As Pro Vice-Chancellor and executive dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Professor John Dell has changed the profile of engineering education and research at the University of Western Australia, dramatically changing the education model and ensuring the research is more industry-focussed and collaborative between disciplines. He joined the Faculty in 1994 after working for 10 years developing technologies for optoelectronics at Telecom Research Laboratories in Australia and space radiation effects at Matra Marconi Space Systems in France. Prof Dell was appointed Dean of the Faculty in 2010 and was subsequently appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty in 2017.