Professor Sir John O’Reilly
Professor Sir John O’Reilly President

Professor Sir John O’Reilly is the President of Khalifa University of Science and Technology. 

Prior to joining Khalifa University, Professor Sir John was Chairman of NICC (Standards) Ltd., and formerly a Royal Commissioner for the Exhibition of 1851. At present, he is also Chairman of the Science and Engineering Advisory Council (SEAC) of Singapore, and Board Member of Singapore’s Agency for Science Technology in Singapore (A*STAR). 

With a career spanning the academia, industry and the government, Professor Sir John is widely acknowledged for charting the strategic direction of R&D in Singapore. 

In the UK, Professor Sir John is Chair of the Wales Science and Innovation Advisory Council, and Visiting Professor at University College London (UCL). His previous roles include Director-General of Knowledge and Innovation for the UK government, with policy and funding responsibility for the UK Research Councils, the Innovation Agency (TSB/Innovate UK) and Higher Education (2013-2015); Vice-Chancellor Cranfield University (2006-2013); Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (2001-2006); and Professor and Chair of Telecommunications at UCL (1993- 2001). His industrial and government research experience includes tenures at the Royal Radar Establishment of the Ministry of Aviation, Ulta Electronics Ltd, Post Office Research Center/BT Laboratories, and with Start-up/SMEs IDB Ltd and Cast Ltd. 

Author of over 400 research papers in ICT, Professor Sir John O’Reilly’s contributions have led to a number of recognitions, including honorary doctorates and fellowships (Universities of Essex, Bangor Huddersfield, UCL), of Académie Hassan II des Sciences et Techniques, and of Academia das Ciências de Lisboa. He received the J J Thompson Medal (IEE 2003) for contributions to electronic engineering and the Ciencia (Science) Medal from the government of Portugal (2017) for contributions to science. He received a Knighthood (2007) from Her Majesty the Queen for contributions to science, and the Honorary Citizen Award (2017) from the President of Singapore for contributions to science and engineering research. 

Professor Sir John O’Reilly is also a Fellow and former member of the Council of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. He was previously a Board Member and Trustee of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and also Director and Chairman of ERA Foundation Ltd. Additionally, he is a former President of EUREL (Association of Electrical Societies in Europe), past President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET, formerly IEE), and has served the IEEE and OSA in various capacities relating to research.