Laureate Professor Kate Smith-Miles is known for her paradigm-shifting research in applied mathematics. Her Instance Space Analysis methodology provides a mathematically rigorous foundation for stress testing algorithms, solving a long-standing challenge in algorithm performance. It has had a profound impact on research practice and is used internationally by thousands of researchers and industry groups across optimisation, machine learning, AI, scheduling, logistics and many other computational fields. Her techniques have been applied in medical diagnostics, manufacturing design, water quality management and defence and quantum capability assessment.

Professor Smith-Miles supports research capability, integrity and policy as Pro Vice-Chancellor, and is an outstanding mentor and diversity champion. She proposed and led an ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre where PhD students work with industry, improving productivity and efficiency by using mathematical optimisation techniques to solve complex problems. She has been recognised with prestigious awards from the Australian Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Societies.

Laureate Professor Kate Smith-Miles is an academic leader of international repute for research in applied mathematics with industry impact, a Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Capability), and an outstanding mentor and advocate for women in STEM. She is highly awarded with prestigious medals from both the Australian Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Societies. Her fundamental research provides a mathematically rigorous foundation for “stress testing” algorithms and has been taken up by thousands of world-wide users spanning over 300 research groups as well as industry. She has dedicated her career to educating the next generation of science and engineering students in applied mathematics. Her excellence in working with industry is recognised as Director of a multi-million-dollar ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre where PhD students work with industry, improving productivity and efficiency by using mathematical optimisation techniques to solve complex problems. She is a diversity champion and esteemed role model as a leader in STEM education.