Professor Andrew Neely is the Associate Dean (Research Engagement) at UNSW Canberra. He is a Professor in the School of Engineering and Information Technology where he was also the Deputy Head of School (Research) 2014–2017.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering, a Masters of Engineering Science and PhD in Engineering (hypersonics) from The University of Queensland, Prof Neely spent almost eight years at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. There he worked on a number of industrial jet engine projects in the Rolls-Royce funded Osney Thermofluids Laboratory and taught students.

He returned to Australia in 2002 to take up a faculty position at UNSW Canberra. Prof Neely leads a research group developing experimental and numerical techniques to model and measure the interactions between the flow-field aerothermodynamics and the thermal-structural response of high-speed flight vehicles and propulsion systems. This work is critical to ensuring the robust and efficient design of future vehicles. His group collaborates with a range of Australian and international partners. One example of an exciting project is the HEXAFLY-INT hypersonic flight-test program, led by the European Space Agency.

Prof Neely contributes to international and global associations including:

  • the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), a global community of aerospace professionals, where he sits on technical committees and is the President of the Australian Division
  • the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), technical committee member 
  • the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), technical committee member
  • International Society of Air Breathing Engines (ISABE), Australian board member, Vice President of ISABE and was Chair of the ISABE2019 conference held in Canberra. 

In recent years he has also branched out into biomedical research. Prof Neely has adapted the thermal-structural modelling techniques used in his aerospace research to the area of the biomechanics of nerve tissue.

As well as research and teaching, Prof Neely has a passion for STEM outreach and leads the Cool Aeronautics program in Australia for the RAeS, in conjunction with the AIAA and UNSW.