Create an experience with Joe West

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-14/university-of-melbourne-return-to-country-indigenous-engineering

 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-25/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-veterans/105215880

 https://youtu.be/Nl4mC-7ZtTo?si=FCbjL4kbdRkd9kG9

A Murawarri Traditional Owner originating from the Culgoa River region of northern NSW, Joseph West is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Information Systems and a Fulbright Future Scholar.

Joe has a Doctor of Philosophy (Artificial Intelligence) and completed his Bachelor of Computer Science (Award for top grades), Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (1st Class Honours) and Master of Engineering Science (Project Management) at the UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy.

Joe served in the Australian Army for 21 years holding numerous roles from Signalman (Private) in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals to Major in the Royal Australia Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. As a Major Joe completed active service in Afghanistan, East Timor and the Solomon Islands, and as an Electrical Engineer performed high-risk projects including concept demonstration of strategic electronic warfare assets in East Timor and leading tactical satellite equipment upgrades in Uruzgan province Afghanistan. 

A current Army Reservist, Joe is a Research Officer for the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation and Coordination Office (RICO), and member of the Chief of Army's Indigenous Cultural Advisory Board and the Defence’s Indigenous Cultural Advisory Board.

In 2015, as part of the centenary of ANZAC commemorations Joe led the live televised Honouring Warrior Spirits ceremony to commemorate Indigenous service at Gallipoli. Attended by the Governor General, Turkish dignitaries and was broadcast live on ABC. For this Joe was recognised as one of Australia’s prominent Indigenous achievers of the year.

In 2009 Joe and his wife started a real estate business with no prior real estate experience and immediately upon opening the global financial crisis struck. Successfully trading through the global financial crisis, the introduction of the modern employment awards, and significant changes to property legislation, the profitable business was sold 10 years later with over 300 properties under management having outlasted all its competitors. 

Joe's research interest is in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence with a focus on general decision making and general applications. He is using state of the art deep learning methods to close the loop in neuro-stimulation, improving outcomes for patients undergoing neurological electro-stimulation therapy.

Having received D’s and E’s throughout high school how did Joe get to where he is today?
Born into underprivileged circumstances and having faced years of setbacks including being
openly laughed at by a teacher, to today. Having rarely been accepted the first time for something Joe is a strong advocate for selecting a person based on their ability not their past and can offer advice to organisations ways in which they can create opportunities, reduce barriers to entry and increase Indigenous participation rates.