Dr Francesco (Frank) Schiliro has a Master of Research and a PhD in Computer Science from Macquarie University in Australia.
Frank is a highly accomplished research professional who is devoted to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of policing through the utilization of computer science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Intelligence Augmentation (IA). He possesses a vast and varied background in policing, cybersecurity, information and communication technology (ICT), and academia, which has enabled him to conduct extensive research that supports, enhances, and validates police practices. By leveraging the power of AI and IA, Frank aims to augment human intelligence and improve decision-making processes, ultimately advancing the profession of policing and increasing public confidence in law enforcement.
Frank has made significant contributions to policing research. His doctoral thesis, "Privacy and Security of Cognitive Augmentation in Policing," is a notable achievement that examines the ethical and practical implications of using AI-powered systems to augment human capabilities in policing. The thesis provides a roadmap for achieving this augmentation while also considering potential consequences for society.
Moreover, Frank's Master of Research (MRes) on "Internet of Things Enabled Policing Processes" (http://arxiv.org/abs/1908.09232) is another notable accomplishment that presents a framework and techniques to support knowledge workers, such as criminal investigators, in knowledge-intensive processes like criminal investigations. Frank's research in this area has enabled the development of IoT-enabled processes to collect large amounts of evidence and uncover facts more efficiently. Overall, Frank's contributions to policing research have helped advance the profession and promote public safety.
Through his research, Frank aims to increase public confidence in law enforcement by providing evidence-based practices and solutions that align with the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability. His work in the field of AI and IA is poised to transform the way policing is conducted and help create a safer and more secure society for everyone.
Frank's career in policing began in February 1988 with the New South Wales Police Force, where he spent approximately 16 years and achieved his Detective designation while pursuing a role in criminal investigations. He later joined the Australian Federal Police in 2003, where he rose through the ranks to become a Superintendent before retiring in February 2022, ending a 34-year career in policing.
Throughout his career, Frank has made several significant contributions to the field of policing, including establishing the New South Wales Police Service's first "Computer Crime Investigation Unit" in April 1998. Leading a team that investigated numerous high-profile and challenging computer crime investigations, one of which was recognised as the most
significant investigation of its type in Australia - the SingTel Optus Pty Limited network infiltration where the OPTUS network suffered a major intrusion under the hands of an Australian hacking group calling themselves the UNIX Gods in December 2001.
In 2002 he brought together AusCERT, NSW Police Force and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu which delivered Australia’s first ‘2002 Australian Computer Crime and Security Survey’ to focus on the nature of security incidents in Australia.
Frank was also a founding member of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre, established to coordinate the efforts of Australian law enforcement in combating serious, complex, and multi-jurisdictional internet-based crimes. In 2013, he developed ICOPs (Interactive Constable on Patrol System), an application residing on a mobile device holistically representing police operations to the frontline officer.
In 2018, while serving as the AFP's National Coordinator of Aviation Operations, Frank identified the need for an intelligent risk evaluation tool capable of analysing network and IoT telemetry data to detect vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access to a smart airport's internal networks. As part of a Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre project, Frank worked collaboratively with academia and industry to develop an evaluation tool and a digital twin-based cyber testbed. In Australia, this was the first such research of its type into airport security providing the overview and necessary context for making informed decisions and resulting in the publication of three scientific papers.
Recently, Frank, along with Professor Amin Beheshti, organized the first 'International Workshop on AI-enabled Policing and Law Enforcement' in Australia as part of the IEEE EDOC Conference in October 2021. His dedication to improving law enforcement practices through research and innovation is truly remarkable, and his contributions to the field.
Frank's exceptional work has resulted in the publication of several high-quality research papers in prestigious conferences and publications, including IEEE. He holds multiple academic and industry positions, including serving as a sessional lecturer at ADFA/University of New South Wales and supervising PhD students, as well as industry supervisor for the Master of Applied Cybersecurity program at Federation University Australia. He is also a respected member of the School of Computing Industry Advisory Board (IAB) at Macquarie University in Australia. Frank's expertise is well-recognized, as he holds the title of Senior Certified Professional with the Australian Computer Society (MACS Snr CP IP3P).