Ady James

Teaching Strengths

Space, Systems Engineering and Project Management

APrf Ady James

Associate Professor

School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Available For Media Comment.

Dr Ady James is an Associate Professor at UniSA where he teaches Systems Engineering, Space Studies and Space Science.
He is Co-Director for the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program and the Director of Education & Training with the SmartSat CRC.
He obtained a Ph.D. in Space Science at University College London’s Department of Space and Climate Physics in 1997, where he developed a fast ion spectrometer for the Russian Mars 96 spacecraft. After completing his PhD he worked on various space programs including Mars 96, Cluster II, XMM Newton, MOSES and, most recently, Solar-B (Hinode) launched in 2006. He then spent 4 years as project manager for the Basic Technology Smart X-ray Optics program up until October 2010 and then as Systems Engineer for the VIS instrument on the ESA Euclid Space project until early 2012.
In early 2012 Dr James moved to Australia to establish a local node of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), during this time he has taught Project Management and Systems Engineering as well as supervising numerous MSc and PhD student. From 2013 until it’s closure in 2017 Dr James was Academic Director for the UCL Australia campus. Dr James has been involved in the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program since 2012 and was co-Director for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 programs.
Dr James is a Fellow of the Association of Project Management and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Year Citation
2025 Dolan, K. J., James, A., & Smith, A. (2025). Stakeholder engagement in large infrastructure projects. Australian Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Engineering, 21(1), 30-41.
DOI
2025 Owen, S., & James, A. (2025). Exploring the integration of model-based systems engineering and digital twins in complex system lifecycle management: efficacy, challenges, and potential outcomes. Australian Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Engineering, online, 1-12.
DOI
2024 de Haan, P., Efatmaneshnik, M., & James, A. (2024). Revisiting future-proofing for large-scale acquisitions. Australian Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Engineering, 20(1), 117-129.
DOI
2023 Agenbag, F., Alvino, P. S., Bandara, D. C., Bennett, H. E., Hollick, M., James, A. M., . . . Thornton, P. (2023). Deployable optics for the Buccaneer Main Mission (BMM). The Aeronautical Journal, 127(1318), 2068-2081.
DOI Scopus1
2023 de Haan, P., Efatmaneshnik, M., & James, A. (2023). Revisiting large scale defence acquisition: uncertainty and acquisition responsiveness. INCOSE International Symposium, 33(S1), 1-16.
DOI
2021 Tucker, B., Halkett, I., & James, A. (2021). Necessity: the mother of invention? The tension between management control and creativity: lessons from Apollo 13. Journal of Management Accounting Research, 33(3), 163-188.
DOI Scopus15 WoS12
2019 Mokhtar, S., Bahri, P. A., Moayer, S., & James, A. (2019). Supplier portfolio selection based on the monitoring of supply risk indicators. Simulation modelling practice and theory, 97(101955), 1-19.
DOI Scopus13
2017 Wouters, C., Fraga, E. S., & James, A. M. (2017). A multi-objective framework for cost-unavailability optimisation of residential distributed energy system design. Sustainable energy, grids and networks, 9, 104-117.
DOI Scopus16
2015 Wouters, C., Fraga, E. S., & James, A. M. (2015). An energy integrated, multi-microgrid, MILP (mixed-integer linear programming) approach for residential distributed energy system planning: a South Australian case-study. Energy, 85, 30-44.
DOI Scopus179
2012 Emes, M. R., Bryant, P. A., Wilkinson, M. K., King, P., James, A. M., & Arnold, S. (2012). Interpreting "systems architecting". Systems Engineering, 15(4), 369-395.
DOI Scopus12
2011 Zhang, D., Rodriguez-Sanmartin, D., Button, T. W., Atkins, C., Brooks, D., Doel, P., . . . Willingale, R. (2011). Development of piezoelectric actuators for active X-ray optics. Journal of Electroceramics, 27(1), 1-6.
DOI Scopus14
2007 Culhane, J. L., Harra, L. K., James, A. M., Al-Janabi, K., Bradley, L. J., Chaudry, R. A., . . . Wikstol. (2007). The EUV imaging spectrometer for Hinode. Solar Physics, 243(1), 19-61.
DOI Scopus924
2006 Korendyke, C. M., Brown, C. M., Thomas, R. J., Keyser, C., Davila, J., Hagood, R., . . . Tandy, J. (2006). Optics and mechanisms for the extreme-ultraviolet imaging spectrometer on the solar-B satellite. Applied Optics, 45(34), 8674-8688.
DOI Scopus75
2006 Lang, J., Kent, B. J., Paustian, W., Brown, C. M., Keyser, C., Anderson, M. R., . . . Whillock, M. C. R. (2006). Laboratory calibration of the extreme-ultraviolet imaging spectrometer for the solar-B satellite. Applied Optics, 45(34), 8689-8705.
DOI Scopus97
2001 Szita, S., Fazakerley, A. N., Carter, P. J., James, A. M., Trávníček, P., Watson, G., . . . Torkar, K. (2001). Cluster PEACE observations of electrons of spacecraft origin. Annales Geophysicae, 19(12 PART II), 1721-1730.
DOI Scopus41

Year Citation
2017 Mokhtar, S., Bahri, P. A., Moayer, S., & James, A. (2017). A novel decision-making approach for supplier selection under risks. In Source details - Title: Computer aided chemical engineering (Vol. 40, pp. 1267-1272). US: Elsevier.
DOI Scopus3
2016 Wouters, C., Fraga, E. S., & James, A. M. (2016). Residential Microgrid Design Optimisation under Uncertain μCHP Characteristics. In Computer Aided Chemical Engineering (Vol. 38, pp. 1491-1496). Elsevier.
DOI Scopus2
2015 Wouters, C., Fraga, E. S., & James, A. M. (2015). MILP Approach for the Design of Residential Microgrids with Energy Interaction Restrictions. In Computer Aided Chemical Engineering (Vol. 37, pp. 2357-2362). Elsevier.
DOI Scopus4
1998 Fedorov, A. O., Vaisberg, O. L., Johnstone, A. D., James, A. M., & Woodliffe, R. D. (1998). Rapid Non-Scanning ion distribution measurements using electrostatic mirror and multichannel collimator for the INTERBALL and MARS-96 Missions. In Geophysical Monograph Series (Vol. 102, pp. 221-228). American Geophysical Union.
DOI Scopus3
1998 James, A. M., Johnstone, A. D., Walton, D. M., Vaisberg, O. L., & Fedorov, A. O. (1998). A fast Omni-directional ion detector for the study of space plasmas. In Geophysical Monograph Series (Vol. 102, pp. 281-285). American Geophysical Union.
DOI Scopus6
1998 Walton, D. M., James, A. M., Bowles, J. A., & Johnstone, A. D. (1998). High-speed 2-D imaging for plasma analysers using wedge-and-strip anodes. In Geophysical Monograph Series (Vol. 102, pp. 295-300). American Geophysical Union.
DOI Scopus2

Year Citation
2025 De Haan, P., Efatmaneshnik, M., & James, A. (2025). Rethinking Acquisition Strategies: A New Systems Engineering Approach to Dynamic Environments. In Procedia Computer Science Vol. 268 (pp. 421-428). Elsevier BV.
DOI
2025 Bruce, D., Marre, F., Hillman, M., James, A., Cameron, J., Peters, J., . . . Seubert, C. (2025). Daily Urban Land Surface Temperature Measurement and Modelling for Heatwave Assessment in South Australia Using Multiple Passive TIR Satellite Sensors. In Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress Iac (pp. 396-403). International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
DOI
2025 Seubert, C., Marre, F., Manser, N., Cannard, S., Weeks, E., Du, A., . . . Nikoloff, P. (2025). Kanyini R&D: Innovative EO Applications to demonstrate Future Socio-Economic Value with a South Australian CubeSat. In Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress Iac (pp. 229-234). International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
DOI
2025 Cannard, S., Manser, N., James, A., Nikoloff, P., Marre, F., & Seubert, C. (2025). Kanyini Mission: Methodology, Approach, and Insights from Australia’s First State-Funded EO Mission. In Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress Iac (pp. 1-10). International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
DOI
2024 De Haan, P., James, A., Efatmaneshnik, M., & Lee, S. (2024). Systems engineering flexibility for complex adaptive systems: broadening the concept of system engineering. In SysCon 2024 - 18th Annual IEEE International Systems Conference, Proceedings (pp. 1-4). US: IEEE.
DOI
2024 Lee, S., Efatmaneshnik, M., James, A., Mayer, W., Smith, J., & Grabert, T. (2024). Fuzzy rule-based quantitative framework for system testability measurement. In 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Systems Engineering (ISSE) (pp. 1-4). US: IEEE.
DOI
2024 De Haan, P., Johnson, C., Efatmaneshnik, M., & James, A. (2024). Using SysML to capture a naval ship's ontology for interdisciplinary communication. In ISSE 2024 - 10th IEEE International Symposium on Systems Engineering, Proceedings (pp. 1-7). US: IEEE.
DOI
2024 Lee, S., Efatmaneshnik, M., & James, A. (2024). A multilevel test and evaluation modularization for test event optimization. In SysCon 2024 - 18th Annual IEEE International Systems Conference, Proceedings (pp. 1-6). US: IEEE.
DOI
2019 Dhital, B., James, A., & Cable, G. (2019). An exploration of how the relationship between the glymphatic system, sleep, and circadian chythm in the microgravity environment may impact neural cognition and neurodegenerative disease in crewed spaceflight. In Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC Vol. 2019-October (pp. 1). US: International Astronautical Federation.
2017 James, A., Caprarelli, G., & Davis, M. (2017). A long term ISU-UNISA partnership: the SHSSP. In Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC Vol. 17 (pp. 11223-11225). Australia: International Astronautical Federation.
2017 Doel, P., Atkins, C., Brooks, D., Feldman, C., Willingale, R., Button, T., . . . Smith, A. (2017). Active x-ray optics for high resolution space telescopes. In N. Kadowaki (Ed.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 10565 (pp. 72). SPIE.
DOI
2014 Wouters, C., Fraga, E. S., & James, A. M. (2014). Mixed-integer optimisation based approach for design and operation of distributed energy systems. In 2014 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014 - Proceedings (pp. 1-6). US: IEEE.
DOI Scopus11
2012 Emes, M. R., Smith, A., James, A. M., Whyndham, M. W., Leal, R., & Jackson, S. C. (2012). Principles of systems engineering management: Reflections from 45 years of spacecraft technology research and development at the mullard space science laboratory. In 22nd Annual International Symposium of the International Council on Systems Engineering Incose 2012 and the 8th Biennial European Systems Engineering Conference 2012 Eusec 2012 Vol. 2 (pp. 1160-1175).
Scopus1
2012 Di Giorgio, A. M., Bastia, P., Liu, S. J., Giusi, G., Scaramella, R., Cropper, M., . . . Mellier, Y. (2012). The command and data processing unit of the euclid visible imager: Impact of the data compression needs on the unit design. In M. C. Clampin, G. G. Fazio, H. A. MacEwen, & J. M. Oschmann (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 8442 (pp. 844233). SPIE.
DOI Scopus7
2012 Rodriguez Sanmartin, D., Button, T., Meggs, C., Michette, A., Pfauntsch, S., James, A., . . . Parkes, W. (2012). A novel deformable mirror with curvature and tip/tilt control based on the spider actuator concept. In F. Wyrowski, J. T. Sheridan, J. Tervo, & Y. Meuret (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 8429 (pp. 84291H). SPIE.
DOI
2012 Cropper, M., Cole, R., James, A., Mellier, Y., Martignac, J., Di Giorgio, A. M., . . . Hoekstra, H. (2012). VIS: The visible imager for euclid. In M. C. Clampin, G. G. Fazio, H. A. MacEwen, & J. M. Oschmann (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 8442 (pp. 84420V). SPIE.
DOI Scopus37
2010 Rodriguez Sanmartin, D., Zhang, D., Button, T., Meggs, C., Atkins, C., Doel, P., . . . Smith, A. (2010). Development of spider micro-structured optical arrays for X-ray optics. In A. M. Khounsary, S. L. O'Dell, & S. R. Restaino (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7803 (pp. 780306). SPIE.
DOI Scopus1
2010 Dunare, C., Parkes, W., Stevenson, T., Michette, A., Pfauntsch, S., Shand, M., . . . James, A. (2010). Micromachining optical arrays. In Proceedings of the International Semiconductor Conference CAS Vol. 1 (pp. 155-158). IEEE.
DOI
2010 Wilkinson, M., King, P., James, A., Emes, M., & Bryant, P. (2010). Belief systems in systems architecting: Method and preliminary applications. In 2010 5th International Conference on System of Systems Engineering Sose 2010 (pp. 1-7). IEEE.
DOI Scopus2
2010 Rodriguez Sanmartin, D., Zhang, D., Button, T., Meggs, C., Atkins, C., Doel, P., . . . Smith, A. (2010). Development of net-shape piezoelectric actuators for large X-ray optics. In A. M. Khounsary, S. L. O'Dell, & S. R. Restaino (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7803 (pp. 78030M). SPIE.
DOI Scopus6
2010 Feldman, C., Willingale, R., Atkins, C., Brooks, D., Button, T., Doel, P., . . . Willis, G. (2010). The performance of thin shell adaptive optics for high angular resolution X-ray telescopes. In A. M. Khounsary, S. L. O'Dell, & S. R. Restaino (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7803 (pp. 78030N). SPIE.
DOI Scopus9
2009 Sanmartin, D. R., Zhang, D., Button, T., Atkins, C., Doel, P., Wang, H., . . . Smith, A. (2009). Progress on the development of active micro-structured optical arrays for X-ray optics. In A. M. Khounsary, C. Morawe, & S. Goto (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7448 (pp. 744808). SPIE.
DOI Scopus2
2009 Feldman, C., Willingale, R., Atkins, C., Brooks, D., Button, T., Doel, P., . . . Zhang, D. (2009). First results from the testing of the thin shell adaptive optic prototype for high angular resolution X-ray telescopes. In S. L. O'Dell, & G. Pareschi (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7437. SPIE.
DOI Scopus15
2009 Zhang, D., Sanmartin, D. R., Button, T. W., Meggs, C., Atkins, C., Doel, P., . . . Wang, H. (2009). The fabrication and characterisation of piezoelectric actuators for active X-ray optics. In A. M. Khounsary, C. Morawe, & S. Goto (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7448 (pp. 744807). SPIE.
DOI Scopus6
2009 Dunare, C., Parkes, W., Stevenson, T., Michette, A., Pfauntsch, S., Sahraei, S., . . . James, A. (2009). Microstructured optical arrays for smart x-ray optics. In R. Hudec, & L. Pina (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7360 (pp. 736015). SPIE.
DOI Scopus9
2009 Atkins, C., Wang, H., Doel, P., Brooks, D., Thompson, S., Feldman, C., . . . Smith, A. D. (2009). Active x-ray optics for the next generation of x-ray telescopes. In R. Hudec, & L. Pina (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7360. SPIE.
DOI Scopus16
2009 Atkins, C., Doel, P., Brooks, D., Thompson, S., Feldman, C., Willingale, R., . . . Wang, H. (2009). Advances in active X-ray telescope technologies. In S. L. O'Dell, & G. Pareschi (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7437 (pp. 74371H). SPIE.
DOI Scopus7
2008 Atkins, C., Wang, H., Doel, P., Brooks, D., Thompson, S., Feldman, C., . . . Theobald, C. (2008). Future high resolution X-ray telescope technologies: Prototype fabrication methods and finite element analysis. In M. J. L. Turner, & K. A. Flanagan (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7011 (pp. 70110X). SPIE.
DOI Scopus8
2008 Feldman, C., Willingale, R., Atkins, C., Wang, H., Doel, P., Brooks, D., . . . Theobald, C. (2008). Development of thin shell adaptive Optics for high angular resolution X-ray telescopes.. In M. J. L. Turner, & K. A. Flanagan (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 7011 (pp. 70110Y). SPIE.
DOI Scopus10
2007 Atkins, C., Doel, P., Jun, Y., Brooks, D., Thompson, S., Willingale, R., . . . James, A. (2007). Active X-ray mirror development at UCL: Preliminary results. In Y. Zhang, W. Jiang, & M. K. Cho (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 6721 (pp. 67210T). SPIE.
DOI Scopus12
2007 Doel, P., Atkins, C., Thompson, S., Brooks, D., Yao, J., Feldman, C., . . . James, A. (2007). Large thin adaptive X-ray mirrors. In A. M. Khounsary, C. Morawe, & S. Goto (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 6705 (pp. 67050M). SPIE.
DOI Scopus14
2006 Culhane, J. L., Doschek, G. A., Watanabe, T., Smith, A., Brown, C., Hara, H., . . . Windt, D. L. (2006). The extreme UV imaging spectrometer for the JAXA solar-B mission. In M. J. L. Turner, & G. Hasinger (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 6266 I (pp. 62660T). SPIE.
DOI Scopus8
2002 Kataria, D. O., Watson, G., Carter, P. J., Fazakerley, A. N., James, A. M., & Wilson, R. J. (2002). In-flight monitoring and optimisation of MCP performance on multi-spacecraft missions. In C. B. Johnson, D. Sinha, & P. A. Laplante (Eds.), Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 4796 (pp. 115-125). SPIE.
DOI Scopus1

  • iLaunch: CHORSS: Compact Hybrid Optical RF Space Segment (SC-12), iLaunch Trailblazer, 01/05/2025 - 01/05/2028

  • Validation of a Space Cyber Security Framework using the Buccaneer Main Mission (BMM) as an Exemplar system, SmartSat CRC, 01/10/2025 - 01/10/2026

  • Exploring satellite configurations in mixed reality, Cwth Dept of Defence, 06/11/2025 - 05/06/2026

  • Resilient Multi Mission Space Star Shot Project WP RMS-01, Airbus Defence and Space Limited, 14/03/2023 - 13/07/2025

  • Whole Force Complexity and Sufficiency Analysis: A Capability Networks Modelling Approach, Cwth Dept of Defence, 31/03/2023 - 31/03/2025

  • Smartsat P2-33: A Success Factor-based Framework for undertaking small satellite missions: SASAT-1, SmartSat CRC, 22/11/2021 - 31/03/2023

Courses I teach

  • BUSS 5456 Defence and Space Strategic Industry Project (2025)
  • BUSS 5462 Space Systems (2025)
  • EEET 5128 System Design and Integration (2025)
  • ENGG 5010 Space Studies Project (2025)
  • SCSTM 90005 SC System Architecting and Integration (2025)
  • SCSTM 90006 SC System Architecting and Integration Assessment (2025)
  • BUSS 5462 Space Systems (2024)
  • EEET 5128 System Design and Integration (2024)
  • ENGG 5010 Space Studies Project (2024)
  • SCSTM 90005 SC System Architecting and Integration (2024)
  • SCSTM 90006 SC System Architecting and Integration Assessment (2024)

Programs I'm associated with

  • LMDI - Master of Systems Engineering

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2026 Principal Supervisor An Adversarial Design Approach to Cybersecurity in Early-Stage Space System Architecture - Master Full Time Mr Raj Burli
2025 Principal Supervisor Leveraging SysML2 and AI: A Next-Generation MBSE Methodology - Doctorate Full Time Mr Daniel Spencer
2025 Co-Supervisor Engineering Elegant and Resilient Mission Concepts: Advancing Digital Engineering Framework for Complex Operational Environments - Doctorate Part Time Mrs Cindy Kennedy
2025 Co-Supervisor Developement of an MBSE Methodology in Sysml 2.0 In-Line with Existing Australian Defence Force Systems Engineering Approach - Doctorate Part Time Mr Shaun Anthony Owen
2025 Co-Supervisor From Policy to Plate: Optimizing Agrifood Supply Chains for Sustainability and Inclusive Development Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Xiaoni Wu
2025 Co-Supervisor From Policy to Plate: Optimizing Agrifood Supply Chains for Sustainability and Inclusive Development - Doctorate Full Time Ms Xiaoni Wu
2024 Co-Supervisor Applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) in the Australian Defence Industry - Doctorate Part Time Mr Cameron Richard Johnston
2024 Co-Supervisor Freeform Telescope Design and Fabrication for Compact, Lightweight, High-Performance Infrared Sensors - Doctorate Part Time Cheryl Chan
2023 Principal Supervisor An automated method of detecting, characterising and responding to radiation events in space - Doctorate Full Time Miss Franke Agenbag
2023 Principal Supervisor Cyber Engineering Framework for Low Earth Orbit Satellites - Doctorate Part Time Mr David Wenzel
2022 Co-Supervisor Model-based safety engineering applications in the railway sector - Doctorate Part Time Mr Mohammad Binesh
2022 Co-Supervisor Building adaptive test and evaluation framework through ai-driven digital model-based engineering testing tool - Doctorate Part Time Mr Seunglim Lee
2022 Co-Supervisor h4>Test and Evaluation Governance Mechanism and Architecture across Australia Defence: Past, Current and Future States - Doctorate Part Time Mr Erik Morton Sherwin
2022 Co-Supervisor h4>Data driven dynamic requirements engineering for smart naval vessel acquisition - Doctorate Part Time Mr Peter Daniel de Haan

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