SIMINT - Simulated Intelligence

An Australian cross-institutional collective for Simulated Intelligence

SIMINT is an Australian cross-institutional collective for Simulated Intelligence. SIMINT takes a unique approach to research mirroring the process and methodology of intelligence agencies with a focus on all-source intelligence, in particular open-source intelligence (OSINT). This methodology is used to focus research regarding emerging threats to national security from developments in informational technology and artificial intelligence. SIMINT also includes criminal intelligence, activities related to crime and law enforcement.

SIMINT consists of subject matter experts with experience from law enforcement, national security and intelligence agencies, forensic intelligence and criminology. We also have data engineering capability with expertise in rapid prototyping, decision support systems, AI modelling, cognitive science, and over two decades of crime analytics.

As part of our methodology, we maintain an OSINT Desk responsible for gathering emerging trends in this space primarily from news agencies from around the globe. The derived intelligence products are then used to drive our research.

Included in our research is the capability of issuing strategic warnings to the intelligence community regarding the misuse of AI and Internet technology (e.g. Large Language Models). We employ red teaming, a crucial component of security assessments, simulating attacks on systems to identify weaknesses. Our red teaming is undertaken by forensic intelligence and data engineering specialists, informed by the various environmental scanning processes (e.g. OSINT Desk). We are able to identify potential upskilling scenarios and relay these to the intelligence community as strategic warnings.

Primary contact for enquiries: Dr Giles Oatley, Phone +61 3 5122 6076, Email g.oatley@federation.edu.au

SIMINT Members

Name: Dr Giles Oatley, Federation University
	Dr. Giles Oatley earned his PhD in AI in 2000. With 25+ years in crime data analysis, he has worked as a consultant for the City of London Police (National Fraud Intelligence Bureau) and with UK police forces on fraud, burglary, and gun crime networks and submitted multiple research bids on crime analytics. In the UK he designed an undergraduate crime data analysis degree in 2007. Moving to Australia in 2016, he co-designed a Crime Science course at Murdoch University and now coordinates Big Data and Analytics at Federation University. He collaborated with Western Australia Police on hotspot analysis and was part of their Evidence-Based Policing Innovation Panel, and also now on Privately Manufactured Firearms. He also currently collaborates with Victoria Police.
Name: Professor James Speers, University of Western Australia
	Professor James Speers is an internationally recognized forensic scientist with over 30 years at the Forensic Science Laboratory Northern Ireland (FSNI), specializing in serious crimes, terrorism, and forensic intelligence. He was the chief forensic investigator on EU projects developing explosive and drug detection systems and led forensic service development for the EU and UN in Jordan, Kosovo, and the Palestinian National Authority. At Murdoch University since 2015, he developed a Master of Forensic Science program and supervised numerous forensic research projects. His research has covered areas such as blood pattern analysis, fingerprint enhancement techniques, forensic soil provenance, explosives residues, synthetic cannabinoids, and the characterization of illicit firearms and 3D-printed materials.
Name: Mr Matthew Box, Federation University
	Matthew Box has over 30 years of experience in national security, law enforcement, and emergency services, specializing in intelligence, risk management, and policy development at tactical, operational, and strategic levels. He applies his background in geopolitics, criminology, and law to develop evidence-based solutions. Currently, he teaches criminology at Federation University and the University of New England (UNE), focusing on crime prevention, criminal justice institutions, and national security. His research includes national security policy, international law, and human rights. He is completing a PhD on Australia’s national security policy and its ethical implications. At UNE’s Centre for Rural Criminology, he researches rural crime prevention and has contributed to studies on illegal hunting.
Name: Professor Bhavna Antony, Federation University
	Prof Bhavna Antony has expertise in machine- and deep-learning methodologies applied to a wide range of applications ranging from detection to predictive analytics, with specific expertise in graph-theory and machine learning. Specialities include deep-learning for medical image analytics and ophthalmic data analytics, disease detection, personalised disease prognostication.
Name: Professor David Bright, Deakin University
	Professor David Bright is a criminologist and forensic psychologist. His research interests include criminal networks, organised crime, and illicit markets (e.g., drugs, firearms). He leads the Deakin Covert Networks Lab which deploys social network analysis and related approaches to study organised crime, cybercrime and extremism. He is an internationally recognised expert in the use of social network analysis and related approaches to study crime and offenders. Professor Bright has been Chief Investigator on six consecutive Australian Research Council (ARC) funded projects in addition to projects funded by industry and government. He is currently appointed to the ARC College of Experts.