Biography

ELAINE WONG (IEEE S’99-M’03-SM’14, OSA Fellow 2020) is Pro Vice-Chancellor (People and Equity) and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne. Elaine received the BEng degree (Electrical Engineering) and Ph.D. degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1997 and 2002, respectively. She has made numerous significant intellectual contributions in the field of optical fibre communications and optical networking, particularly in the areas of optical access network architectures and subsystem technologies, energy-efficient networking and subsystem technologies, converged/hybrid fibre-wireless networks and subsystem technologies, and more recently in low-latency human-to-machine communications to support Tactile Internet and 5G/6G networks.

Elaine has a strong publication track record of research outputs across more than 100 peer-reviewed journals, 200 peer-reviewed conferences, 4 book chapters, and 5 international patents. Elaine’s most highly cited papers highlight her diverse technical skills which include numerical and simulation-based systems and device modelling, digital and RF analogue circuit design, experimental device characterisation, system performance evaluation, and network architecture design and optimisation.

Elaine is a member of the Australia Research Council (ARC) College of Experts (2022-2024), an ARC Future Fellow (2011-2016), an IEEE Photonics Society (formally LEOS) Graduate Fellow (2002), a Senior Member of the IEEE (2014 onwards) and a Fellow of the Optica (formerly Optical Society from 2020 onwards).

Elaine is an active member of the Optical Society, IEEE Communications Society and IEEE Photonics Society through extensive journal and conference organisation activities. In 2023, Elaine’s service to IEEE and Optica community includes the following roles:

IEEE Photonics Society Board of Governors
IEEE Photonics Society Publication Council
Optical Society Optica Fellows Selection Committee
General Chair, Optical Fiber Communications Conference 2025.
General Chair, Opto-Electronics Communications Conference 2024.
Guest Editor of IEEE Network (IF2020: 10.693)
Guest Editor of IEEE Journal of Selected Areas of Communication (IF2020: 11.42)
Chair of IEEE Communication Society, Optical Networking Technical Committee (ONTC).

In the past, Elaine has served various selection committees, conference committees and editorial boards. Most notable of her contributions include:

Secretary of the IEEE/Optica Journal of Lightwave Technology Coordination Committee
Sub-committee chair of OFC2021 N4:Optical Access Networks for Fixed and Mobile Services
Sub-committee chair of CLEO Pacific Rim 2020 Track C9: Optical Communication Systems and Network
Selection Committee Chair of the IEEE Photonics Society Distinguish Lecturer Award (2014)
Associate Editor of IEEE/OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology (IF2019: 4.288)
Associate Editor of OSA Journal of Optical Communications and Networking (IF2019: 3.425)
Technical Committee Program Co-Chair of OECC 2014

Elaine was appointed the Associate Dean and Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Melbourne, Australia from 2018 to 2023.

For a full CV, please contact Elaine Wong on ewon@unimelb.edu.au.