include risk management frameworks using blockchain, circular economy in Saudi construction, and BIPV energy solutions. He actively supervises HDR students in areas like public-sector project success determinants and thermal environment studies. Bambang serves as Higher Degree Research Delegate Authority (HDR DA) for the School of PCPM and teaches postgraduate project management programs. Professional memberships include AIPM, PMI, and ASCE. His industry advisory roles include Indonesia's National Construction Service Development Board (2002-2007) and Australia-Indonesia Centre's Infrastructure Cluster (2016-2018). Recent research emphasizes BIM applications in infrastructure preservation, risk assessment methodologies, and climate-resilient construction. His work bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges in emerging economies and complex project environments.
Professor Grahame Holmes is an Honorary Professor in the School of Engineering at RMIT University, Australia. His expertise spans electrical energy conversion, smart energy systems, renewable energy integration, power electronics, and grid infrastructure. He focuses on advancing technologies for sustainable energy storage, grid stability, and high-efficiency power conversion. Research Interests : Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Communications Technologies, Power Electronics, Renewable Energy Systems, and Grid Integration Solutions. His work emphasizes practical applications such as hydrogen energy storage systems, grid-interactive inverters, and modular multilevel converters. Recent Contributions : Prof. Holmes has published extensively on topics like advanced PWM techniques, resonant current controllers, and DC transformer designs. His research bridges theoretical advancements with real-world implementations, addressing challenges in smart grid stability and high-frequency power conversion. Advising & Grants : Supervised projects include 'Hydrogen Energy Storage System for Nanogrid' (2015) and 'Synchronised Control of Grid-Interactive Inverters' (2015). While specific grant details are not listed, his work aligns with major themes in sustainable energy research. Labs & Collaborations : Engages in collaborative research through RMIT's facilities, focusing on hardware-software co-simulation frameworks and FPGA-based real-time systems.
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 Philip Birch is a distinguished academic in Criminology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Faculty of Design & Society, School of International Studies & Education. With over 15 years of academic experience across British, American, and Australian university systems, he has established himself as a leading expert in policing, community safety, and criminal justice. His extensive practical background in criminology, including roles as a Specialist Crime Team Manager, Community Safety Research Manager, and Through Care Worker in UK correctional facilities, informs his applied research approach. Professor Birch's educational background includes a BSocSci. (Hons) in Social Policy (Crime & Justice) from the University of Manchester, multiple postgraduate qualifications from the Open University (including an MSc. in Social & Criminological Research Methods), a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice from the University of Huddersfield, and a PhD in Criminology from the University of New South Wales. He also holds a Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy. His research centers on six key areas: Police & Policing; Community Safety & Crime Prevention; Prisons, Probation & Parole Policy & Practice; Assessment, Treatment & Management of Offenders; Gender & sexuality inclusive Domestic and Family Violence; and Sex Work, Sex Workers and Procurement. His work emphasizes the practical application of criminological research to real-world justice issues, with strong industry engagement across law enforcement and correctional services. Recent publications reveal a clear trend toward police mental health, aging in policing, hate crime identification, trauma-informed policing approaches, and digital community safety initiatives. His research employs diverse methodologies including qualitative case studies, Delphi methods, rapid evidence assessments, and comparative analyses across multiple jurisdictions. Teaching award (2019) from Australian College of Educators for outstanding contribution to education Literati Award (2019) for published work Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy Professor Birch has supervised numerous Honours, Masters by Coursework, Masters by Research and PhD students in Criminology, Criminal Justice and Policing, with several completions to date. He has secured over $1.3 million in research funding, including an ARC Linkage grant, and has acted as an external assessor for domestic and international funding bodies. His research projects address critical issues in criminology and policing, often with direct policy implications. He established the Crime & Security Science (CaSS) Research Group at UTS in 2022, a cross-faculty initiative connecting academia with industry to advance evidence-based criminology, criminal justice, policing, and community safety research. This group serves as a hub for collaborative projects addressing contemporary security challenges through translational research.
Kingsley Fong is an Associate Professor of Finance at the UNSW Business School , specifically within the School of Banking and Finance . He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and a BCom (Hons) from UNSW. His research focuses on market microstructure , investment , household finance , and sustainable finance , and he co-founded the RISE Finance Lab to explore finance's role in societal well-being. He also developed the DATKIS framework for systemic coherence in financial practices. Research Interests : Market microstructure, household finance, sustainable finance, and empirical finance. Teaching : Courses such as WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND CLIENT ENGAGEMENT , SUSTAINABLE INVESTING , and SUSTAINABLE FINANCE . Key Trends in Research : His work spans liquidity proxies, algorithmic trading impacts, broker-client dynamics, and sustainable finance innovations. Notable collaborations include studies on market quality, tax-driven trading, and household investment behavior. Scientific Awards : 2017 Review of Finance Spängler IQAM Prize 2021 Aspen Institute Ideas Worth Teaching Award 2022 S&P Global Decarbonisation Hackathon Engagement : Co-Founder of UNSW RISE Finance Lab (2025) Australian Sustainable Finance Institute Reference Group (2024) Deputy Head of School Banking and Finance (2011–2019) Contact : k.fong@unsw.edu.au | Location : UNSW Business School, Ref E12, Level 3, Room 344B.
Professor Guoxiu Wang is a Distinguished Professor and Industry Laureate Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), leading the Centre for Clean Energy Technology. His expertise spans battery technologies, materials chemistry, and electrochemistry, with a focus on lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and other advanced energy storage systems. He holds prestigious fellowships, including from the Royal Society of Chemistry and the European Academy of Sciences. His research has been recognized through numerous awards, including being listed as a Highly Cited Researcher since 2018. Research Interests: Professor Wang’s work addresses challenges in energy storage through innovative materials design, including electrode materials for sodium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries, MXenes, and electrolyte development. His team explores strategies to enhance battery performance, such as heterostructure engineering and defect-rich catalysts. Publications & Impact: With over 750 refereed papers, including in Nature Energy , Advanced Materials , and Angewandte Chemie , his work has garnered >78,000 citations (H-index 153/165). Recent trends focus on sodium-ion battery materials, MXene-based capacitors, and sustainable energy solutions like osmotic energy harvesting. Awards & Leadership: Awards include Fellowships from the Royal Society of Chemistry (2017), International Society of Electrochemistry (2018), and European Academy of Sciences (2020). He serves as an Associate Editor for Energy Storage Materials and Electrochemical Energy Reviews , and leads international collaborations, including a Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Fellowship at the University of Manchester (2024–2026). Grants & Supervision: Secured significant external grants, with active supervision of PhD/Masters students in battery technologies. His labs prioritize sustainable energy solutions and advanced material synthesis. Labs & Teams: Directs the Centre for Clean Energy Technology, fostering interdisciplinary research to advance clean energy technologies, from novel battery designs to electrochemical catalysts for CO2 and nitrate conversion.
