Professor Alex Zelinsky AO FAA FTSE FRSN
Prof Alex Zelinsky in 2014
Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Newcastle
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2018
Preceded by	Caroline McMillen
Chief Defence Scientist
In office March 2012 – November 2018
Preceded by	Robert Clark
Succeeded by	Tanya Monro
Personal details
Born	(1960-03-05)5 March 1960 (age 65) Wollongong, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of Wollongong
Scientific career
Awards	Officer of the Order of Australia M. A. Sargent Medal
Fields	Mobile robotics
Institutions	University of Newcastle Defence Science and Technology Group CSIRO Australian National University University of Wollongong
Thesis	Environment exploration and path planning algorithms for mobile robot navigation using sonar (1991)

Alexander "Alex"Zelinsky (born 5 March 1960) is an Australian computer scientist, systems engineer and roboticist. His career spans innovation, science and technology, research and development, commercial start-ups and education. Professor Zelinsky is Vice-chancellor and President of theUniversity of Newcastle joining the university on 19 November 2018.^[1] He was theChief Defence Scientist of Australia from March 2012 until November 2018. As Chief Defence Scientist he led defence science and technology for Australia'sDepartment of Defence.^[2][3][4]

While studying at theUniversity of Wollongong (UoW), Professor Zelinsky started his career in 1978 as a cadet systems engineer atThe Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP). In 1984 he joined UoW's academic staff where he taught computer science while completing a PhD in robotics. He worked as a research scientist at theNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan, developing computer vision and robotics technologies (1991–1994). He was appointed professor of systems engineering at theAustralian National University in 1996, holding that position until 2004.^[5] In 2000 aschief executive officer (CEO), he co-founded, and was a non-executive director of,^[6]Seeing Machines Limited, a company listed on theLondon Stock Exchange (2000–2014).^[7] He was a senior executive atCSIRO (2004–2012), where he served as the Director of the ICT Centre (2004–2009), and Group Executive of Information Sciences (2007–2012).^[5]

Professor Zelinsky wasChief Defence Scientist and head of theDefence Science and Technology Group from March 2012^[8] until November 2018.

On 20 June 2018, Professor Zelinsky was announced as the next Vice-chancellor and President of theUniversity of Newcastle^[9] following the retirement ofCaroline McMillen.^[10] He assumed the role 19 November 2018.^[11]

Professor Zelinsky has a Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences (Honours), a Doctor of Philosophy, and in 2010 was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science,^[5][6] all from the University of Wollongong.^[12] He also served as a member of theUniversity of Wollongong Council (2012–2015).^[13]

Professor Zelinsky is a Fellow of:

• theAustralian Academy of Science (FAA);^[14]
• theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (FIEEE);^[15][16]
• theAustralian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE);^[6]
• the Institute ofEngineers Australia (Hon FIEAust);^[17]
• theAustralian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD);^[6] and
• theRoyal Society of New South Wales (FRSN).^[18]

Professor Zelinsky’s awards and appointments include:

• in 2002, theAustralian Computer Society -Eureka Prize for ICT Innovation.
• In 2003, 2004,^[19] and 2005, theWorld Economic Forum selected him as a Technology Pioneer in recognition of his commercialisation of technology with Seeing Machines.
• In May 2005 he was awarded theATSEClunies-Ross Award "for successful innovation involving the application of science and technology for the benefit of Australia".^[6][20]
• Since 2008 he has been named as one of Australia's 100 most influential engineers.^[21]
• In 2011 he led the CSIRO team named as a Global Supplier of the Year byBoeing.^[22]
• In 2012 he was named as an Innovation Hero byThe Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering.^[23]
• In 2013 he was awarded the Trevor Pearcey Medal by thePearcey Foundation for "distinguished lifetime achievement and contribution to the development and growth of the ICT professions, research and industry in Australia".^[24][25]
• In 2015 he was awarded theM A Sargent Medal byEngineers Australia for outstanding professional contributions to engineering.^[26]
• In 2017 he was appointed anOfficer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the2017 Queen's birthday honours. Dr Zelinsky was recognised "for distinguished service to defence science and technology, to systems engineering, and to education as an academic and researcher".^[27]
• In 2019 he was inducted by theRoyal Institution of Australia as a Bragg Fellow^[28]

• Alexander Zelinsky atDBLP Bibliography Server
• Dr Alex Zelinsky publications indexed byGoogle Scholar
• Robotics Systems Laboratory, (Australian National University)

• Lessons learned about science and innovationArchived 4 March 2016 at theWayback Machine
• Fran Foo (2 March 2010)."Alex Zelinsky, CSIRO information sciences group executive". The Australian.
• Ben Langford (12 January 2012)."Science key to defence". Illawarra Mercury. p. 6.
• "Symposium: Australia's science future". Australian Academy of Science. 3–4 May 2000. Archived fromthe original on 6 January 2013.

• 1960 births
• Academic staff of the Australian National University
• Chief Defence Scientists
• CSIRO people
• Fellows of the IEEE
• Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
• Living people
• Officers of the Order of Australia
• University of Wollongong alumni
• Academic staff of the University of Wollongong
• Fellows of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Fellows of the Royal Society of New South Wales
• Vice-chancellors of the University of Newcastle (Australia)
• Australian roboticists

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