Our People

Deputy CEO and Director, People Research Data Commons

Strategy, informatics, data assets, national policy

Adrian has 20 years’ experience applying emerging information technology to research at national and international scales. With backgrounds in IT, academia, government and linguistics, he addresses opportunities holistically, ensuring that policy, people, and governance frameworks work alongside systems, services and infrastructure.

Director, Services

Services, technology strategy, cybersecurity, digital skills and capabilities, customer experience

With over 2 decades’ experience across digital, data and cybersecurity, Ben brings a forward-looking focus in strategically aligning technology to deliver sector and organisational outcomes. He is passionate about the forefront of technology, with expertise across AI governance, cybersecurity, data ethics and digital infrastructure.

Chief Operating Officer

Operations, finance, strategy, governance, organisational performance, change management

Matt has a unique experience and transferable skills across multiple sectors. He’s worked in leadership roles across tertiary education, retail and manufacturing. He has broad experience managing and leading change with a strong focus on people and operational excellence.

Chief of Staff and Company Secretary

Administration, governance, strategy development

With a background in academic research, Emma works closely with the CEO to provide administrative and strategic planning support, as well as supporting the ARDC Board of Directors in her role as Company Secretary.

Director, HASS and Indigenous Research Data Commons

Digital humanities, HASS, Indigenous research, GLAM

With over 20 years’ experience in collecting, managing and disseminating research and cultural heritage data and resources, Jenny is passionate about delivering quality research infrastructure and data to meet the diverse needs of HASS and Indigenous researchers.

Director, Translational Research Data Challenges

Program management, information systems, data analytics

With a background in data analytics and computer science, Sheida leads the ARDC’s Translational Research Data Challenges program. She is passionate in building collaborative and innovative digital infrastructure that addresses societal challenges.

Director, Planet Research Data Commons

Research infrastructure, strategy, IT development and management, environment and climate change

Hamish is a dynamic and innovative senior executive with expertise within national research infrastructure and IT fields. He has led national programs in environment, biodiversity, biology and climate change and worked at the intersection of multiple research domains across research, government and industry.

Director, Outreach

Institutional research data management capability, FAIR

With an international background in research data management and sharing, Keith works with the Skills, Engagements, Expertise and Communications teams to ensure the ARDC reaches our stakeholders, partners and communities to grow the capability across the sector.

Director, National Coordination

Strategic initiatives, program management, informatics, international collaboration, data assets

With a background delivering award-winning eResearch projects, Natasha leads the ARDC’s National Coordination team of Program Managers, Product Managers and Subject Matter Experts. She is passionate about bringing out the best in people and collaborating nationally and internationally to solve data challenges.

Director, International Strategy

Platforms, software, data management, digital research infrastructure, international partners

Andrew has led or architected a range of digital research infrastructure projects since 2003 and has a background in the digital humanities. His passion is empowering researchers to tackle big challenges through better infrastructure.

Manager, Engagements Team

Data governance, management and planning, FAIR, CARE

Robin is a skilled and highly motivated manager of research data who likes to incorporate his creativity when it comes to the management, understanding, handling and dissemination of all types of research data – STEM, HASS, NTROs.

Research Data Alliance Community Development Manager

Communication, engagement, research data, project management

As an organisational member of the Research Data Alliance, the ARDC is committed to facilitating Australian engagement with the RDA. As RDA Community Development Manager, Kathryn coordinates the engagement and development of the Australasian RDA community through connections with key stakeholders and the global community network.

Data Consultant

Institutional data maturity, communities, FAIR data, trusted data repositories

Richard supports the People Data Commons, universities and other partners in Victoria, Tasmania and ACT. He works with communities including trusted data repositories and state-based data roundtables. His special interests include value of data, trusted data, user adoption – value stories.

Data Consultant

FAIR, GLAM, HASS, research data management, research, outreach and engagement

Backed by over 20 years supporting and promoting research across HASS and STEM, Mary is passionate about connecting researchers with competitive advantage through data and driving excellence in their creation, analysis and retention of high-quality data assets.

Data Consultant

Engagement, institutional data maturity, communities, FAIR

Andy is an institutional liaison who provides outreach support to universities and partners in QLD and NSW as well as the Planet RDC. He facilitates the Data Repositories Community of Practice, state-based Data Roundtables and FAIR workshops.

Systems Analyst and Manager (Acting), Expertise

eResearch infrastructure, systems architectures and analysis

Jonathan has many years’ experience as a developer, systems analyst and technical lead in the eResearch sector. He now undertakes system and architecture analysis across the ARDC’s projects.

Research Data Specialist (Data Architecture)

Data architecture, data workflows, data science (AI), energy infrastructures

With a background in data-intensive solutions, Muhammad provides data architecture advisory through the ARDC. He has over 9 years of experience in data-driven solutions and has contributed to cross-disciplinary projects to accelerate research and innovation. He works with solution architects and stakeholders to deliver multifaceted projects.

Research Data Specialist (AI/ML)

AI, ML, modelling (various), socio-technical systems, risk

Gnana provides artificial intelligence advisory services at the ARDC. He has over 15 years of experience in the industry in data science and design consulting, and has developed several AI and risk products. His areas of expertise include AI application, AI risk, ethics, explainability, translation, adoption, and lifecycle issues.

Research Data Specialist

Sensitive data, Bushfires projects

Kylie has over 10 years’ experience as a university librarian supporting research. She is working with the Bushfires projects to make their data FAIR and impactful. Kylie is excited to be pursuing her interest in sensitive data as a member of the Expertise team.

Research Infrastructure Specialist (Virtualisation)

Containerisation, virtualisation, Kubernetes, FAIR software, Analytics, technology management, AI, research

Aleem is a virtualisation expert supporting reproducible research through containers, Kubernetes (as a certified Applications Developer) and FAIR software. Aleem holds a PhD in Information Systems. He has 12 years background in the telecommunications industry as an electronics engineer, and 7 years researching and teaching.

Research Data Specialist (Health and Medical)

Biomedical, clinical research, partnerships, bioinformatics

Rhys has a background in biomedical research and extensive experience working in clinical research environments. He provides advice and support to researchers and partnerships in the health and medical space, especially ARDC’s Health Studies Australian National Data Asset program.