Person
Durrant-Whyte, Hugh (1961 - )
FAA FRS FTSE
- Born
- 6 February 1961
London, United Kingdom - Occupation
- Chief Scientist and Robotics engineer
- Website
- https://www/chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au
Summary
High Durrant-Whyte is a world authority on machine learning and robotics, and has played a key role in raising Australia's profile in these fields internationally. His research has found application in areas such as cargo handling, mining and defence. Among his major projects have been autonomous vehicle navigation and sensor data fusion, and Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping(SLAM) (with John Leonard). Durrant-Whyte is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Society, London. In 2018 he was appointed New South Wales Chief Scientist and Engineer.
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Details
Chronology
- 1983
- Education - BSc (hons), University of London
- 1985
- Education - Master of Science in Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
- 1985 - 1986
- Career position - Research Assistant, Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
- 1986
- Education - PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
- 1986 - 1987
- Career position - Research Fellow, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
- 1987 - 1995
- Career position - Lecturer in Engineering Science, University of Oxford
- 1994
- Award - United Kingdom Engineer of the Year, United Kingdom Manufacturing Industry Association
- 1995 -
- Career position - Professor of Mechatronic Engineering, University of Sydney
- 1995
- Life event - Migrated to Australia
- 1999 - 2010
- Career position - Director, Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney
- 2002 -
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
- 2002 - 2010
- Career position - Research Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Autonomous Systems
- 2004
- Award - New South Wales Pearcey Award for the Tech Entrepreneur of the Year, Pearcey Foundation
- 2004
- Award - Harry Lees Award, Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technology, United Kingdom
- 2008
- Award - Professional Engineer of the Year, New South Wales Division, Institution of Engineers, Australia
- 2009 -
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
- 2009
- Award - Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
- 2010 -
- Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)
- 2010
- Award - Scientist of the Year, New South Wales Science and Engineering Awards
- 2010 - 2014
- Career position - Chief Executive Officer of National ICT Australia Ltd (NICTA)
- 2014 - 2017
- Career position - Chair, Innovation and Productivity Council, New South Wales
- 2016 -
- Career position - Director, Centre for Translational Data Science, University of Sydney
- 2016 - 2018
- Career position - Chief Scientific Advisor, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom
- 2017
- Award - M. A. Sargent Medal, Institution of Engineers, Australia
- 2018 -
- Career position - New South Wales Chief Scientist and Engineer, Office of the New South Wales Chief Scientist and Engineer
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Created: 23 October 2025