HackAIthon mentors

During HackAIthon on Saturday 14 March, industry and community mentors will be available at scheduled times to support teams with idea development, technical direction, and strategic feedback.

We’ve brought together an amazing team of mentors who are ready to support you and provide feedback from multiple perspectives. This is your opportunity to dive in, ask questions, learn from the best, and build connections that will power you through your university life.

You will be able to book a mentor session from 13 March.

Mentors will help you:

refine your hackathon concept
identify potential problems with your solution early
explore technologies or approaches
with feedback on your presentation or direction.

Due to limited availability, mentor bookings will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with each team able to access a minimum of one mentor session.

Meet our mentors

Kritim Dhakal

Kritim is a Sustainability-focused Scientific Officer at UQ with expertise in environmental management, lab operations, and research support. Kritim:

leads initiatives in circular economy, waste reduction, and regenerative agriculture, including an Indigenous knowledge-informed shared garden
advises on sustainable practices while educating communities through projects and workshops on sustainable living.

Professor Robin Shields

The Head of the School of Education at the University of Queensland provides strategic leadership in education, research and teaching.

An internationally recognised scholar in globalisation and education, their work uses data-driven methods to analyse global educational change.
They have led major funded research projects, undertaken consultancies for UNESCO and international NGOs, and are committed to social justice, Indigenous inclusion, and innovative, technology-enhanced teaching.

Ricci Doddz Juaman

Founder of CogniLaw, an AI-powered legal technology platform focused on democratising access to professional contract review for Australian small businesses.

An AI Engineer specialising in RAG systems, vector databases and hybrid search, he leads product strategy, proprietary AI architecture, and business development.
With a strong data analytics background, he designs scalable, auditable AI systems bridging advanced engineering with real-world legal and compliance needs.

Dr Christoph Nedophil Wang

Dr Christoph Nedopil Wang is Director of the Griffith Asia Institute and Professor of Economics, specialising in sustainable and green finance in Asia and the Pacific.

His research focuses on China’s role in green development, climate finance and the Belt and Road Initiative.
He has led major policy reports for UNDP, G20 and ADB, published widely, and delivers executive education globally for governments and international institutions.

Professor Stan Karanasios

Dr Stan Karanasios is a Professor of Information Systems at the UQ Business School, University of Queensland, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton.

His research examines how digital technologies, including generative AI, reshape organisations and society, with a particular focus on activity theory.
He has led projects for international and government bodies, publishes extensively in leading journals, and holds senior editorial roles across top information systems publications.

Dr Raj Yadav

Dr Raj Yadav is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Queensland University of Technology, specialising in decolonisation, development and critical social theory.

His research spans social work, climate justice, disaster, digital inequality and artificial intelligence, with a future-oriented lens. Trained at the University of Newcastle, his doctoral work pioneered decolonised developmental social work.
He has extensive international experience as a curriculum expert, consultant and guest speaker across Asia, Europe and Australia.

Professor Genevieve Healy

Genevieve is a Professor of Physical Activity and Health at the University of Queensland and an MRFF Emerging Leadership Fellow.

Her research examines sedentary behaviour and physical activity across the 24-hour day, with a focus on health, wellbeing, and performance.
She leads the BeUpstanding program, translating co-designed research into scalable workplace health initiatives for desk-based workers and priority populations.

Dr Russell Manfield

Dr Russell Manfield is a Senior Lecturer and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Queensland. With a background in mechanical engineering, he has worked across mining, telecommunications, and new ventures in technology, agri-tech, and workplace training.

His teaching focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategy, supported by accessible online courses.
His research explores how new ideas and technologies create real-world impact, particularly in emerging industries.

He is an Associate Investigator with EQUS (Engineered Quantum Systems).

Professor Martie-Lousie Verreynne

Martie-Louise Verreynne is a Professor of Innovation and Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Queensland.

Her research explores how small firms use innovation, capabilities, and networks to gain a competitive edge.
She publishes widely, works closely with policymakers and industry, and has received national recognition for teaching excellence and research engagement.

Suren Dias-Jayasinha

Suren Dias-Jayasinha is Head of Sales & Marketing at Queensland Magnesia.

A senior commercial leader with global experience in mining and metals, he has held general manager–level roles across strategy, business development, and sales.
His industry background supports practical perspectives on how data and AI can improve efficiency, sustainability, and decision-making in resource-intensive sectors.

Sophia Arkinstall

Sophia Arkinstall is Founder and Director of AI & Society, a national initiative focused on understanding how AI is shaping people, places, and cities.

She leads cross-sector programs in AI literacy, responsible technology adoption, and future skills, working with communities, industry, and government to translate complex AI concepts into practical, human-centred outcomes across Australia.

Professor Jason Tangen

Professor Jason Tangen is a cognitive scientist at the University of Queensland whose research explores how people think, learn, and make decisions.

His work sits at the intersection of cognitive science and artificial intelligence, examining how generative AI can support learning, provide personalised feedback, and improve reasoning.
He also studies cognitive biases and judgment to better understand and improve human decision-making.

Associate Professor Renee Zahnow

Dr Renee Zahnow is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Science at the University of Queensland. Her research focuses on patterns of crime and victimisation, particularly how daily human movement, social norms, and environments influence crime. She specialises in spatial and longitudinal data analysis using police, ambulance, and hospital data, offering valuable insights into how AI and data analytics can help understand and prevent crime in communities.

Mika Sato

Mika Sato is a Software Developer at Aurion and an alumna of the University of Queensland, where she studied Chemical and Environmental Engineering.

Originally working as a graduate chemical engineer, she transitioned into software development and now works on building practical digital tools.
She is passionate about creating technology that helps people and enjoys solving complex problems while continuously learning in the tech industry.