Associate ProfessorChathu Ranaweera

Chathu Ranaweera is an Associate Professor in computer networks and the Associate Head of School -Learning in the School of Information Technology at Deakin University. She received her PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2014. She has held several positions prior to joining Deakin including a research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, a visiting researcher at AT&T Labs Research, USA and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.

Her research work focuses on the design, optimisation and sustainability of advanced communication and computing networks, addressing the scalability, reliability, security and energy-efficiency challenges associated with increasingly connected digital systems. Her research spans optical and wireless convergence, 5G and emerging 6G networks, Internet of Things (IoT), network optimisation, energy-efficient computing, distributed quntum computing and networking and use of AI/ML in networking.  She has been serving as a member of IEEE Photonics Society Publications Council,   Optics Roadmap working group in IEEE Future Networks, and technical program committee member of several leading conferences in her field including Optical Fibre Communication Conference (OFC), The European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC), IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO), IEEE International Conference on Network Protocols (ICNP), International Conference on Networks, Communication and Computing (ICNCC), and International Conference on Optical Network Design and Modelling (ONDM).

A/Prof. Ranaweera is a passionate educator, and her teaching philosophy is centred around" Lifelong Learning" the learning is a lifelong process, and we need to motivate students to become a lifelong learner so they can be successful in their life in this rapidly changing world. Her education-focused research explores the use of technology, artificial intelligence and innovative assessment approaches to enhance learning in higher education, particularly within computing and software engineering. She is also a passionate advocate of women in STEM and is leading several initiatives to help and inspire young women to study and stay in STEM including leading projects with Victorian schools.