Professor Russell Thompson serves as Professor in Transport Engineering in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, at the University of Melbourne. He earned his PhD from the University of Melbourne, a Master's degree (coursework) from Monash University, and a Bachelor's degree from RMIT University. With over 20 years of experience in freight research, Thompson has held positions at the University of Melbourne since at least 2013, including coordinating Master's courses in Transport Systems and Freight Systems. He leads the University’s Physical Internet Lab, which functions as the Australian hub of a global research and development network aimed at transforming freight and logistics systems through smart interconnectivity of physical, digital, and operational freight networks.

Thompson's research focuses on city logistics, urban transport, freight transport, parking models, and public transport accessibility. He has made significant contributions to the field, evidenced by his highly cited publications such as 'Modelling city logistics' (Taniguchi, Thompson, Yamada, 1999, 460 citations), 'Impacts of logistics sprawl on the urban environment and logistics: Taxonomy and review of literature' (Aljohani, Thompson, 2016, 330 citations), 'A parking search model' (Thompson, Richardson, 1998, 285 citations), 'Recent trends and innovations in modelling city logistics' (Taniguchi, Thompson, Yamada, 2014, 273 citations), and 'City Logistics: Network Modelling and Intelligent Transport Systems' (2001). His work has garnered over 5,500 citations on ResearchGate. Thompson received the Physical Internet Builder Award at the 9th International Physical Internet Conference in Athens for outstanding engagement in building the physical internet, and the Official Medal of the 20 Years Anniversary of the Faculty of Engineering and Economics of Transport from the Maritime University of Szczecin, Poland, presented at the 12th International Conference on City Logistics in Bordeaux. He has served as a guest editor for special issues on city logistics and delivers keynotes on topics such as Physical Internet developments in Australia.

Professional Email: rgthom@unimelb.edu.au