Professor Sadka is a Chartered Computer & Communications Engineer (CEng) with 27 years' worth of research leadership and business engagement portfolio, and significant contributions to the area of AI-enabled visual media technologies. Currently the founding Director of Aston Digital Futures Institute after having successfully served as the Director of the Institute of Digital Futures at Brunel University London 2020-23. Also served as the Lead Academic of Brunel Fellowship Academy 2022-23, reporting directly to the Provost in both roles. Served as the founding Director of “Brunel Digital Science & Technology Hub” since its formation 2018-20. Been the Director of the Centre for Media Communications Research 2012-18, and former Head of Electronic & Computer Engineering and Digital Media 2006-12. During the period 2020-23, chaired the Government-supported West London FE-HE partnership Group representing 7 Universities and 6 FE Colleges developing the post-COVID skill and knowledge transfer agenda for the UK digital industries. Led the development of L7 degree apprenticeship and L6 top-up programmes in digital specialisms such as data analytics and EEE. Served on the Steering Board of the NEM technology platform which shapes up the European strategic research agenda in networked media.

Thus far, worked on over £15m worth of research projects as Principal Investigator, and supervised more than 50 Research Assistants and PhD students to full completion. Published widely, with over 300 papers in refereed journals and conferences, 3 patents and 4 books including a seminal textbook titled "Compressed Video Communications" published in 2002. Frequently serve on industry advisory boards and evaluation panels, and provide consultancy services to the tech industry in the area of digital media, AI and data analytics. Have several entrepreneurial business engagements with particular success in the health tech and real estate sectors and a current portfolio exceeding £3m. Fellow of HEA, IET and BCS.

E: a.sadka@aston.ac.uk | T: +44 121 204 5340 | M: +44 7810 543637