Professor Roland Goecke is a leading expert in affective computing and currently serves as Professor of Affective Computing and Head of School in the School of Systems & Computing at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra, Australia. His work focuses on developing algorithms that enable computers to interpret human emotions, identities, and mental states, with applications in mental health, human performance, biometrics, and human-computer interaction. With a career spanning academia, industry, and research institutions across Germany, Australia, and beyond, he has contributed significantly to fields like computer vision, pattern recognition, and multimodal signal processing.

Professor Goecke's career began in research and industry post-Ph.D. He served as a Research Fellow at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics in Rostock, Germany (2002–2004), where he led projects on facial feature tracking and scribe identification. Returning to Australia, he worked as a Researcher at the National ICT Australia (NICTA) Canberra Research Lab (2004–2008), contributing to driver assistance systems and spectral imaging. He then joined Seeing Machines as a Senior Research Scientist (2007–2008), where he developed face-tracking technology. In academia, he held positions at the University of Canberra, starting as a Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer (2008), advancing to Assistant Professor (2010–2012), Associate Professor (2013–2014), and Professor of Affective Computing (2015–2024). There, he led the Vision and Sensing Group and directed the Human-Centred Technology Research Centre. He also maintained an adjunct role at ANU's Research School of Information Sciences and Engineering. Additionally, he was a Web Systems Manager in the Australian Public Service. In April 2024, he joined UNSW Canberra in his current leadership role.

Professor Goecke's research encompasses affective computing, computational behavior analysis, social signal processing, AI/machine learning, computer vision, human-computer interaction, and multimodal signal processing. His projects, funded by organizations like the Australian Research Council (ARC), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), and the US National Science Foundation (NSF), apply to areas such as mental health, well-being, sports performance, and video analysis. He has published extensively, with over 176 papers in computer science. His Google Scholar metrics include 13,284 citations, an h-index of 56, and an i10-index of 136. Notable publications include "The Visual Object Tracking VOT2013 Challenge Results" (2,263 citations), co-authored with M. Kristan et al., and "Static Facial Expression Analysis in Tough Conditions: Data, Evaluation Protocol and Benchmark" (806 citations), co-authored with A. Dhall et al. He serves on editorial boards for Pattern Recognition and IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing.

An experienced supervisor of research students, Professor Goecke is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Association for the Advancement of Affective Computing (AAAC), International Speech Communication Association (ISCA), and Australian Pattern Recognition Society. He served as an elected executive member of ASSTA (2004–2008) and is involved in networks like the Human Communication Sciences Network (HCSNet). His contributions extend to international collaborations and industry partnerships, solidifying his role in advancing human-centered technologies.

Shehzad Ashraf Chaudhry is working as an Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Engineering in the College of Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates, and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Software Engineering, Nisantasi University, Istanbul, Turkey. Dr. Chaudhry received the master’s and Ph.D. degrees (with Distinction) from the International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2009 and 2016, respectively. He was a recipient of the Gold Medal for achieving a 4.0/4.0 CGPA in his Master’s. Prior to joining ADU, he served as an Associate Professor at Istanbul Gelisim University, Istanbul, Turkey, and the University of Sialkot, Pakistan, and as an Assistant Professor at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan. He has authored over 170 scientific publications in international journals and conference proceedings, including more than 140 in Web of Science-indexed journals. Some of his findings are published in top rated prestigious journals and conferences including IEEE Communications Standards Magazine, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, ACM Transactions on Internet Technology, Sustainable Cities and Society (Elsevier), FGCS, IJEPES, Computer Networks, Computer Communications, and Digital Communications and Networks. 
With an H-index of 49, an I-10 index of 119, and an accumulated impact factor of more than 500, his work has been cited over 6,500 times. He has also supervised over 40 graduate students in their research. His current research interests include lightweight cryptography, elliptic curve cryptography, multimedia security, E-payment systems, MANETs, SIP authentication, Smart Grid security, IoT and Cloud infrastructure security, and next-generation networks. He delivered several keynote speeches and holds several awards for best research papers. In recognition of his research, the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology awarded him the Prestigious Research Productivity Award, affirming him as one of the Top Productive Computer Scientists in Pakistan. For the past 4 years (2020 to 2024), he has been ranked among the top 2% of computer scientists worldwide by Stanford University’s report.

Area of Interest: Information security, Authentication, Elliptic curve cryptography, Signcryption, Cryptography, IoT security.

Muhammad Bilal (SM'20) received the Ph.D. degree in information and communication network engineering from the School of Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Korea University of Science and Technology, in 2017. From 2017 to 2018, he was at Korea University, where he served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Smart Quantum Communication Center. In 2018, he joined Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea, where he served as an Associate Professor in the Division of Computer and Electronic Systems Engineering. In 2023, Dr. Bilal joined Lancaster University as a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the School of Computing and Communications. Dr. Bilal has been actively involved in various research projects, including projects funded by the EU Horizon, the Korean Government Institute for Information & Communications Technology Promotion (IITP), the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) Korea, the BK21 program, the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the National Science Foundation of China.

Dr. Bilal is a prolific author, known for his wide-ranging contributions to numerous articles published in top-tier journals and conferences. His pioneering work has also led to the successful acquisition of multiple US and Korean patents. His research interests include Network Optimization, Cyber Security, the Internet of Things, Vehicular Networks, Information-Centric Networking, Artificial Intelligence, and Cloud/Fog Computing.

Dr. Bilal is a member of the editorial boards for several prominent journals, including IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, IEEE INTERNET OF THINGS JOURNAL, IEEE Future Directions in Technology, Policy, and Ethics Newsletter, Alexandria Engineering Journal (Elsevier), and Physical Communication (Elsevier). He also serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Smart Vehicles and Smart Transportation. In addition, he has served as a Technical Program Committee member for leading international conferences, including the IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC), the IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), ACM SigCom, and the IEEE Consumer Communications & Networking Conference (CCNC).

Area of Interest: Internet of Things, Edge Computing, Cryptology, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence.

Dr. Bharat Bhushan is an accomplished academic and researcher in computer science and engineering, currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the School of Engineering and Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India. With a strong foundation in information security and emerging technologies, he has made significant contributions across wireless sensor networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and cybersecurity.
Born and raised in India, Dr. Bhushan completed his higher education in computer science. He earned his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Computer Science and Engineering with distinction from Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (formerly Allahabad Agricultural Institute) in 2012. He continued his studies at the prestigious Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, where he completed a Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Information Security with distinction in 2015, followed by a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Computer Science and Engineering in 2021. His academic journey is complemented by international certifications, including CCNA, MCTS, MCITP, RHCE, and CCNP, which underscore his expertise in networking and IT infrastructure.

Dr. Bhushan's career blends industry experience with academia. He worked as a Network Engineer at HCL Infosystems Ltd., Noida, from August 2012 to May 2013, gaining practical experience in IT services and networking. Transitioning to education, he served as an Assistant Professor at HMR Institute of Technology and Management, Delhi, from July 2015, before joining Sharda University in a similar role and was eventually promoted to Associate Professor. With over 7.5 years of teaching experience and 1 year in industry, he has mentored students and contributed to CSE curriculum development.

Dr. Bhushan's research primarily revolves around Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), IoT, Blockchain Technology, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, and Network Security. He has published more than 150 research papers in prestigious SCI-indexed journals, including the Journal of Network and Computer Applications (Elsevier), Wireless Networks (Springer), and Sustainable Cities and Society (Elsevier). Additionally, he has authored over 50 book chapters and edited 30 books with renowned publishers like Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, and CRC Press. He serves as a series editor for two Scopus-indexed book series: Computational Methods for Industrial Applications (CMIA) and Future Generation Information System (FGIS), both from CRC Press.

His scholarly impact is evident in his Google Scholar metrics: over 8,370 citations, an h-index of 49, and an i10-index of 128. On ResearchGate, he has 213 publications with 5,586 citations and an h-index aligned with his prolific output. Notable publications include "Blockchain for Smart Cities: A Review of Architectures, Integration Trends and Future Research Directions" (479 citations), "Conceptualizing Smart City Applications: Requirements, Architecture, Security Issues, and Emerging Trends" (378 citations), and "Unification of Blockchain and Internet of Things (BIoT): Requirements, Working Model, Challenges and Future Directions" (359 citations).
Dr. Bhushan has received numerous accolades, including being ranked in the top 2% of scientists worldwide by Stanford University for 2021, 2022, and 2023. He was honored as a Top Cited Author by Wiley (2022-2023) and received the Young Researcher Award (Under 40) from the International Academic and Research Excellence Award in 2019. His leadership roles include serving as Program Chair for international workshops like BDNT 2021 in Belgium and BDBI 2021 in Poland.
An active participant in the global academic community, Dr. Bhushan has delivered keynote addresses and conducted faculty development programs in India, Iraq, Morocco, China, Belgium, and Bangladesh. He is a reviewer and editorial board member for several international journals and a Senior Member of IEEE, and is a member of IAENG, CSTA, SCIEI, IAE, and UACEE. His expertise extends to session chairing and resource talks at conferences, fostering innovation in computing technologies.

Dr. Bharat Bhushan continues to inspire through his dedication to research, education, and technological advancement, positioning himself as a key figure in India's academic landscape.

Abdul Razaque (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree in computer science and engineering from the University of Bridgeport, USA, in 2015. He is with Arkansas Tech University, USA. He has held faculty positions with esteemed institutions, including Ohio Northern University (USA), New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Satbayev University, and IITU. He is known for his dynamic teaching style that emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking, and clear communication of complex technical concepts. He has successfully led and collaborated on several research projects, securing more than $6 million in funding. Beyond his scholarly contributions, he has mentored students from undergraduate to Ph.D. levels and played a central role in curriculum development, international academic partnerships, and research innovation. His academic leadership, extensive research output, and dedication to teaching make him a distinguished contributor to the global scientific and educational community. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and four books. His research covers cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, wireless sensor networks, and intelligent systems.