I would like to thank the School of Computer Science for having me as Chair of their Industry Advisory Board and to the Faculty of Engineering for having me as a member of their Industry Advisory Board.
As I’m moving back to academia in the Australian National University I will be stepping down from these two roles as I depart my role in CSIRO.
The following is a copy of a press release from ANU.
The Australian National University (ANU) is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Aaron Quigley as the new Dean of the ANU College of Systems and Society.
Professor Quigley is an internationally respected academic leader whose career spans more than two decades across Australia, Europe, Asia and North America. He has led major initiatives in research, strategic innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration across both academia and industry.
His research interests include human-computer interaction, pervasive and ubiquitous computing, and information visualisation. He brings a visionary perspective to the intersection of technology, society and systems, and the role universities play in shaping future capabilities.
Interim Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Rebekah Brown, welcomed the appointment and said Professor Quigley would be an exceptional leader.
“Professor Quigley will lead the College in its mission to explore and influence the systems that underpin our digital, social and ecological futures,” Professor Brown said.
“He is ideally placed to foster industry and government collaboration and — most importantly — to nurture the next generation of innovative students, researchers and professionals equipped to tackle the complexities of our world.
“His appointment marks a significant chapter in the University’s commitment to interdisciplinary excellence and societal relevance. I look forward to Professor Quigley leading our dynamic community of students, teachers and researchers who are finding solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.”
Professor Brown also acknowledged the extraordinary leadership of Professor Stephen Eggins.
“I want to thank Professor Eggins for his dedication and leadership of the College. During his time as Interim Dean, he has led with distinction. His commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration and respect has greatly shaped the College and the University throughout his three-year term.”
Professor Quigley said he was honoured to be taking up the role.
“It’s a real privilege to lead a new college with such strong foundations focused on global problems,” he said.
“I was drawn to this College as it has brought together a dynamic blend of disciplines in research and education. I look forward to working with my colleagues, our students, alumni and partners as we pursue ambitious goals nationally and internationally.”
Professor Quigley joins ANU from CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency, where he most recently served as Science and Deputy Director of CSIRO’s Data61.
He holds several other roles and affiliations, including Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at UNSW; Chair of the Industry Advisory Board for the School of Computer Science; Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM); member of the Faculty of Engineering Industry Advisory Board at the University of Sydney; and member of the Yirigaa Board of Advisors.
Previously, Professor Quigley was Head of the School of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at UNSW; Chair of Human-Computer Interaction in the School of Computer Science at the University of St Andrews; Director of the Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA); and a board member for ScotlandIS and DataLab.
Professor Quigley will commence as Dean in January 2026.
I was glad to join NVIDIA, XENON and VAST before the NVIDIA AI Day at a private breakfast at Vogue cafe to discuss the research underway at Data61 at CSIRO.
This private breakfast event brings together senior leaders and top researchers from key Universities and Research Institutions across Australia. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the ideas shaping AI today, while building the relationships that will drive tomorrow’s transformation in Australia.
Agenda
* 7:30 AM – 7:45 AM: Gather and Settle; coffee & tea
* 7:45 AM – 7:50 AM: Kickoff
* 7:50 AM – 8:50 AM: Breakfast and Panel
* 8:50 AM – 9:00 AM: Back to ICC for the keynote (conference badges can be collected at Vogue Cafe)
I’m told that “if you’re heading to SXSW Sydney, one of the standout opportunities you don’t want to miss are the Mentor Sessions which give you a chance to connect one-on-one with seasoned professionals in your field, get tailored advice, ask the exact question nagging you, and walk away with fresh momentum.”
Sign-up here: https://www.sxswsydney.com/news/sxsw-sydney-mentor-sessions-fifteen-minutes-that-could-transform-your-future?lid=n3xm7zyi7vl3
These aren’t your usual meet-and-greet networking slots. Instead, they’re focused, high-value, bite-sized coaching sessions, each lasting 15 minutes, designed to make every second count.
I mentored in 2024 and I wasn’t sure the format would work but it really did! Those people who did the best followed these 5 simple steps.
As part of my role as chair of the School of Computer Science Industry Advisory Board I attended an alumni dinner at the University of Sydney this week. The board works with research laboratories and industry partners including Microsoft, IBM and CISCO. It also connects with hospitals through the school’s biomedical and health informatics research programs.
