At Deakin Institute for Intelligent Systems, our strength lies in our people. In this profile series, we speak to our researchers who are dedicated to solving complex problems with intelligent systems. In this profile, we meet Associate Professor Kris Law.
Joined IISRI: 2024
Areas of expertise: Engineering management: organisational learning and innovation systems; sustainable systems thinking and systems engineering; technological innovation and entrepreneurship; data-driven product development; learning analytics.
Career highlights:
– 15+ years bridging academia and industry as an Organisational Learning Consultant at TDK (SAE Magnetics)
– Appointed Docent (Reader equivalent) in Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, Finland (since 2018)
– Held multiple Erasmus Visiting Scholar roles in Slovenia and Finland (2016–2023)
– Led multi-million-dollar grants across AsiaPacific in learning analytics, supply chains, and innovation education.
– Editorial leadership for journals such as Innovation Science, Engineering Business Management.
What are you currently working on?
Systems Thinking Skills in STEM Education with the University of Warwick, UK is a newly commenced initiative investigating definitions and metrics for assessing systems thinking capabilities among engineering graduates. An upcoming interdisciplinary project with IITM, commencing in July 2025, will explore the dynamics and mechanisms underlying the spread of misinformation. I am also looking at infrastructure complexity and systems thinking – applying systems methodologies to analyse and address challenges in large-scale infrastructure planning and strategy. In addition, I explore curriculum innovation by designing new curriculum models to embed systems thinking principles across engineering management and technology leadership. Lastly, the project Gender Issues in the Trades Sector (Australia), conducted in collaboration with the School of Business, is currently underway. It explores the barriers and enablers influencing women’s participation in trade-related professions across Australia.
What led you to your area of expertise?
Growing up in a family where traits like impulsivity were common, I developed a tendency at early age to observe patterns and interactions in my environment. I was particularly drawn to the invisible links between people, processes, and systems—connections I could intuitively sense but often found difficult to articulate. After completing a bachelor’s degree in engineering, followed by a Master’s (MPhil) in Material Processing Technology and a PhD in Organisational Learning, I began to bridge my technical foundation with a deeper interest in how systems adapt, learn, and evolve—especially when human factors introduce additional layers of complexity. This path naturally led me into the fields of organizational learning, systems thinking, and innovation systems, where I continue to explore complexity, knowledge dynamics, and strategic transformation.
What was your biggest highlight for 2024?
Joining IISRI marked a significant milestone, enabling me to initiate interdisciplinary research supported by thoughtful mentorship and peer. A key focus has been redefining systems thinking across strategic and operational domains. There are several publications that reflect my evolving focus on connecting systems thinking, digital innovation, and sustainable development through applied, interdisciplinary research. Key publications include:
– Sustainable human resource management practices and corporate sustainable supply chain: the moderating role of firm technology orientationEnterprise Information Systems
– Artificial intelligence adoption in urban planning governance: A systematic review of advancements in decision-making, and policy making- Landscape and Urban Planning
– Eco-performance evaluation of product designs–an integrated fuzzy complex proportional assessment with life cycle assessment- Enterprise Information Systems
– Organisational sustainability from a systematic approach-five-elements systems thinking (FEST) model- Enterprise Information Systems
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Continuous learning and sharing with peers, researchers, and students—it’s the core of knowledge systems and where the real innovation begins.
If you could solve one challenge through your research, what would it be?
To explore the “dark hole of thinking”—a metaphor for uncovering the unseen patterns, feedback loops, and systemic blind spots that influence how knowledge flows and decisions are made within and across systems. Looking ahead, I also aim to integrate Ancient Chinese and Indian Yogic systems thinking with contemporary systems theories—bridging traditional wisdom with modern frameworks to deepen our understanding of the interconnected complexity, adaptability, and strategy within engineering systems and innovation ecosystems
This article was originally published in the 2024 IISRI Annual Report.
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