Rate My Professor Emma Sparks

Professor Emma Sparks serves as the Dean and Rector of UNSW Canberra, located at the Australian Defence Force Academy, a position she assumed in January 2022 and to which she was reappointed through 2032, marking her as the first woman in this role. A distinguished systems engineer with more than twenty years of experience across higher education and defence sectors, she holds a BSc (Hons) in sports science and osteopathy, an MSc and PhD in systems engineering for defence, and a postgraduate certificate in teaching, learning, and assessment for higher education.

Her professional journey commenced with research at the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Fort Halstead, on human protection and performance, followed by positions at the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency. Her PhD work on future soldier capability initiated a sustained partnership with Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group in Adelaide for the Australian Soldier Modernisation Program, a $35 million initiative to advance Army combat capabilities. Before UNSW Canberra, Sparks was Professor of Systems Engineering Education at Cranfield University, UK, serving as Director of Programme Portfolio Delivery, Deputy Director of Education, and Head of the Centre for Systems Engineering. She led the 'Women in Defence' charter, pioneered Level 7 apprenticeships in systems engineering, launched the Defence and Security Programme in 2020, and advised the UK military on future education needs. Among her honours are recognition as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering by The Telegraph in 2018 and Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. She is a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Her publications include editing Advances in Military Textiles and Personal Equipment (CRC Press, 2012). At UNSW Canberra, she drives innovative education, research delivery to defence stakeholders, and partnerships with industry, government, and international bodies, grounded in data-driven analysis.