Citation for Assoc Prof Roslyn Hickson

Associate Professor Roslyn Hickson is an applied mathematician whose work exemplifies the spirit of industrial mathematics through its impact on public health policy and practice. As Science Leader for Emerging Infectious Diseases at CSIRO and James Cook University, she develops mathematical and computational models to support decision-making on emerging, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, with a strong One Health and biosecurity focus. Her research spans tuberculosis control, dengue and Wolbachia interventions, pandemic and seasonal influenza, malaria elimination in the Asia–Pacific, and quantitative frameworks for viral spillover risk, producing widely cited contributions and tools now used by governments and international partners.

Dr Hickson’s career showcases the application of sophisticated mathematical modelling to complex real-world problems for government and health-sector industry, including work that helped the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control recognise the value of in-house modelling capacity. She has held research positions at the Australian National University, the University of Newcastle, IBM Research Australia, and the University of Melbourne’s Centre of Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination, and has been recognised with honours such as the Ria de Groot prize for best female postgraduate student, finalist selection for MIT Technology Review’s EmTech Asia Innovators Under 35 list, a Victorian Young Tall Poppy Science Award, and the ITS Australia Award for Excellence in Research and Development. Through her leadership, mentoring, and service to the mathematical sciences community, Roslyn Hickson has made outstanding and sustained contributions to industrial mathematics, richly deserving recognition as the recipient of the inaugural 2026 K. A. Landman Medal for Contributions to Industrial Mathematics.