Biography
Dr. Saud Khan is the Academic Director for Data Science & Analytics at Kaplan Business School, where he leads the strategic direction of the discipline across six national campuses. With a PhD in Engineering & Computer Science from The Australian National University and CSIRO, Saud sits at the intersection of executive academic leadership and cutting-edge research innovation.
His work focuses on bridging the gap between complex technical requirements and applied educational strategy, ensuring that curriculum initiatives anticipate emerging trends in AI resilience, privacy-preserving technologies, and data ethics.
Core Pillars of Leadership & Research
Strategic Academic Leadership: Saud oversees the academic governance and faculty mentorship for Data Science programs nationally. His leadership is defined by:
- Curriculum Strategy: Directing the (re)accreditation and design of Master’s programs to align with Australian Computer Society standards and industry needs.
- Operational Excellence: Managing resources and budgets to guide strategies for executive reporting.
- Educational Innovation: Leading the development of KAI, a multi-agent AI system designed to scale student support, and earning the Kaplan Global Award for excellence in AI-driven continuous transformation.
Research Authority & Grant Leadership: An active researcher and Visiting Researcher at ANU , Saud has established himself as a thought leader in the areas of cybersecurity and internet of things. His research portfolio includes:
- Grant Success: Securing over A$420,000 in external funding, including competitive grants from the Australian Research Council and CSIRO.
- Global Collaboration: Partnering with institutions such as Princeton University, Kingston University London, and CSIRO to drive multi-institutional projects.
- Publication Impact: Authoring patents and peer-reviewed papers, focusing on secure communications and non-terrestrial networks.
Industry Integration & Applied Technology: Saud actively bridges academia and industry. Concurrently working with RMIT University, he designs immersive, skills-first learning experiences that map directly to global certifications (AWS, Cisco) and national competency standards. He acts as a primary technical liaison for industry partners, converting market intelligence into specialised micro-credentials that address real-world data challenges.
Academic Qualifications
Technical
| 2025 | PhD, The Australian National University & CSIRO, Engineering & Computer Science |
| 2020 | Master, Kumoh Institute of Technology, South Korea, Information Technology |
| 2017 | Bachelor, National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Pakistan, Electrical Engineering |
Leadership
| 2025 | Grad. Cert, Kaplan Business School, Business Admin |
| Exp. 2026 | MBA, Kaplan Business School, Project Mgmt & Leadership |
| Exp. 2026 | Grad. Cert, Deakin University, Higher Education |
Appointments
| May 2025 – Present | Academic Director, Kaplan, Australia |
| Feb 2024 – Present | Teacher, RMIT University |
| Dec 2024 – Present | Visiting Researcher, The Australian National University |
| Feb 2024 – May 2025 | Academic Head, Kaplan, Australia |
| Feb 2023 – Feb 2024 | Lecturer, Kaplan, Australia |
| Mar 2018 – Feb 2020 | Research Assistant, Kumoh Institute of Technology |