NOVEMBER | Kristen Moore

Tell us about yourself,

After finishing an undergrad degree in maths and physics at Monash University, I moved to Germany to do a PhD in spacetime geometry at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. I then moved to California to do a postdoc, and it was during that time that I decided I wanted to pivot my career into machine learning (ML) and data science. I got a job as a Machine Learning Engineer at Gro Intelligence in New York, where I helped to develop a data and predictive analytics platform for agriculture trends. After 2.5 years working there, I moved back to Melbourne and joined Telstra, where I worked on various AI projects, including developing an in-house chatbot and using ML to improve load forecasting for 4G cell towers. I joined Data61 in June last year, where I am now working on applying ML to solve problems in cyber security.

What gets you excited about your work or your project?

I particularly enjoy the opportunity to work with leading scientists on challenging industry problems.

How long have you worked for Data61 and why do you like working here?

I’ve been at Data61 for almost 18 months, and love working on challenging open problems with real-world impact.

What is the most valuable thing you've learned while working for Data61?

Data61 has given me a great opportunity to grow my skill set. I have learned how to run successful projects at the intersection of industry and research. In addition to this, I’m learning a lot about cyber security from my colleagues, and about leadership from my bosses and my mentor.

What is the one contribution you've made to SCS that you're most proud of?

My Cyber Security CRC project submitted a patent application in July for the work our team have done in cyber deception.

What is the one thing you hope people would remember about you?

A Team player

Top professional skills

• Data Science
• Event forecasting and simulation
• Language Modelling

Awards and accolades

Customer First Award, May 2021