FSP Leadership

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Dr Cheng Soon Ong

Director, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Future Science Platform

  • Principal research scientist at the Machine Learning Research Group. I am also an adjunct associate professor at the Australian National University, and an honourary research fellow at the University of Melbourne. My PhD in Computer Science was completed at the Australian National University in 2005. I was a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics and the Fredrich Miescher Laboratory in Tübingen, Germany. From 2008 to 2011, I was a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, and in 2012 and 2013 I worked in the Diagnostic Genomics Team at NICTA in Melbourne. Since 2014, I am doing research with the Machine Learning Group in NICTA Canberra. Prior to my PhD, I researched and built search engine and Bahasa Malaysia technologies at Mimos Berhad, Malaysia. I obtained my B.E. (Information Systems) and B.Sc. (Computer Science) from the University of Sydney, Australia.
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Helen Hicks

Program Manager - Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Future Science Platform and Collaborative Intelligence Future Science Platform

  • Complimenting my tertiary studies in Business and Marketing, I am also a qualified Prince2 Project Manager and a Prosci trained Change Manager. Prior to joining CSIRO, I worked extensively with industry as a Commercial Manager and Corporate Analyst. Evaluating SMEs and large corporate clients and understanding how their businesses work was a large part of my role. I have also applied my skills in other roles and relationships with tertiary institutes including the University of South Australia, ANU, UNSW, Curtin and QUT.

    My role in managing a large team of project support staff across various business units within CSIRO, has involved significant participation and leadership in conversations/discussions and negotiations with all RDCs, ARCs and other research organisations.

    Project management and training across CSIRO, and its partnerships, is certainly my passion particularly during the delivering of many major projects including FlexiPurchase, Corporate Credit Card review, O2D and Streamlining Research Operations.

    I have enjoyed extensive leadership training during my 13 years with CSIRO with the highlight being the Leading Australia's Innovation Catalyst (LAIC) program with a particular focus on collaboration and SMEs, as requested by CSIRO Executive team. My LAIC cohort represents a very valuable network connection across CSIRO and creates a valuable pathway for continued discussions, many of whom occupy Science Directors, Business Unit Directors, and other senior CSIRO roles currently.