Iven Mareels is the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Innovation, and the Executive Dean, Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability. He's also Director of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and Non-executive Director of Rubicon Water (ASX listed).

Previously, he was a partner in IBM Consulting and Director of the Centre for Applied Research, IBM Australia (2021–2022), Director of IBM Research in Australia (2018–2021) and Dean of Engineering at the University of Melbourne (2007–2018).

Iven received his PhD in Systems Engineering from the Australian National University in 1987 and his Master of Engineering (Electromechanical, ir) from Gent University in 1982.

He has co-authored over 500 refereed publications, including 5 monographs. He is a co-inventor of a suite of patents related to the automation of large scale, gravity fed, irrigation systems (with Rubicon Water).

Iven has received a number of awards, including the IBM Research Achievement Award (bronze level) in 2021, the Harold Chestnut Control Engineering Textbook Prize in 2017, the IEEE Control Systems Society Technology Award in 2014, the Asian Control Association Wook Hyun Kwon Education Award in 2013 and the Clunies Ross Medal for the automation of irrigation in 2008.

He has received two civil awards. He is a commander in the Order of the Crown of Belgium and received the Centenary Medal of Australia for contributions to engineering education and research.

Iven is a culture champion, an experienced R&D manager and research team leader who has managed up to 1,000 employees (counting PhD students as junior employees) and an annual budget well in excess of A$300M.

He has worked in a consulting and research capacity with the water, electrical power, electronics and defence industries as well as other research organisations. The majority of his experience was in the university sector (1977–2018 and 2022–present).

Iven enjoys developing talent and shaping organisational culture. He feels immensely rewarded when people reach their full potential after being well placed in an organisation.

Iven’s personal research focuses on large-scale and learning systems (from mathematical modelling to organisational management) such as computational networks, the electricity grid, water distribution networks, and the (human) brain.