Wednesday, 18 June 2008

An eminent Australian engineering academic has been appointed to lead The University of Western Australia's Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics.

Professor David Smith is currently Associate Dean (Academic) in the School of Engineering at Melbourne University.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the University was pleased to attract a new Dean with a strong record in research and innovation.  He said the appointment would continue to build on the UWA Faculty's reputation of international excellence.

"Professor Smith will take up the position in November and will build on the excellent work done by the former Dean, Professor Mark Bush, who remains with UWA focusing on research and other interests.

"Professor Smith is an outstanding academic with a very strong track record of leadership," Professor Robson said.

Professor Smith has served as Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Newcastle and as Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Melbourne.

In 2005, he introduced a new Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne, and in 2006, introduced a new Master of Biomedical Engineering program.  He also served on the University's Curriculum Commission which was responsible for introducing a new university-wide educational structure.

Professor Smith has also been a member of Australian Research Council College of Experts, serving on the Engineering and Environmental Science Panel from 2005-2007, chairing this Panel in 2007.

His research interests have been in geoenvironmental and geotechnical engineering, and more recently, he has researched biomedical engineering problems.

He obtained a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Sydney, and a PhD from the University of Sydney.

Media references

Professor Alan Robson  (+61 8)  6488 2809
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716

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