Dr Alex Zelinsky is a leader in the Australian ICT industry who is recognised as an outstanding scientist and an innovator and has successfully delivered research and development results of significant commercial value and global impact.
Dr Zelinsky is internationally recognised for his research in robotics and computer vision, particularly in real-time computer vision systems for human-machine interfaces.
Current activities
As the Group Executive of Information Sciences, Dr Zelinsky is a member of CSIRO's Executive Team.
One of five such groups, Information Sciences is home to the following CSIRO Divisions:
- CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences
- CSIRO Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Centre
- CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics.
Under Dr Zelinsky's leadership CSIRO is developing world class technology platforms for:
These platforms underpin multidisciplinary research across CSIRO and are being applied in areas such as:
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energy
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health
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agriculture
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manufacturing
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environment.
The platforms also have a strong engagement with the National Research Flagships.
Dr Zelinsky also:
- serves as a Director on the Board of Funnelback Pty Limited – a CSIRO spinoff company
- serves as a Director of Epicorp Limited – a leading incubator of ICT technology
- is a contributor to Australian ICT industry and government advisory boards.
Background
Before joining CSIRO in July 2004, Dr Zelinsky was Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Seeing Machines, a high-technology company dedicated to developing state of the art computer vision systems.
Prior to this, Dr Zelinsky was Professor of Systems Engineering at the Australian National University, Canberra, 1996-2001.
He has also worked as:
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a research scientist in the AIST Electrotechnical Laboratory, Japan, 1992-95, conducting research in robotics and computer vision
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an academic – teaching and researching in computer science at the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 1984-91.
Dr Zelinsky started his career as a Systems Engineer with BHP Steel International, 1978-84.
Since joining CSIRO has Dr Zelinsky has focused on:
Under Dr Zelinsky’s leadership CSIRO is developing world class technology platforms for sensor and sensor networks and computational and simulation science.
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building the research capabilities of the ICT Centre, where he was Director from August 2004 to January 2010
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the commercialisation of CSIRO technology through:
Academic qualifications
Dr Zelinsky has been awarded a:
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Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences with Honours from the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 1983
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Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Wollongong, 1991.
He also completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP-172) Harvard University, Cambridge, USA, in 2007.
Achievements
Engineers Australia named Dr Zelinsky one of 2009's 100 most influential engineers in Australia and their Sydney division made him the 2009 Professional Engineer of the Year.
Dr Zelinsky's contributions to science have been recognised by numerous awards in Australia and internationally including:
- Australian Engineering Excellence Awards, 1999 and 2001
- Business-Higher Education Round Table Award, 2001
- Discover Magazine, Top 100 Innovations of 2001 Award
- Australian Eureka Science Prize, 2002
- Australian Information Industries Award (iAward), 2002 and 2006
- US R&D magazine Top 100 Award, 2002
- ATSE Clunies-Ross National Science & Technology Award, 2005
- Bulletin magazine annual Smart 100 list of influential Australians, 2003 and 2007
- World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, 2003, 2004, 2005.
He has published over 120 refereed papers and served on the editorial boards of the leading journals and magazines in his field, including the program committees of international conferences. He has also supervised 10 doctoral students.
Dr Zelinsky has been elected as a:
- Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
- Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (FIEEE)
- Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia (FIEAust)
- Fellow of Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD)
- Vice President of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society - Industrial Activities (RAS-IAB).
Learn more in the CSIRO information sciences group overview.
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In 2009, the Sydney division of Engineers Australia made Dr Zelinsky Professional Engineer of the year. 