Len Sciacca

Professor Sciacca has extensive experience in government, industry and research sectors. Throughout his career he has been forming collaborations and partnerships in scientific and engineering environments leading to outcomes with impact.

He has led several large research and development programs with teams of scientists and engineers in partnerships between universities, industry and international government agencies primarily in the defence sector.

Professor Sciacca has over 30 years research and industrial experience in engineering real systems and senior executive roles in the government and industry sectors. His career includes roles in CSIRO, the Universities of Melbourne and Newcastle, Defence Science Technology Group, Defence industry and his own start-up company developing satellite tracking technologies. While in the Defence Science and Technology Group he led the Electronic Warfare and Radar Division with over 250 scientists and engineers before taking on the role of Chief Science Partnerships and Engagement. In 1998 he established the Centre of Expertise in Network Decision and Sensor Systems at the University of Melbourne. He was the architect of the first Defence Science Partnerships agreement scheme between over 30 universities and Defence. He has led large US-Australian research programs in electronic warfare and countermeasures (US Army CERDEC Program) and international cooperation programs in TTCP in Electronic Warfare Systems. He has reviewed the 6.1/6.2 ONR research programs at US Naval Research Laboratory and was the first international reviewer invited to be part of the review team.

Professor Sciacca is now an Enterprise Professor – Defence Technologies at The University of Melbourne leading the university’s defence research portfolio including US collaborations and partnerships with major defence companies. He facilitates industry engagement and promoting entrepreneurism in academia. Prof. Sciacca is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and Fellow of Engineers Australia. He is a Director on the Board of Astronomy Australia Limited and assists in engagement between the astronomy sector and industry and government.