People

RMIT Artificial Intelligence Advanced Innovation Experience (RAIsE) is RMIT’s AI Education–Research–Industry nexus.

The Hub works in collaboration with academic leaders, researchers, and partners across RMIT’s colleges and portfolios, reflecting RAIsE’s cross-cutting and connective mandate.

Professor  Rahil  Garnavi

Professor Rahil Garnavi

Director of the RAIsE Hub

    Professor Garnavi is an internationally recognised AI leader with experience spanning research, industry, and enterprise transformation. Her expertise includes responsible AI, applied AI and machine learning particularly in healthcare, and industry-engaged innovation, with a strong focus on bridging education, research, and real-world impact.
    Professor Lawrence Cavedon

    Professor Lawrence Cavedon

    Research Director

      Professor Cavedon has extensive experience in artificial intelligence research and application, having commenced his career at the former Australian AI Institute and spent time in a Silicon Valley startup and at Stanford University developing automated spoken dialogue systems. His current work focuses on natural language processing for health and medical information applications.
      Professor Xiaodong Li

      Professor Xiaodong Li

      Research Director

        Professor Li is an internationally recognised researcher in machine learning, evolutionary computation, and large-scale optimisation. His work spans deep learning, data analytics, and swarm intelligence, applied to complex real-world problems. He is an IEEE Fellow and an IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Distinguished Lecturer.
        Dr.  Alessio  Bonti

        Dr. Alessio Bonti

          Dr. Alessio Bonti is an Associate Professor at RMIT and former AI Lead at IBM, with experience spanning applied AI, industry transformation, and academic collaboration. He has held advisory and leadership roles across leading organisations including Università Bocconi, the Australian Computer Society (ACS), the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), and CSIRO. His work has contributed to early applications of AI in areas such as healthcare and large-scale digital systems, and he is passionate about preparing students for the future through industry-connected learning.
           Catherine  Cabacis

          Catherine Cabacis

            Catherine Cabacis is Senior Manager, Partnerships in STEM College at RMIT University. She leads the development of strategic and scalable partnerships that connect industry, education, and innovation across technology disciplines. Her work focuses on building sustainable collaboration models that align enterprise needs with curriculum innovation and applied problem-solving.
             Barti  Murugesan

            Barti Murugesan

              Barti Murugesan is Research Partnerships Manager at RMIT University, supporting strategic collaboration between researchers, industry, and government to drive high-impact innovation and research translation. He brings cross-sector experience in engagement, digital transformation, and project management across RMIT, Victoria University, and Deakin University. His expertise includes stakeholder engagement, digital enablement, and managing complex research collaborations.
              aboriginal flag float-starttorres strait flag float-start

              Acknowledgement of Country

              RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

              Learn more about our commitment to Indigenous cultures