Hello, and welcome!
I’m an Associate Professor in Data Science and Director of the Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science at Western Sydney University. My research centres on efficient learning systems and recurrent models, with applications ranging from robotics and sensor networks to health, smart infrastructure, and autonomous systems.
At WSU, I lead several cross-disciplinary initiatives, including our effort to develop robotics and smart devices for assisted living. I also serve as academic mentor and technical lead for our student RoboCup team, where we design, manufacture, and program competitive small-size league robots from scratch, using custom parts, CNC machining, and 3D printing.
In 2023, I led the machine learning contribution for SIMPaCT, a large-scale urban irrigation project funded by the NSW Government and developed in collaboration with Sydney Water, SOPA, and multiple research and industry partners. SIMPaCT deployed over 200 sensors across Bicentennial Park and developed a predictive decision-support system for heat mitigation and water conservation. The project received multiple awards and was a finalist in the World Smart City Awards in Barcelona.
In the past, I initiated the open-source simulator SimSpark, adopted by the RoboCup Federation and still in active use today as one of its official platforms.
Supervision and student projects
If you're interested in pursuing a PhD in machine learning or robotics, please get in touch to discuss a topic. Admission typically requires a first class Honours or a Master’s with research. If you're currently at Bachelor level, I recommend exploring the Master of Research as a next step.