IEEE AESS Seminar The Era of Intelligent Cyber Resilience in Space
Title: The Era of Intelligent Cyber Resilience in Space
When: Tue 22-Sep-26 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Canberra Time)
Speaker: Dr Rabbia Saleem, Lecturer, UNSW Canberra
Speaker's LinkedIn Profile : www.linkedin.com/in/rabbia-saleem-2ba36444
Abstract: As space infrastructure becomes increasingly connected and autonomous, conventional security approaches are no longer sufficient to detect evolving cyber threats. Adversaries can exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access, manipulate satellite commands and telemetry, disrupt communications, spoof signals, interfere with navigation, or compromise satellite operations. Such attacks can degrade mission performance, cause loss of critical services, or potentially lead to loss of control of a spacecraft. The seminar will introduce AI-driven threat detection and explain how distributed learning enables multiple satellites or ground nodes to collaboratively learn from cyber threats without sharing sensitive data. Hence, enabling faster, robust, adaptive, and privacy-preserving cyber defence for resilient space operations.
Bio:
Dr. Saleem is a Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy. The role leads towards providing strategic leadership and end-to-end project management, defining research directions, leading cross-functional teams, managing project lifecycles, aligning technical execution with organizational goals, and delivering high-impact outcomes in a multi-stakeholder environment. A key aspect of the role is interfacing Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning and space technology with an aim of a secure and sustainable structure for Australian and global space sector. The projects are focused on intelligent space systems and cyber resilience, hence, making a strong impact on Australia's international SDA and space cyber credentials. In recognition of her contributions, she was named a finalist for the ACT Government’s Cyber Catalyst and Emerging Cyber Advocate Award in 2025 and 2026, respectively and the winner of Ideas on Tap in 2026.
Rabbia was a Doctoral Researcher at the Australian National University (ANU), specializing in machine learning for radio resource management, physical layer security, IoT, intelligent reflecting surfaces, and 6G communication. She holds a B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with over a decade of experience in lecturing and student supervision. As a passionate advocate for STEM education, Dr. Saleem leads initiatives in several professional organizations, including IEEE, Women in Engineering, Women in Space, Women in Cyber, and Women in AI. She was the Advisor for Women in Engineering at IEEE Punjab University Student Branch, receiving a Gold Pin for organizing the IEEE ComSoc Summer School in 2016. Recognized for her early-career contributions, Dr. Saleem won the Best Early Career Presentation Award at the Australian Space Research Conference in 2022. She was also a guest speaker at the 3rd Annual ANU Women in STEM Leadership Conference in 2023 and actively mentors young women in the YoWIE program at UNSW Canberra.
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