Professor Hesham El Gamal, Dean

An information theorist by training, Professor Hesham El Gamal is widely regarded for his work in wireless communications, among the academic community as well as the entrepreneurial and business sectors, for having led 16 US patents, co-founding a successful start-up and influencing wireless standards.

Professor El Gamal obtained a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland and was a key figure in delivering the global aspirations of Ohio State University as the Chair of the Electrical and Computer (ECE) Department and was the Founding Academic Director of the Institute of CyberSecurity and Digital Trust.

During his tenure as Deputy Dean of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Engineering, Professor El Gamal helped lead the revitalisation of the Faculty’s academic confirmation process and criteria, launched a new mentorship program and introduced a new process for School External Academic Reviews.

Professor Teng Joon Lim, Deputy Dean, Associate Dean, Education

Professor Teng Joon (TJ) Lim joined the University of Sydney in January 2020 as Associate Dean (Education) of the Faculty of Engineering and a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and has served on a number of IEEE conference committees and editorial boards, including of IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, Wiley Transactions on Emerging Telecommunications Technologies, IEEE Signal Processing Letters and IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology.

Professor Kalina Yacef, Deputy Dean, Associate Dean (Research Education)

Professor Yacef is a founding member of the International Educational Data Mining Society (IEDMS) and serves on its Board of Directors, as well as on the Executive Committee of the International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society (IAIED). She is Associate Editor of the IEEE TLT journal, and Associate Editor (and Founding past Editor-in-Chief) of the Journal of Educational Data Mining (JEDM). She regularly serves as program committee member and program chair of major international conferences. She now leads a research group on Human-centred data science for Education and Health.

Professor Ali Abbas, Associate Dean (Research)

Professor Abbas is a recognised leader in sustainable process systems engineering and circular economy innovation. As Associate Dean (Research) he leads strategic research initiatives and fosters impactful industry partnerships. Ali completed his PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sydney. He is the inaugural Chief Circular Engineer at Circular Australia, Founding Director of the University’s Waste Transformation Research Hub, and Chair of the Australian Circular Economy Conference.

Professor Abbas translates research into commercial outcomes through deep-tech ventures, including Scimita Group and Trofica, developing technologies in clean energy, circular economy, and sustainable urban agriculture. Recognised as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics – placing him among the top 2% globally in his field – he was a finalist in the 2023 Eureka Prize for Innovative Research in Sustainability, and awarded the Sydney Research Accelerator (SOAR) Fellowship for his research leadership. Ali actively advises industry and government on sustainable technology strategies and serves on the board of the Australian Government’s Council for Australian-Arab Relations, strengthening international research collaborations.

Professor Renae Ryan AM FRSN, Associate Dean (Culture and Community)

Professor Ryan leads efforts to foster a diverse, inclusive, collaborative, and supportive community within the Faculty, ensuring that cultural values of trust, accountability, and excellence are central to the academic and student experience. She brings an outstanding record of leadership, particularly through her work with the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE).

After working as a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University and the National Institutes of Health in the USA, Renae returned to the University of Sydney and was appointed as Associate Professor in the Sydney Medical School in 2010. Professor Ryan leads a research team that uses structural biology and biophysical techniques to investigate the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter and amino acid transporters and their role in cancer and neurological diseases, such as episodic ataxia.