Professor Robin Doss and the team at the Deakin Cyber Research and Innovation Centre are working to achieve cyber resilience and trust by advancing cyber security technologies, securing data and infrastructure, promoting cyber safe behaviours, disrupting cyber harms and harmonising cyber governance.  

In the last few decades, the world has undergone exponential technological growth. This has of course paved the way for cybercriminals to find creative ways to hack through digital defences, weaponising technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Australians lost nearly $319 million to scammers in 2024, with at least one in three Aussies impacted by data breaches that expose their personal details.  

‘My motivation stems from the firm belief that cyber resilience is and will continue to be one of the most pressing challenges of our times,’ says Professor Doss.  

‘It underpins confidence and trust in business, government, and systems. If people, organisations and communities are to thrive in the digital world then ensuring the security and safety of cyberspace is paramount.’  

Engineer turned cybercrime fighter  

‘When I first began studying, cyber security was not an established field, it was very much a job of the future.’  

Professor Doss obtained a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Madras in India, a Masters in Engineering and a PhD in wireless communications from RMIT University before joining Deakin in 2003. In 2015, he received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions thanks to his research.  

‘I’m proud to say my studies provided a strong foundation to work in the field and it’s thrilling to have had early experiences working with industry experts and other researchers. I found ‘iron sharpens iron’ to be true and their mentorship absolutely helped hone my expertise,’ he says.  

Tackling cyber threats to ‘protect Australian communities’  

Professor Doss hopes his team’s research into cyber resilience can enable people, organisations and communities to thrive in a digital society.  

‘We take a holistic approach, meaning that our work draws on fields such as computer science, information systems, criminology and law to ensure the safety and security of Australians and our systems of national significance,’ he says.  

Professor Doss’ own research centres on systems security, protocol design and security analysis, with a focus on smart cyber-physical critical infrastructure. His work has been funded by the Australian Research Council; government agencies, such as the Defence (now Australian) Signals Directorate; the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; and various industry partners. He has contributed to large multi-year projects under the European Union’s Framework Program and has been funded by the Indian Government under its Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC).  

Deakin Cyber’s diverse body of work has also included partnerships with the Australian Federal Police on combating organised cybercrime. Professor Doss is currently engaged in several projects, including working with industry partners on quantum automation for cyber defence, and identity and access management within critical infrastructure.  

In 2019, Professor Doss was recognised for his scientific achievements and named Cyber Security Researcher of the Year by the Australian Information Security Association (AISA). He is a trusted advisor to industry and is currently a member of the executive council of the Internet of Things Alliance (IoTA) and the technology expert on the Australian Farm Data Code certification panel.   

A challenging and fulfilling field  

Professor Doss is committed to supporting our next generation of research stars. He has supervised more than 30 PhD candidates since 2003.  

He advises prospective students looking towards a career in cyber security to ‘go for it.’  

‘It’s a very challenging and fulfilling field to be in. I encourage students from all fields to consider cyber security as a potential direction – the complexity of the challenge always requires a multi-disciplinary response’, Professor Doss says. 

‘From ensuring national security and sovereignty to protecting people from romance scams, our research impact has potential to make a real difference to the lives of people and our communities.’