After earning his electronics engineering degree from UniSA, Stephen worked as a design engineer in the UK telecommunications sector and completed an MSc in programmable electronics at the University of Kent. Following his return to Australia, he worked in the defence and electronic security industries for a number of years. During his industry period, he worked on the design of 13 products and systems that entered production and service. The highlight of this period was his time as the Starlab Project Engineer during which he led a team of engineers in the development of the electronics subsystem of a UV space telescope; a project that introduced Stephen to traditional systems engineering and ignited his passion for the discipline.
He joined Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) as a Principal Engineer in 1988. His leadership at DSTO resulted in two patents and a commercial product that advanced defence communications capabilities, earning him the Secretary’s Award for Achievement. He rose to Senior Principal Research Scientist, leading a team of around 70 staff, while also consulting on major defence communications projects. During this time, he earned a Graduate Diploma in Electronic Systems from UniSA and a PhD in knowledge-based requirements generation from City, University of London.
After his impactful tenure at DSTO, Stephen transitioned to academia to become the DSTO Professor of Systems Engineering at UniSA where he led the establishment of the Defence and Systems Institute. His leadership fostered growth to over 60 staff that taught four master programs in SE and related disciplines and undertook industry-funded research in the architectural design and acquisition of complex systems of systems, system safety modelling, systems engineering tool research, acquisition process evolution, and workforce development.
In 2014, Stephen became a senior principal systems engineer with Shoal where he provides support to large capital equipment projects such as ships, communications networks, and C4ISR systems. He also engages in company research projects in the development of new systems engineering methods and tools as well as a range of client tasks. Additionally, he has undertaken several research contracts for Defence focussed on systems of systems integration and innovative military communications networks. His work at Shoal has led to numerous significant publications. In recent years, he has also spent periods supporting prime contractors in developing their systems engineering capability.
In addition to his role at Shoal, Stephen is the part-time Professor of Defence Systems at the University of Adelaide. In this role, he teaches systems theory and systems engineering courses and supervises research students in systems engineering, complex project management, system theory, and systems modelling and simulation.
Stephen has authored over 200 refereed publications and 100 client reports and has been elected a Fellow of both the Institution of Engineering and Technology (UK) and Engineers Australia. Recognised as an INCOSE Fellow, he has actively contributed to working groups, served on committees, and received numerous honours, including an INCOSE Outstanding Service Award and life membership of the Systems Engineering Society of Australia (SESA). He has been awarded Membership of the Omega Alpha Association international honour society in systems engineering.
Stephen’s additional service to the profession includes many years on the SESA board including a term as President, his appointment as a board member of the INCOSE Foundation since its inception in 2005, and his service as a member of the IET Professional Network in Systems Engineering Executive Committee. He has been involved in organising around 20 conferences.
Beyond his professional work, Stephen has been active in community organisations in his roles as President of the East Adelaide Table Tennis Club and Vice President and Life Member of Skate South Australia.
Stephen is in good health and physically fit and he competes at national level in inline speed roller skating. He is also a keen table tennis player and plays in the middle grades in the Adelaide metropolitan competition.
