Saeid Nahavandi

Distinguished Professor Saeid Nahavandi is Swinburne University of Technology’s inaugural Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Chief of Defence Innovation.  He is a globally recognised leader in defence technologies, specialising in robotics and haptics, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced modelling and simulation technologies. With an academic career spanning over three decades, he has secured over $150 million of government, industry, and commercial funding, successfully translating his innovative research into real-world applications, including the establishment of three technology start-ups. He has published over 1300 scientific papers in various international journals and conferences. Saeid has carried out industry-based research with several major international companies such as Airbus, Boeing, Bosch, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, General Dynamics, Holden, Lockheed Martin, Nissan, Thales and Vestas just to name a few. 

Saeid was the recipient of the Clunies Ross Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2022 from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, Researcher of the Year for Australian Space Awards 2021, Australian Defence Industry Awards - Winner of Innovator of the year, The Essington Lewis Awards, and Australian Engineering Excellence Awards - Professional Engineer of the Year. 

Saeid is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), Engineers Australia, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Additionally, he holds honorary and adjunct professorships at the University of Windsor (Canada) and is an Associate at Harvard University.  

Before joining Swinburne, he served as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Defence Technologies) and Founding Director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation at Deakin University.

Saeid actively advises governments and the defence and civilian industries across Australia, the USA, and Europe, and has previously consulted to NASA and NATO. His contributions to technology and innovation have earned him numerous accolades.

Professor Nahavandi is Chair of Assembly - Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, the President Elect IEEE SMC Society, Senior Associate Editor: IEEE Systems Journal, Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics and IEEE Press Editorial Board member. 

https://createdigital.org.au/devising-self-driving-technology-military-precision/