Matthew Stephenson is a Lecturer at Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering, specializing in Artificial Intelligence applications for games. He leads the Data for Decisions initiative within the Factory of the Future Transdisciplinary Hub, focusing on AI-powered scenario generation for smart digital twins. Additionally, he is a member of IRL CROSSING, an international lab studying human-autonomous agent teaming dynamics. PhD in Computer Science (Australian National University, 2019) B.Sc.(Hons) in Computer Science (University of Canterbury, 2015) His research applies AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science to game domains, including intelligent agent development for physics-based environments, procedural content generation, and game analytics. He also investigates deceptive behaviors in multi-agent systems and leverages games as testbeds for real-world AI solutions. Recent publications focus on large language models for game benchmarking, physical reasoning challenges, and evolutionary game generation. Scientific awards include an honourable mention at Foundations of Digital Games (FDG'18). He supervises students in procedural generation, game AI, and physics-based task creation, with teaching roles in computational intelligence and neural networks courses.
Aldeida Aleti is a Professor in the Department of Software Systems & Cybersecurity at Monash University. Her research focuses on Automated Software Engineering, leveraging AI and optimization techniques for tasks like software design, testing, and repair. She has held roles including Chief Examiner for units like FIT4002 and FIT5136, and has contributed to teaching FIT3077 and FIT1008. Education: PhD in Software Engineering (Swinburne University of Technology, 2012), Master of Computer Engineering (Polytechnic University of Tirana, 2008), and Bachelor Honours in Computer Engineering (Yildiz Technical University, 2005). Research Interests: Automated software engineering, fitness landscape analysis, optimization, and search-based techniques. She leads projects like RAISE (Responsible AI Software Engineering) and collaborates on quantum computing and healthcare AI initiatives. Awards include the FIT Dean's Award (2016), Best Paper Awards (2015, 2011), and the Heidelberg Laureate Forum invitation (2014). She has been a grant assessor for the Australian Research Council since 2015. Advising: Accepting PhD students in AI-driven software engineering, optimization, and automated testing. Active in committees like the Faculty Research Committee and Early Career Researcher committee.
Dr. Andy Bown is a Lecturer in Languages and TESOL at the University of Tasmania's Faculty of Education. He holds a PhD from Macquarie University (2015) and has over 30 years of experience in language education across Thailand, France, the UAE, and Australia. His research focuses on educational technology, second language acquisition, and culturally diverse learning contexts. He currently coordinates courses like EPR215 and EMT609, and supervises PhD candidates exploring technology's role in language learning. Education: PhD, 'Using a virtual learning environment for the development of L2 academic reading' (Macquarie University, 2015) MEd, 'The usefulness of guided feedback in a web-based IELTS reading programme for Arab learners' (University of Manchester, 2004) BA (Hons) in French and Linguistics (University of York, 1992) Research Interests: Dr. Bown specializes in Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), mobile-assisted language learning, and second language reading strategies. His work emphasizes technology's role in linguistically diverse classrooms, particularly in developing countries. Recent projects include studies on social media for vocabulary development and culturally responsive pedagogy. Grants & Engagements: UTAS representative on the Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Tasmania Led the 'Early Language Learning' case study ($5,000 grant, 2017) Co-lead of the LinguaLab research group Labs/Teams: Co-leads the LinguaLab, a collaborative space exploring language education innovations.
Dr. Kit Yan Chan is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences (EECMS) at Curtin University. His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Optimization, with applications in wireless communications, signal processing, and power systems. He has held editorial roles in journals such as Neurocomputing, Sensors, and the International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing. His teaching spans courses like Transmission and Interface Design, Advanced Research in AI, and Mobile Cloud Computing. Dr. Chan's work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining computational intelligence with engineering challenges. He has contributed to over 100 publications in areas such as resource allocation in heterogeneous networks, deep learning for load forecasting, and underwater acoustic communication systems. His research bridges theoretical advancements and practical implementations, addressing real-world problems in telecommunications, energy systems, and smart technologies. His recent projects include optimizing energy efficiency in 5G networks, developing robust power control strategies, and advancing neural network architectures for real-time applications. Collaborations with industry and global institutions underscore his commitment to impactful research.
Associate Professor Wayne Wobcke is a faculty member in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he has been employed since 2002. His academic career includes previous positions at the University of Sydney until 1998, British Telecom Labs in the UK for three years, and the University of Melbourne for one year. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Essex (1989), an MSc from the University of Queensland (1985), and a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics/Computer Science from the University of Queensland (1984). Dr. Wobcke's research spans both theoretical and practical aspects of artificial intelligence and data science. His work encompasses intelligent agents, data mining, agent-based modeling, dialogue management, personal assistants, recommender systems, and computational social science. He has collaborated extensively with industry through three Cooperative Research Centres (Smart Internet Technology CRC, Smart Services CRC, and Data to Decisions CRC), where he served as a Programme Manager and Project Leader for over 10 years. Notable achievements include developing a voice-controlled mobile application for email and calendar interaction (a precursor to Apple's Siri) and deploying a people-to-people recommender system for online dating on one of Australia's largest dating sites. His recent research focuses on data science in humanitarian contexts and machine learning applications in official statistics, conducted in collaboration with BPS (Statistics Indonesia) and STIS (Politeknik Statistika, Indonesia). His publication record shows a consistent trajectory of impactful research, with recent work concentrating on poverty targeting, domain adaptation, natural language processing for recommender systems, and political opinion mining. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Nomination, 11th Workshop on Argument Mining (2024) UNSW Arc Postgraduate Research Supervisor Award (2017, 2018) AAAI Deployed AI Application Award, Twenty-Sixth Annual Conference on Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence (2014) Best application paper runner up, 17th Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (2013) Dr. Wobcke has successfully supervised numerous research students, with Irwan Rahadi currently working on 'Causal Modelling and Machine Learning for Official Statistics'. His grant portfolio includes significant funding from the Australian Research Council and various Cooperative Research Centres, totaling over $3.7 million since 2003. He teaches COMP9414 Artificial Intelligence and COMP9727 Recommender Systems at UNSW.
Katherine Doyle is an academic affiliated with Queensland University of Technology (QUT), specializing in early childhood education, science education, and mathematics pedagogy. She holds a PhD from QUT and has conducted extensive research on literacy development, digital media integration in education, and the role of teachers in mathematical and scientific learning. Her work emphasizes paradigm shifts in educational theory and practical classroom applications of technology. Research Interests: Her primary focus spans science and mathematics education, digital media literacies, early childhood pedagogy, and the intersection of technology with learning. She explores how language and task design influence student engagement and conceptual understanding in STEM fields. Publications: Dr. Doyle has contributed to peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, including studies on ICT integration, teacher education tasks, and the philosophical underpinnings of educational paradigms. Her 2011 PhD thesis examined science language and teaching practices in early childhood contexts. Labs/Teams: While specific lab affiliations are not mentioned, her collaborative work with institutions like QUT and international groups suggests involvement in interdisciplinary research networks focused on educational innovation.
Dr. Wim J.C. Verhagen is an Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department (Research & Innovation) in the School of Engineering at RMIT University, Melbourne. His research focuses on predictive maintenance, decision support systems, and aerospace engineering, with emphasis on data-driven models for aircraft systems. He holds industrial collaborations with global entities like Airbus, NASA, and KLM. Education: Former Assistant Professor at TU Delft (Netherlands), alumni of TU Delft. Academic roles include leadership in RMIT's Aerospace Engineering department since 2024. Research interests: Development of prognostics and health management (PHM) systems, maintenance decision support using NLP and mixed reality, and optimization of maintenance planning. Over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Industry projects: Principal investigator in EU-funded projects like Clean Sky 2 AIRMES (€5.6M H2020 ReMAP) and partnerships with Australian defense and aviation sectors (DSTG, CASG). Teaching: Coordinates courses in aircraft maintenance management, aviation quality systems, and analytical writing techniques. Supervises postgraduate and undergraduate research students.
Dr. Min Jung Jee is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Languages and Cultures , University of Queensland, specializing in Korean language education and applied linguistics. She earned her PhD in Applied Linguistics, focusing on Foreign Language Education, from the University of Texas at Austin and has over a decade of teaching experience in South Korea, the US, and Australia. Education: PhD in Applied Linguistics, University of Texas at Austin Current Role: Senior Lecturer and Korean Major Convenor at UQ Her research spans Language Pedagogy , with an emphasis on Learner Affect (motivation, anxiety, beliefs), Heritage Language Learners , and Technology-Assisted Language Learning . Recent work examines Korean immigrants' acculturation in Australia, focusing on language maintenance, ethnic identity, and communicative anxiety. Her 2025 conference papers explore bicultural identity and motivation in KFL learners, while 2024 publications address heritage language strategies, cultural adaptation, and historical figures in language teaching. Key scientific awards include being awarded Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in 2019. She supervises PhD students in topics like trilingual families, cultural values in textbooks, and mobile-assisted language learning, securing grants from institutions such as the Academy of Korean Studies. Her recent articles highlight trends in heritage language anxiety, intercultural projects, and the impact of technology on language acquisition and critical thinking.
Professor Naomi Sweller is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Macquarie University and an Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology. Her research focuses on cognitive development, specifically gesture use in learning and communication across childhood and adulthood. She leads projects like the ARC Linkage Accessible Assessment initiative and collaborates with education researchers. Key roles include Chair of the Low-Risk Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee and Co-Director of Research Training at Macquarie’s School of Psychological Sciences. Teaching responsibilities include the Honours unit PSYH4418 Design and Statistics IV. Supervision topics encompass gesture’s role in cognitive tasks, event reporting, and gesture’s impact on performance. Awards include the 2020 Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s Learning and Teaching Student-nominated Award. Recent research explores noise in early childhood classrooms, language learning environments, and the effects of gesture on memory. Projects address issues like internet gaming disorder, redshirting in school entry, and the impact of adverse childhood experiences on personality traits. Collaborations span developmental psychology, education, and health sciences.
Christine Rizkallah is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She joined the university in December 2021 after serving as a Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) from April 2018 to December 2021. Her research focuses on interactive theorem proving, formal verification, programming languages, and systems, with an emphasis on building practical tools for high-assurance software development. She leads a research group working on the Cogent and Dargent languages, aiming to reduce the burden of formal verification in systems programming. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Universität des Saarlandes and Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik, Germany (2015), thesis: Verification of Program Computations , supervised by Prof. Dr. Kurt Mehlhorn. MSc in Computer Science, Universität des Saarlandes, Germany (2009), thesis: Proof Representations for Higher Order Logic , supervised by Prof. Dr. Gert Smolka and Dr. Chad E. Brown. BSc in Computer Science, German University in Cairo, Egypt (2007), thesis: X2-Planner: A Hierarchical Task Network Planner for Real Time Gaming Applications , supervised by Prof. Dr. Slim Abdennadher and Dr. Thorsten Maier. Her research interests lie at the intersection of programming languages and formal methods. She develops domain-specific languages with strong type systems and verified compilers to enable trustworthy software systems. Her work spans algorithms, logic, security, and social choice theory, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary approach. She has published extensively in top venues such as POPL, ICFP, ASPLOS, JAR, and PACMPL, with a focus on certifying compilation, refinement verification, and mechanized reasoning. Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on formal verification of systems software, particularly through the Cogent language and its ecosystem. Key themes include verified data layout refinement (Dargent), property-based testing, termination analysis, cost modeling, and integration with foreign functions. Her work combines theoretical rigor with practical implementation, often involving mechanized proofs in Isabelle/HOL and Coq. Scientific Awards and Recognition: Distinguished Artefact Award at SLE'22 (awarded to Zilin Chen for work under her supervision). First Prize, SPLASH'22 Student Research Competition (undergraduate), won by Raphael Douglas Giles. Second Prize, ACM-wide Student Research Competition (undergraduate, 2023), won by Raphael Douglas Giles. She has supervised numerous PhD, Masters, and Honours students, many of whom have continued in academia or industry research roles. She has received research funding through institutional support and collaborative grants, though specific grants are not detailed in the provided text. She is actively involved in the programming languages community, serving on program committees for POPL, ICFP, CPP, PLDI, and others, and holding leadership roles such as Program Chair for FUNARCH'25 and Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chair for PLDI'25. She teaches core courses including Declarative Programming and Models of Computation at the University of Melbourne. She leads a vibrant research team and collaborates widely across institutions including UNSW, University of Pennsylvania, and international partners. Her lab focuses on building verified systems using functional programming and formal methods, with strong ties to the DeepSpec project and the Isabelle/HOL community.
Dr. Jing Zhang is a Lecturer in the School of Computing at the Australian National University (ANU) , within the ANU College of Systems & Society . Previously, he served as a Research Fellow at ANU (2021–2022) and earned his PhD in 2021 under the supervision of Nick Barnes. His academic journey includes a Master’s (2010) and Bachelor’s (2007) from Northwestern Polytechnical University . Education: PhD, Australian National University, 2021 (Supervisor: Nick Barnes) Master’s Degree, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 2010 Bachelor’s Degree, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 2007 Research Interests: Jing Zhang’s research focuses on computer vision and machine learning , with a particular emphasis on generative AI . His work addresses challenges in image, video, and audio generation/editing; explainable model adaptation; out-of-distribution detection; and adversarial attacks/defenses. He explores techniques to enhance model robustness and generalization across diverse domains. Awards & Recognition: CVPR 2020 Paper Award Nominee for “UC-Net: Uncertainty Inspired RGB-D Saliency Detection via Conditional Variational Autoencoders” Teaching & Supervision: Jing Zhang teaches COMP8536: Advanced Topics in Computer Vision (Semester 2, 2024) and ENGN4528/6528: Computer Vision (Semester 1, 2025). He currently supervises 4 PhD students as their primary advisor, focusing on cutting-edge research in computer vision and AI. Professional Contributions: Co-organizer of tutorials on salient object detection (ACCV 2019) and uncertainty estimation (ICCV 2021) Regular reviewer for top venues: CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, TPAMI, IJCV, and others Research Groups: While not explicitly stated, his work is likely affiliated with ANU’s computer vision research groups, focusing on generative AI and robust machine learning systems.
Gabriela Ferraro is a Research Fellow at the School of Cybernetics, Australian National University , specializing in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Computational Linguistics . Her work focuses on multidisciplinary applications for social good, including: Text simplification and language learning technology Mental health detection through language analysis Preservation of endangered languages E-health systems development In 2021, she was awarded the Woman in Science Career Award by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). She actively participates in academic leadership as a member of the Australasian Language Technology Association Committee . Her recent research spans: Transfer learning for hate speech detection Continual learning with noisy data Transformer-based semantic parsing Context-aware neural optimization Lexical taxonomy construction Scientific Awards : Woman in Science Career Award (CSIRO) Gabriela combines technical expertise with ethical priorities, leading projects that intersect NLP, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. She also emphasizes teaching and student supervision as integral parts of her academic practice.
Dr. Xiangmin Zhou is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University, located at City Campus Australia. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, data management, distributed computing, and multimedia systems. He actively supervises Masters and PhD students in areas such as fairness-aware task recommendation in spatial crowdsourcing and adaptive multi-participant analytics. His teaching interests include social media analysis, multimedia databases, query optimization, and cloud data management. Dr. Zhou’s research interests span information systems, AI-driven recommendation frameworks, privacy-preserving techniques, and distributed computing solutions. His work emphasizes context-aware systems, ethical AI, and scalable data processing. Recent publications highlight innovations in federated learning, privacy preservation, and social media-based disaster detection. He is open to supervising students interested in his core research areas and collaborative projects. Dr. Zhou’s academic contributions include developing novel algorithms for recommendation systems, social media analysis, and real-time event detection. His projects often bridge theory and practice, addressing challenges in spatial crowdsourcing, video novelty detection, and multi-platform coordination. His work aligns with RMIT’s focus on technology-driven solutions for societal challenges.
Satoshi Nambu is a tenured Lecturer in Japanese Studies at Monash University, affiliated with the School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics within the Faculty of Arts. He joined Monash in 2017 and currently serves as Chair of the School Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and coordinator of the Japanese Studies major. He is actively involved in research, teaching, and professional service. Monash University, Faculty of Arts (2017–present) National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL), Project Member (2022–present) Tohoku University, Language Change and Variation Unit, Member (2016–present) His research focuses on the dynamics of language variation, particularly how syntactic variation contributes to diachronic change and reflects speaker identity and ideology. He employs quantitative methods such as corpus analysis, surveys, and psycholinguistic experiments. Recent projects explore linguistic landscape in Japan and character language in fiction, linking them to real-world language ideologies through the concept of enregisterment. The most recent publications (2024–2025) show a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research combining sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and corpus methods. Key themes include multilingualism, language in urban spaces, neural processing of Japanese syntax, and language concerns among immigrant families. The work spans empirical studies, theoretical contributions, and policy-relevant analyses. His scientific awards include the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Fellowship (2015–2017) and the Japan Foundation Research Grant (2020). Research Fellowship for Young Scientists, JSPS (2015–2017) Japan Foundation Research Grant (2020) Satoshi Nambu advises PhD students and teaches courses such as Japanese sociolinguistics, research methods, and linguistic landscape. He serves on editorial boards and professional committees, including the Japanese Studies Association of Australia and the journal The Japanese Journal of Language in Society . He leads research projects on Japanese/Korean linguistics and language variation, securing external funding and fostering international collaboration. He is a member of research teams at NINJAL and Tohoku University, contributing to large-scale projects on corpus development and multilingualism. He also participates in academic networks such as the Global Council for Anthropological Linguistics and regularly serves as a peer reviewer for journals including International Journal of Multilingualism and English Today .
Ana Maria Ducasse is a Senior Lecturer at RMIT University's School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, specializing in Applied Linguistics. She coordinates the Spanish Program and teaches language studies across proficiency levels. Her research focuses on language assessment, feedback practices, and bilingual education.ducasse holds a Doctorate in Research, Society and Culture from the University of Melbourne (2009) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Monash University (1983). She is a Fellow of HERDSA and has received multiple teaching awards, including the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence. Ducasse is deeply involved in professional organizations like ALTAANZ and ILTA, and leads the Spanish Resource Centre in Melbourne. Her work emphasizes multilingual community engagement and pedagogical innovation in higher education. Education: Monash University (BA Hons), University of Melbourne (PhD) Research Interests: Classroom-based language assessment, feedback strategies, sociolinguistics Professional Memberships: HERDSA, ALTAANZ, ILTA, LCNAU Her research projects include studies on language assessment literacy, intercultural education, and emergency remote teaching practices. Ducasse has supervised numerous PhD and Master's students in language pedagogy and assessment design. She actively contributes to international collaborations through EU-funded Erasmus+ initiatives.
