Prof Iven Mareels
| Email: | i.mareels@federation.edu.au |  |
|---|---|---|
| Office# / Building: | 127 B901 Berwick Campus or Y129 on Mt Helen Campus | |
| Campus: | Berwick Campus (main) | |
| Position: | Executive Dean | |
| Discipline: | Engineering | |
| Speciality: | Systems Engineering | |
| Research Affiliation: | HITC, FRRC, CSA, CfNETR |
Biography
Iven Mareels is the Executive Dean, Institute for Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University Australia; a Director of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and a non-executive Director of Rubicon Water (ASX listed).
Previously, he was a partner in IBM Consulting and Director of the Centre for Applied Research, IBM Australia (April 2021-Aug 2022); Director of IBM Research in Australia (Feb 2018- Mar 2021); Dean of Engineering at the University of Melbourne (2007-2018).
Iven received the PhD in Systems Engineering from the Australian National University (1987), and the Master of Engineering (Electromechanical, ir) from Gent University (1982).
He has co-authored over 500 refereed publications, including 5 monographs. He is a co-inventor of a suite of patents related to the automation of large scale, gravity fed, irrigation systems (with Rubicon Water).
Iven has received a number of awards, including, 2021 IBM Research Achievement Award (bronze level); 2017, Harold Chestnut Control Engineering Textbook Prize; 2014 IEEE Control Systems Society Technology Award; 2013 Asian Control Association Wook Hyun Kwon Education Award; 2008 Clunies Ross Medal for the automation of irrigation.
He received two civil awards. He is a Commander in the Order of the Crown of Belgium, and received the Centenary Medal of Australia for contributions to engineering education and research.
Iven is a culture champion, an experienced R&D manager and research team leader who has managed organizational units of up to 1,000 employees (counting PhD students as junior employees) and an annual budget well in excess of A$300M.
He has worked in a consulting and research capacity with the water industry, electrical power industry and electronics industry, the defense industries as well as other research organizations. The majority of his experience was in the university sector (1977-2018,2022-ongoing).
Iven enjoys developing talent, and shaping organizational culture. He feels immensely rewarded when people reach their full potential whilst being well placed organizationally.
Iven’s personal research focuses on large scale and learning systems (from mathematical modelling to organizational management) such as computational networks, the electricity grid, water distribution networks, and the (human) brain.
Qualifications
- Ir (BE/ME) Electromechanical Engineering, Gent University, Gent, Belgium, July 1982
- PhD (Systems Engineering), the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, May 1987
Teaching areas
Iven has taught broadly across Mathematics, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering curricula both overseas (the Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, China and the USA) and in Australia (Newcastle University, ANU and the University of Melbourne).
Research interests
Large scale systems, modelling, control and management. Applied to natural systems such as open waters, forests and the brain (epilepsy is a particular interest), as well as engineered systems: large scale irrigation networks, including flood control and power grids, in particular the transition to the new grid.