Plenary Speach

    Saeid Nahavandi received a Ph.D. from Durham University, U.K. in 1991. His research interests include autonomous systems, modeling of complex systems, robotics and haptics. He has published over 1000 scientific papers in various international journals and conferences. Saeid was the recipient of the Clunies Ross Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2022 from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, Researcher of the Year for Australian Space Awards 2021, Australian Defence Industry Awards - Winner of Innovator of the year, The Essington Lewis Awards, and Australian Engineering Excellence Awards - Professional Engineer of the Year.

    Professor Nahavandi is Chair of Assembly - Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, the Vice President: Human-Machine Systems, IEEE SMCS, Senior Associate Editor: IEEE Systems Journal, Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics and IEEE Press Editorial Board member. 

    Professor Nahavandi is a Fellow of IEEE (FIEEE), Engineers Australia (FIEAust), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET). Saeid is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE). Saeid was the General Chair for IEEE SMC 2021.

    Ming Hou (ming.hou@forces.gc.ca) earned his Ph.D. degree from the University of Toronto, Canada in 2002. He is a senior defense scientist and the principal authority of human–technology interactions within the Department of National Defence (DND), Toronto, Ontario, M3K 2C9, Canada.

    As the Principal Adviser and Authority of Human Factors R&D on Human-Technology Interactions within the Department of National Defence (DND), Canada, prof. Ming Hou deliver technological solutions, evidence-based recommendations, science-based policy and strategic advice, manage resources, and lead interdisciplinary teams to conceive, plan, direct, design, develop, evaluate, and report science and technology programs to support the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). As the former Canadian National Leader of Joint Human Systems Performance Technical Panel - Air, prof. Ming Hou managed large international collaborative programs. As the Co-Chair of and the Head of Canadian Delegation to Human Factors Specialist Team under NATO Joint Capability Group Unmanned Aircraft Systems, prof. Ming Hou lead and coordinate international efforts to develop NATO Standards on Human Systems Integration Guidance, Human Factors Experimentation Guidelines, and Sense and Avoid Guidance for UASs. As one of the three Scientific Advisers to the National Centre of Expertise on Human Systems Performance and an Integrator of DND IDEaS program, prof. Ming Hou direct and guide Canadian academic research in Automation, Robotics, AI, and Telepresence. prof. Ming Hou also serve Canadian and international scientific and defence communities in the roles of Keynote Speaker, General Chair, Vice President, Advisor, Member of Board of Governance, and Mentor.