Professor Alex Zelinsky AO is Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Newcastle. Prior to joining the University in 2018, he was Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist and leader of Defence Science and Technology within the Department of Defence.

Professor Zelinsky’s previous roles include Group Executive for Information Sciences at CSIRO, and Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Seeing Machines, a computer vision technology company listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company was a start-up from the Australian National University, where he was a Professor of Systems Engineering.  Professor Zelinsky has been a world leading researcher in computer vision and robotics.

Professor Zelinsky holds a Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences (Honours), a Doctor of Philosophy and an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Wollongong. He has been awarded numerous national & international awards in recognition of his contributions to Australian Science, Technology and Education.  Prof Zelinsky is an Officer in the Order of Australia, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Institute of Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is an Honorary Bragg Fellow of The Royal Institution of Australia and currently holds the roles of Chair of the Australian Technology Network of Universities, and Vice-President of the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association.

Service as a director

Appointed to HMRI Board 19th November 2018