Hui Tian

Benefit

My contributions in network-centric cybersecurity-oriented university teaching and research are significant not only in technical innovations for solving challenging research problems and design of new academic degrees and courses, but also in their application values to Queensland industries, governments, and communities for making more effective and secure deployment of our existing network infrastructures for information communication and data repositories. They are critically important for Queensland to maintain its leader position in information and communication technology, health and medical service provision, within the nation in the coming metaverse era. 

1. Looked after the Computer Science discipline as its Head and academic programs including Bachelor of Computer Science, Diploma of Computing and Data Analytics, Graduate Certificate of Data Science, Double degree of Computer Science and Engineering. 
2. Attracted the government funding ($728,800) to support female students study in Diploma of Computing and Data Analytics program. This program offered 50 places for female employees from industry and provided them upskilling opportunities. 
3. Hosted an international conference “The 20th Parallel and Distributed Computing, Applications and Technologies” at Gold Coast as program chair, and attracted over 150 attendees from more than 20 countries to visit Gold Coast in Dec. 2019. 
4. Attracted $2M funding to facilitate the cyber training program for female students together with Griffith colleagues and several industries. 
5. Served as a consultant for Gold Coast Primary Health Chain and generated the Privacy Impact Assessment report to improve their users’ privacy protection. 
6. Developed cyber security course and provided training for more than 1500 students till now.
7. Developed numerous effective methods for efficient data communication and secure data sharing and published more than 80 research papers. 

My work has generated the following benefits to Queensland: 

Role Model

I joined Griffith University in 2018 with the mission of developing teaching and research strengths in cybersecurity this important STEM field at Griffith. During the past 4 years, I have overcome numerous hardships and difficulties in developing new strengths of cybersecurity which have now successfully become spotlight strengths in Griffith University and QLD. I have made a number of significant contributions for increasing cybersecurity social awareness, developing cybersecurity education programs, building cybersecurity assurance capabilities for QLD, evidenced as follows. To meet the immediate need of Griffith’s new cybersecurity Master program started in 2018, I developed and taught two core subjects. As the Computer Science Discipline Head, I successfully coordinated a thorough reform of CS programs for better market exposure and frontier-technology inclusion, and development of a fully online program during COVID-19 period which enabled 50% increased enrolment in three years. Our CS Discipline has been ranked top 100 in 3 consecutive years worldwide by ARWU. I published high impact research papers and received competitive fundings. I hosted an international conference at GC and expanded our school’s collaboration network.  

I believe that the above contributions I made since my move to QLD have established myself as a female role model in STEM in the state. More importantly, this role model is carved by my personality of reliability, optimism and consistency, and my professionalism of dedication, efficiency and fairness shown in my daily work.  

My role model established today is shaped by the growth of my career path following my interest, curiosity and confidence in STEM.    As a top student of my high school grade, facing so many choices of career directions, I was confused in making a decision about my university path. My curiosity in exploration in science and technology finally drove me to step in telecommunication engineering this traditionally male-dominated field. During my undergraduate study, scholarships and awards every year set me up as a female role model in my grade. During my graduate study, I managed to stand among the best Master students and received Outstanding Graduate Award. I went to Japan for PhD study under a full scholarship where I believe I can learn world-leading technology and advance myself further in STEM. My PhD study broadened my view-scope in scientific exploration, enhanced my problem-solving skills with more advanced theories and techniques, prepared me for pursuing world-class forefront research. I received the Outstanding PhD Graduate Medal for which my name was carved on university’s Medalist Wall as the only female medalist that year.   

After graduation, I received university job offers from UK, China and Australia. I worked in Manchester, Adelaide and Beijing before joining Griffith University. In every university, I strived to maintain myself as a female role model in STEM. I won the Outstanding Academic Award at Beijing. With my positive influence, many girl students developed creativity, confidence and adaptability in their career, and are now working in STEM in different countries. They helped me serve as a female role model in STEM at Griffith. 

Engagement

My engagement activities with QLD industries, government and society are listed as follows:
In 2022, my research team was granted $1.5M research fund for “Financial Criminal Compliance Micro Credentials” with Commonwealth Bank Australia where I was a Chief Investigator. 
In 2021, I led the application of Women in STEM program and was granted $728,800 to support 50 female students (2022-2025) to transit to cybersecurity and data analysis areas. I also teach cyber security course to this female-only cohort.
In 2022, my research team attracted $2.064M in the application “Increasing the Southeast Queensland (SEQ) Cyber Security Workforce” which will focus on promoting female professionals’ cyber security skills.
In 2020 and 2021, I led a student voice committee and encouraged female students to attend as the student representatives and formed the committee with balanced gender (though less than 20% students are female overall in the school).
In 2019-2023, I have been a university mentor for students where I mentored 5 female students. I now also have one female PhD students and am the supervisor of three female staff in the school. 
In 2021, I volunteered to work in Griffith outreach projects to attract female high school students.
In 2021, I attended ACS (Australian Computer Society) “Qld IT Education and Career Event” and gave presentation for Griffith’s Computer Science program. I served as the panel member and interacted with audiences at the event.
In 2019, I hosted a major international conference in Gold Coast with the support of Gold Coast City Council and gave a talk about my research field. The conference provided lots of opportunities for 150+ attendees from more than 20 countries to connect with each other, including many female researchers.