Tim Macuga

Media & Communications
Media & Communications
- Tim.Macuga@qut.edu.au
Tim is a seasoned Science Communicator with extensive experience in journalism and a passion for bridging the gap between complex research and broad audiences.
Before joining MACSYS, Tim spent a decade leading communications for the Australian Data Science Network (ADSN), the QUT Centre for Data Science, and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS). In these roles, he specialised in empowering researchers to share their work effectively, fostering deeper connections between their discoveries and the wider community.
Originally from the United States, Tim enjoyed a distinguished 25+ year career in television news, working across three states. For more than 15 years, he served as Executive News Producer at a leading TV station in Phoenix, Arizona, where he managed the evening newscasts in one of the nation’s fastest-growing markets.
Shuting Liu

Professional Staff
Node Administrator
- shuting.liu3@unimelb.edu.au
Shuting Liu is the MACSYS UoM Node Administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from China University of Political Science and Law and a Master of Research degree from Macquarie University. She is now completing her PhD in Phonetics at the University of Melbourne.
Shuting has professional experience across both the higher education and tech sectors. She previously worked as a linguistic project manager at Appen, and has held various roles, including lab coordinator, tutor, research assistant, and project officer, at multiple universities. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals in the fields of experimental phonetics, applied linguistics, and cognitive science.
Ben Hess

Professional Staff
Centre Coordinator
Ben Hess is the MACSYS Centre Coordinator. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from RMIT and has completed further studies in physics and pure mathematics at the University of Melbourne.
Ben has a decade of experience in the higher education sector and has worked continuously for other ARC Centres of Excellence since 2016.
Emily Duane

Professional Staff
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.