Researcher

Associate Professor Benjamin Peter Turnbull

Fields of Research (FoR)

Computer System Security, Networking and Communications, Conceptual Modelling, Decision Support and Group Support Systems, Simulation and Modelling

SEO tags

Application Tools and System Utilities

Emerging Defence Technologies

Intelligence

Command, Control and Communications

National Security

Communication Networks and Services

Computer Hardware and Electronic Equipment

Law Enforcement

Biography

I am a leader, mentor, researcher, and education specialist, working at the forefront of cybersecurity at UNSW Canberra.

My research is at the nexus of cyber security, simulation and emerging technology. My research goal is to provide comprehensive simulation, exercises, and decision support platforms for emerging cyber systems. I am a researcher and practitioner working in the Digital Forensics, Cyber Security, Knowledge Representation and...view more

I am a leader, mentor, researcher, and education specialist, working at the forefront of cybersecurity at UNSW Canberra.

My research is at the nexus of cyber security, simulation and emerging technology. My research goal is to provide comprehensive simulation, exercises, and decision support platforms for emerging cyber systems. I am a researcher and practitioner working in the Digital Forensics, Cyber Security, Knowledge Representation and Simulation and Scenario-based learning domains. My research interests include novel approaches to securing computers and networks, automated learning from large datasets, forensic analysis of non-traditional devices, cyber security, cyber situation awareness, and simulation design for future outcomes. In this area, I have led large numbers of externally-funded research projects to success and significant outcomes. I have significant research management experience, with a combined research income of over $3 Million AUD, from sources including CSIRO, the Australian Defence Force, DST, the Cyber Cooperative Research Centre, and the US Naval Research Laboratory. This funding has largely been applied in nature, with outputs being in software code and documentation.

I have been teaching cybersecurity for over two decades. My teaching in cybersecurity has spanned almost every offering at UNSW Canberra – from co-developing and teaching the first UNSW Canberra cybersecurity undergraduate elective through to the scaffolded and design of all undergraduate programs and multiple postgraduate offerings. I have, and continue to be, involved at every stage – course and program design, content development, teaching (in-class and online), marking, and moderation. I have a strong history in building and running industry-relevant, modern courses, across all aspects of the university offerings.

Notable educational design activities:

Co-Creator, Bachelor of Cyber Security (Pass, Honours)
Subject Matter Expert, Graduate Certificate, MBA-X, Cyber Security Leadership
Co-Creator and Co-Program Director, UNSW Online Cyber Security Masters Program
Assistant Creator and Co-Program Director, Bachelor of Computing and Cyber Security
Creator and Director, Bachelor of IT/Cyber Honours Program.
Consultant, Masters of Cyber Security – Security Operations, Forensics, Advanced Tradecraft

My Research Supervision

Supervision keywords

cyber security

cyber-physical systems

influence analysis

cyber intelligence

Areas of supervision

Research

Research Interests

Cyber Security
Cyber Business Impact Analysis
The security of Internet of Things, Industrial Internet of Things, Cyber Physical Systems Security, Industry 4.0.
Influence, misinformation and rumour propagation.

Research Supervised

PhD: 11 PhD completions, currently supervising 5 PhD students.

Honours: 22 Honours student completions

My Teaching

Teaching @ UNSW

Co-Creator Bachelor of Cyber Security (Pass, Honours) - Live in 2025
Development: In 2023, I co-designed and scaffolded this program, worked with industry and UNSW stakeholders, represented UNSW Canberra at high-level discussions, and ensured program and course approvals.

Subject Matter Expert, Graduate Certificate, MBA-X, Cyber Security Leadership - Live in 2024
Development: Contributed to course design and structure.

Co-Creator and Co-Program Director, UNSW Online Cyber Security Masters Program

This program is comprised of the following:

o   Cyber Security Graduate Certificate
o   Cyber Security Graduate Diploma (Management and Leadership)
o   Cyber Security Masters (Management and Leadership)
o   Cyber Security Graduate Diploma (Security Engineering)
o   Cyber Security Masters (Security Engineering)

I designed and scaffolded the program, working with industry and UNSW stakeholders. I represented UNSW Canberra at high-level discussions, I then ensured program and course approvals.

I then ran half of this program, including 9 courses, for 2.5 years as the Co-Program Director (UNSW Canberra Director), 2019 - 2023.

Assistant Creator and Co-Program Director, Bachelor of Computing and Cyber Security
Development: Assisted in program structure, content design and scaffolding.
Operation: Co-Program Director (2017-2018). I was the founding Co-Director, transitioning from a Bachelor of IT to the emerging Computing and Cyber Security.

Creator and Director, Bachelor of IT/Cyber Honours Program.
I developed the program structure, content design and scaffolding. I then directed this program between 2015-2016 and 2019 - 2021.

Consultant, Masters of Cyber Security – Security Operations, Forensics, Advanced Tradecraft
In 2015,I consulted on program and specialisation structures. I then taught into this program 2015-2017.

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