Swinburne Research Institutes foundation directors appointed

The first phase of establishing Swinburne’s new Research Institutes is complete, with the appointment of five Institute Directors and launching of the institutes.

The new Research Institutes are a key part of Swinburne’s 2025 Strategy. They will drive and facilitate interdisciplinary research with impact, in collaboration with industry, business and the community.

“The five Swinburne research institutes led by our new directors will drive interdisciplinary research collaboration across the university focused on addressing major challenges in areas of national priority by working closely with our industry partners,” says Swinburne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Aleksandar Subic.

“They represent a significant new addition within our comprehensive research and innovation ecosystem.”

Professor Gavin Lambert is the Foundation Director of the Iverson Health Innovation Institute (IHII).  Professor Lambert was formerly Head of the Human Neurotransmitters Laboratory at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute. He is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and has more than 30 years’ experience as a neurochemist/clinical research scientist. His research focus includes psychological stress, hypertension and obesity. 

Professor Bronwyn Fox is the Foundation Director of the Manufacturing Futures Institute (MFI). Professor Fox joined Swinburne in 2015, initially taking on the role of Director of the Factory of the Future. Prior to that appointment, she was the Research Director of Carbon Nexus at Deakin University. She has significant international research experience in composites and advanced manufacturing, with particular interest in translating research into high impact industrial outcomes.

Professor Timos Sellis is the Foundation Director of the Data Science Institute (DSI). Up until 2012, Professor Sellis was Director of the Institute for Management of Information Systems and Professor at the National Technical University of Athens. More recently, he was Director of Big Data Lab at RMIT University. He has a significant international research reputation in big data, data analytics, data integration, and spatio-temporal database systems.

Professor Jane Farmer is the Foundation Director of the Social Innovation Institute (SII). Professor Farmer comes to Swinburne from LaTrobe, where she was an Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) and prior to that, Head of the Health Sciences School. She has a distinguished track record of research in rural health services, social innovation relating to the health workforce and technology, community participation, co-production and social enterprise. 

Professor Mark Burry is the Foundation Director of the Smart Cities Institute (SCI). Professor Burry joins Swinburne from the Melbourne School of Design at the University of Melbourne where he was Professor of Urban Futures. He has been the Executive Architect and lead researcher at the Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona, Spain and was awarded Australian Federation Fellow. He is recognised internationally as a thought leader and researcher in the domain of future cities.

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