Ivan Chua

Ivan Chua - BCom (2015)

Candidate Summary
I have a strong track record of engaging university students, staff and alumni. As CEO of Vascular Access Robotics, I lead a multidisciplinary team of six senior scientists from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics and Charles Perkins Centre in the development of the world’s first medical device which enables first-pass intravenous cannulation – currently patent pending in 54 countries. At the University, I have delivered guest lectures and taught technology innovation and healthcare to more than 1,600 students in the business school (Executive MBA and Bachelor of Commerce) and the Faculty of Engineering and IT (Master of IT and Master of IT Management). Most notably, I established the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Development, the nation’s first student-run think tank in AI which focusses on building Australia’s talent and capacity in artificial intelligence to enhance the nation’s global competitiveness in AI.

I believe in the power of technology to address the toughest challenges in our society, and strong leadership is required to drive change on a global scale. The University of Melbourne has an important role in identifying, developing and mobilizing the next generation of leaders in Australia to drive the development of new solutions to address global challenges today and tomorrow.

I am passionate about helping students and graduates to achieve impact for themselves and the society, and a role within the Faculty's Alumni Council would provide me with an opportunity to pursue my vision of building Australia’s next generation of leaders. As a CEO, engineer and teacher, I believe I have the right skills, perspective and experience to prepare students and alumni for a future of AI. If elected, I pledge to commit myself to lead others to execute the University’s Believe Campaign target of raising $1 billion and engaging 100,000 alumni by 2021, and to create strong outcomes for the students, alumni and the society.

Biography
Entrepreneur, engineer and teacher – CEO of an artificial intelligence technology company; co-lecturer and academic tutor at the University of Sydney (Business School and Faculty of Engineering & IT); cofounder of the Center for Artificial Intelligence Development; and Speaker at various conferences in AI and healthcare.

Being born in the rural parts of Malaysia where 35% of the population live in poverty, I have firsthand experience of the social issues and unique challenges that people face in developing countries. I have a vision of a future without barriers, and I am on a mission to democratize healthcare with emerging technologies to empower every individual on the planet to realise their full potential and achieve more.

To realise my vision, my focus lies in two areas: (I) develop new technologies today to find new solutions to the most pressing issues; and (ii) identify, develop and mobilise Australia’s emerging leaders to advance the research and development of technologies to solve emerging challenges tomorrow.

* As CEO of Vascular Access Robotics, I lead a team of Australia’s leading scientists from the Australian Center of Field Robotics and Charles Perkins Center to develop the world’s first medical device which combines the latest in artificial intelligence and robotics to enable first-pass peripheral intravenous cannulation – currently patent pending in 54 countries.

* As CEO of Ximple, I lead a team of engineers to develop a platform which combines the latest in web technologies and artificial intelligence to provide a single access point for consumers and service providers to transact in the NDIS. Partnered with Google Cloud Startups, Ximple successfully developed the world’s first knowledge graph in the disability domain, powering Ximple’s products which has helped 6,000 Australians in 80 cities and towns.

* As a co-lecturer, academic tutor and guest lecturer at the University of Sydney, I have taught technology innovation to more 1,600 students in the Master of Information Technology, Master of Information Technology Management and Bachelor of Commerce
programs.

* As cofounder of Center for Artificial Intelligence Development, I support a leadership team in the development of Australia’s first student-run think tank based at the postgraduate school at the University of Sydney which focusses on building Australia’s talent and capacity in artificial intelligence to enhance the nation’s global competitiveness in AI. Through CAID, students learn about AI and use AI technologies to solve real-world problems faced by industry partners.

* As an adviser at Vulsen, I support the management team in the development and deployment of an obesity management mobile application and hemodialysis monitoring system at Nepean Hospital and Liverpool Hospital – in collaboration with the University of Sydney and NSW Health.

I hold a Bachelor of Commerce (2015) at the University of Melbourne, and have undertaken studies in computer science and economics at Harvard University (Harvard College and Harvard Kennedy School), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan School of Management) and the University of Sydney (Faculty of Engineering & IT).