Mosbergen R1, Marendy P2, Laurenson M3, Sinha M4
1RSE-AUNZ, , Australia, 2QCIF, Brisbane, Australia, 3Bioeconomy Science Institute, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, 4ACCESS-NRI, Canberra, Australia
Biography:
Rowland is a strategic leader in digital research infrastructure with 25+ years’ experience translating HPC, AI, data and cloud technologies into scalable research and industry services used by global communities. Known for building partnerships across researchers, national infrastructure providers and technology teams to deliver high-impact digital capability, Rowland provides strategic direction, inclusive leadership and scalable programs that accelerate research adoption and demonstrate measurable impact.
Rowland co-founded RSAA, RSAfrica, and RS Latin America, and established Equersa, the umbrella organisation supporting all three regional conferences. He also serves on the steering committee of the RSE Australia New Zealand Association.
Peter Marendy is Head of Data and Software at QCIF, providing eResearch infrastructure and services for Australian institutions. He leads a team delivering innovative solutions for various research programs, with expertise in workflows, computing, data capture, sensitive data management, and general research software development. Peter is actively involved in the federated learning space.
Prior to QCIF, Peter led Microsystems research at CSIRO's Cybernetics Group, where he worked on cutting-edge projects such as Bees with Backpacks and Optimising Pollination. He also collaborated on Smart Hives, Probing Biosystems – Implantables, Brain Implants, and Smart Helmets for optimising the timing of Cranioplasty.
Peter brings extensive experience in team/capability management, project management, and customer-focused collaboration to his current role. With over 25 years in software engineering, research, and research management across multiple domains, including Digital Agriculture, Energy, Food and Nutritional Sciences, Health, Marine Sensing, Robotics, and Visual Analytics, he has developed a strong understanding of research and innovation environments.
Abstract:
Join us for an interactive session where we'll share some accomplishments of the Research Software Engineer Community of Australia and New Zealand (RSE-AUNZ), talk about community needs, host an Ask Me Anything session, and collect and develop ideas for our 2026–2030 strategy.
This session welcomes experienced research software engineers, early-career professionals, research software team leaders, and institutional supporters of RSE practice.
We will present an overview of RSE-AUNZ's recent initiatives, including Zulip, our LinkedIn page, and our membership database, and their impact. We’ll follow that with a live community survey designed to gather insights into your priorities, organisational challenges, and strategic vision for research software engineering across the Australia / New Zealand region.
An Ask Us Anything (AUA) session with senior RSE leaders, that will spark discussion about where we should focus our efforts over the next four years. This discussion will allow attendees to contribute to RSE-AUNZ's strategic direction while engaging with others navigating similar professional challenges and opportunities.
