In summary

  • Professor Tien Kieu, an expert in quantum physics and quantum computation, has been appointed to the Swinburne Council
  • He has been an Adjunct Professor at Swinburne’s Centre for Quantum Technology Theory since 2009 and served as a Member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 2018-2022
  • Professor Kieu commenced his three-year term as a government-appointed member of the Council on 1 January 2024

Swinburne University of Technology Chancellor, Professor John Pollaers OAM, today welcomed Professor Tien Kieu’s appointment to the Swinburne Council.

Professor Kieu is an expert in quantum physics and quantum computation, and has been an Adjunct Professor at Swinburne’s Centre for Quantum Technology Theory since 2009.

He served as a Member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 2018-2022, representing the South-Eastern Metropolitan region.

Professor Pollaers said he was delighted that Professor Kieu had joined the Swinburne Council to help guide the university as it works towards its Horizon 2025 moon shots and beyond.

“Professor Kieu has a strong background in both academia and public service, and has already been a valued part of our Swinburne community for many years,” Professor Pollaers said.

“His inspiring journey has seen him travel from refugee to university professor to Member of Parliament, and the Swinburne Council will benefit greatly from his diverse career and life experience.”

Professor Tien Kieu

Professor Kieu came to Australia as a refugee from Vietnam in 1980. He gained a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Queensland in 1984, graduating with the University Medal, before being awarded a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Edinburgh in 1988.

As a former refugee, he is committed to supporting diverse communities and he actively engages with multicultural communities in Victoria, serving as a role model and advocate for inclusivity and equal opportunity.

Professor Kieu’s career includes positions at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Oxford, the University of Melbourne and CSIRO. He has held a Fulbright Fellowship and several visiting positions at Columbia University, MIT and the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study.

Beyond academia, Professor Kieu has experience in the industry and finance sectors, and has held directorship positions at the Transport Accident Commission and currently at the Greater Western Water Corporation.

“I have a long association with Swinburne, having first arrived as a Professorial Fellow in 2001, so I am excited to be joining the Council to steer the direction of the university into the future,” Professor Kieu said.

“I am passionate about STEM education and I look forward to working with the other Swinburne Council members to bring people and technology together to build a better world.”

Swinburne Council appointments

Professor Kieu commenced his three-year term as a government-appointed member of the Swinburne Council on 1 January 2024.

In addition, three other current members continued their terms on the Council from the same date.

The Swinburne Council approved the reappointment of Council member Anthony Mackay as Deputy Chancellor for a further three-year term.

John Chambers was reappointed as a government-appointed member of Council for a further three-year term, and Bronwyn Smith was re-elected as the staff representative on Council for a further two-year term. 

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