Ben Hess
Operations Committee
Interim Chief Operating Officer
Ben Hess is the Interim Chief Operating Officer of MACSYS – ARC Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems. He leads the Centre’s professional staff team and is responsible for overseeing its strategic operations, administration, and financial management.
With over a decade of experience in research operations and administration, Ben has played a key role in the establishment, growth, and legacy planning of multiple ARC Centres of Excellence. He works closely with the Centre Director and Executive team to ensure strong governance and effective cross-institutional coordination.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from RMIT and has undertaken further studies in physics and pure mathematics at the University of Melbourne.
Emily Duane
Operations Committee
Chief Operating Officer
Dr Emily Duane is the Centre’s Chief Operating Officer. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science (Honours) and a PhD in Operations Research, all from The University of Melbourne.
During her PhD she developed novel mathematical solution algorithms for automatic scheduling of cranes at seaport container terminals. Her work provided new insights into the creation of cost effective schedules for this operationally complex problem and will guide future algorithm development in this area.
Since 2003 Emily has worked in various university administrative roles, and was Chief Operating Officer of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers.
Emily appreciates and understands the fundamental importance of the mathematical sciences, and is passionate about supporting and promoting the mathematical sciences in Australia.