Dr Pat Burka is a seasoned industrial research leader with over 15 years of global experience in advanced manufacturing and aerospace systems, including at Airbus and Premium Aerotec, a 100% Airbus subsidiary. Pat is currently Director of the  Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) at Swinburne University of Technology (SUT), where he is leading a team of 12 researchers delivering innovative projects in advanced composite design and manufacturing and hydrogen powered UAV development. He brings deep technical knowledge of research translation and commercialisation and high-level leadership in large-scale innovation and R&D environments.

Throughout his career, Pat has championed collaborative R&D across academia and industry leading numerous long-term multi-stakeholder research initiatives, including successful certification programs for new aerospace manufacturing technologies. He holds the EWF European Adhesive Engineer certification as well as Airbus Project Manager certification (Bronze) and is a nominated Airbus Structural Bonding Industrialisation Expert. His thought leadership is widely recognised through invited talks at international forums on automated bonding and manufacturing innovation.