Iven Mareels is Pro-Vice Chancellor Research & Innovation and the Executive Dean, Institute for Innovation, Science and Sustainability, at Federation University Australia, and a non-executive Director of Rubicon Water (ASX listed).

Previously, he was a Director of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (2018-2024), a partner in IBM Consulting and Director of the Centre for Applied Research, IBM Australia (April 2021-Aug 2022); Director of IBM Research in Australia (Feb 2018- Mar 2021); Dean of Engineering at the University of Melbourne (2007-2018).

Iven received the PhD in Systems Engineering from the Australian National University  (1987), and the Master of Engineering (Electromechanical, ir) from Gent University (1982).

He has co-authored over 500 refereed publications, including 5 monographs. He is a co-inventor of a suite of patents related to the automation of large scale, gravity fed, irrigation systems (with Rubicon Water, and underpinning Rubicon Water’s technology).

Iven has received a number of awards, including, 2021 IBM Research Achievement Award (bronze level); 2017, Harold Chestnut Control Engineering Textbook Prize; 2014 IEEE Control Systems Society Technology Award; 2013 Asian Control Association Wook Hyun Kwon Education Award; 2008 Clunies Ross Medal; 1994 Vice-Chancellor's Award For Excellence In Teaching, Australian National University.

He is the recipient of two civil awards. He was made a Commander in the Order of the Crown of Belgium (2013), and received the Centenary Medal of Australia (2003) both for contributions to engineering education and research.  

He is a Life Fellow of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Fellow of The Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering; the International Federation of Automatic Control, the International Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance and Engineers Australia, a foreign fellow of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, and an inaugural fellow of the Asian Control Association.