The Centre for Data Science at QUT is delighted to announce the appointment of its new co-Directors, who will lead the Centre into 2025 and beyond.
Professor Troy Farrell, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, has named Professor Moe Thandar Wynn (pictured left) from the School of Information Systems and Associate Professor Dimitri Perrin (pictured right) from the School of Computer Science as the incoming co-Directors.
“Moe and Dimitri’s disciplinary expertise will strengthen the connections between their Schools and the Centre for Data Science whilst continuing to foster the Centre’s strong relationships within the Faculty, across the University, and with external partners,” Professor Farrell said.
Professor Wynn leads the Process Science Academic Program and is the Academic Lead of Research for the School of Information Systems. She co-leads the Centre’s Data for Discovery Program and recently received the 2024 Women in Technology Excellence in Research Award.
“I am very happy to be appointed as co-Director and excited about the opportunity to shape the Centre’s future alongside Dimitri,” Moe said.
Associate Professor Dimitri Perrin co-leads the Centre’s Health and Biological Systems Domains. As part of the Centre, he is also a Chief Investigator in the Next Generation Graduates Program (NGGP) on Sports Data Science & AI and in the Australian Sports Tech Analytics & AI Research (AusiSTAR) Hub. He emphasized that having co-Directors from different disciplines reflects the Centre’s interdisciplinary mission.
“Data is everywhere and transcends disciplinary boundaries,” Dimitri said. “The Centre is a vital hub for connecting Data Science experts from different parts of the university to each other, and to connect them to all the people who are producing or consuming that data, across the university and beyond,” said Dimitri.
Moe and Dimitri will succeed Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengersen, who has served as the Centre’s Director since its inception in 2019.
“Kerrie has been an incredible role model, especially for me as a female academic,” Moe said. “I look forward to her continued involvement as a chief investigator in the Centre.”
Dimitri echoed Moe’s sentiments: “The Centre wouldn’t be what it is today without Kerrie’s leadership. It has been a privilege to be part of the Centre under her guidance, and we are deeply grateful for her work in establishing and growing this community.”
Moe and Dimitri will officially begin their roles as co-Directors at the start of 2025.
“We have many ideas we’re eager to discuss with colleagues and collaborators in and around the Centre,” Moe said. “Dimitri and I are looking forward to starting these conversations early in 2025. Stay tuned!”