Researcher, writer & speaker.
Building safe and trusted human-machine relationships for a responsible future.
I’m an aerospace engineer and senior lecturer. I work across projects that explore safe and trusted autonomy and autonomous technology, human-machine teaming and regulation and assurance of emerging technology capabilities, including AI.
I studied a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and completed a PhD exploring decision making under uncertainty to support strategic air traffic flow management. Following my studies, I spent some time working in various organisations. I worked as a liaison officer, bridging the communication between civil and military airspace. I worked on Australia’s first satellite-based augmentation systems project. I also worked as a research specialist with Australia’s aviation regulatory body. I now work as a senior lecturer with the School of Engineering at the Australian National University. I am also a fellow with the Australian Army Research Centre (AARC) and formerly a fellow with Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS).
In 2022 I founded the National Community of Practice for UAS and AAM Research, which brings together Commonwealth, industry and academia to contribute to national policy priorities by leading development of a coordinated research agenda for UAS and AAM.
In addition to my research activities, I also teach within the Aerospace cluster at the Australian National University. I enjoy being able to develop innovative and creative educational content and experimenting with different approaches to education. Part of this journey has involved the development and delivery of a short course on trusted autonomous systems. I run this short course throughout the year, both in person and online.
I also co-host the Algorithmic Futures Podcast alongside Dr Liz Williams.
Contact me if you’d like to discuss my teaching or research.
Research
I spend a majority of my time conducting research around safety and assurance of robotics, autonomous systems and AI (RAS-AI). I have a background in safety management of emerging technologies, in particular, aviation technologies. The main focus of my research is translating theory to practice. My work leverages foundational research to develop mechanisms and tools for ensuring the safe and trustworthy design, development and operation of RAS-AI capabilities.
I’m currently a fellow with the Australian Army Research Centre, researching autonomy in swarms and human-machine teams (HMTs) across integrated platforms and systems, such as combined arms teams. This research investigates how these operations can be scaled and implemented safely and effectively.
I was also formerly a fellow with Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS) researching human-machine teaming (HMT). HMT reflects a more intricate relationship between human and machine; a product of the advanced capabilities of machines that enable humans to interact with them in a more intimate way. This shift in how we interact with technology introduces safety considerations that redefine the risk landscape for RAS-AI capabilities. There are a few publications that I’ve produced around this project that you can find on my Google Scholar profile.
Within the Aerospace cluster in the School of Engineering at the Australian National University, we’ve been working on a number of projects around uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM). I published a journal article around this work which you can read here. I also presented some of the work I have done around certification of autonomous aviation systems in a recent International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) webinar, which you can watch via ICAO TV. In 2022 I founded the National Community of Practice for UAS and AAM Research. This group brings together Commonwealth, industry and academia to contribute to national policy priorities by leading development of a coordinated research agenda for UAS and AAM.
The common theme that underpins my research is safety. As emerging technologies continue to advance; how we interact with these technologies and how we operate alongside and in collaboration with them will continue to become more complex. My work looks at unravelling that complexity and building tools that facilitate the safe and trusted operation of RAS-AI capabilities.
If you are interested in my research please reach out via the contact page on this website. I also write about my research topics on my blog.