Chris Cook

After gaining his PhD in Electrical (Power) Engineering in 1976, Chris held a number of ‘high tech’ engineering positions with Marconi Avionics and the General Electric Company. Chris joined the University of Wollongong in 1982. Since his appointment as Head of School in 1989 Chris continued to hold senior leadership positions, notably spending an unprecedented 17 years as leading the Faculty of Engineering through its many incarnations. As Dean Chris facilitated the development and growth of the Faculty, which is now recognised both nationally and internationally as a leader in industrial interactions with extensive research and industry collaborators. Under his leadership research teams across all EIS discipline areas flourished, maintaining and growing their national and international prominence. Today, despite its relatively small size, EIS receives substantial research funding from both the Australian Research Council and industry sources and maintains its unique position as a member of the Group of Eight Engineering and Associates.

Chris was successful in receiving in excess of twenty national competitive grants totaling almost $10 million. He has published multiple journal articles, and has been involved in contract research worth close to $8 million. He remains, even in retirement, very active in mentoring young researchers, and maintaining existing links as well as developing new links with major industry partners.