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Dr. Yifei Ren

About

Researcher, educator, and founder with expertise spanning networking, cybersecurity, AI, IoT, and cloud infrastructure.
Bio

Background

Dr. Yifei Ren holds a PhD and Bachelor of Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Wollongong. With a career spanning academic research, industry engagement, and entrepreneurship, he has delivered over 40 demand-driven projects with partners including Cisco, Optus, Woodside, BAE Systems, and various government agencies.

As Technology Lead at Innovation Central Perth, he supervised over 100 student interns and managed 15+ concurrent projects, earning the Excellence in Industry Engagement Award at 2023 Engagement Australia. His research focuses on software-defined networking, post-quantum cryptography, and AI-driven network optimisation.

In 2025, he founded VeilNet PTY LTD — a startup building decentralized, ephemeral secure networking powered by post-quantum encryption and reinforcement learning routing. The venture has been shortlisted in Curtin Accelerate & Ignition and the Antler Residency Program.

Expertise

Areas of Specialisation

Networking & Cybersecurity
Software-defined networking, zero-trust architectures, cloud network policies, wireless communication, 5G & network slicing, encrypted protocol design.
Software & AI Development
AI-driven solution design, deep learning & reinforcement learning, intelligent algorithm optimisation, parallel computing for AI workloads.
Cloud & Embedded Systems
Self-hosted, hybrid and public cloud management, containerisation, microservice architecture, embedded prototyping, OPC UA, Modbus, PLC programming.
Research & Innovation
Demand-driven research, technical and academic writing, open-source development, technology commercialisation.
Project Leadership & Mentorship
Leading research projects with industry, government, and defence. Stakeholder engagement, mentoring Honours/Masters/PhD students, budget and deliverable management.
Skills

Technical Proficiencies

Programming Languages

PythonJavaC#GoC/C++KotlinDartJavaScriptTypeScript

Web Development

Nuxt.jsVue.jsReactNext.jsFastAPIDjangoFlutterSvelteKit

ML Frameworks

TensorFlowPyTorch

Cloud & DevOps

KubernetesDockerMAASRKE2Rancher

Control Systems

OPASOPC UAModbusPLC
Career

Professional History

Feb 2025 – Present
Founder — VeilNet PTY LTD
Sole founder of a tech startup developing ephemeral secure networking with post-quantum encryption, SDN, ToR-like relay networks, and AI-powered routing. Shortlisted in Curtin Accelerate & Ignition and Antler Residency Program.
Aug 2020 – Feb 2022, Jun 2024 – Feb 2025
Lecturer — Curtin University
Unit coordinator for Hardware Fundamental, Microcomputer, Embedded and Electronics. Co-taught Data Communication and Concurrent System. Supervised thesis projects and ICP on-demand projects. L2 HDR supervisor.
Oct 2023 – Jun 2024
Technology Lead — Innovation Central Perth
Secondment from Research Fellow role. Delivered over 40 projects, supervised 100+ student interns, managed 15+ concurrent projects, led two confidential defence projects. Received Excellence in Industry Engagement Award at 2023 Engagement Australia.
Feb 2022 – Jun 2024
Research Fellow — Cisco Curtin Centre for Networks
Designed and deployed SDN testbed following ETSI MANO framework. Deployed HA Kubernetes cluster (RKE2), Rancher suites, Cisco MDT with InfluxDB, Ignition SCADA, Open5GS, EMQX. Designed SDN labs and EdX online course content.
2017 – 2019
Seasonal Academic — University of Wollongong
Delivered tutorials and labs for Network Engineering, Data Communication, Internet Architecture and Communication Protocols, and Control Theory.
Education

Academic Qualifications

Graduated 2019
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Wollongong
Graduated 2016
Bachelor of Telecommunication Engineering
University of Wollongong
Credentials

Memberships & Fellowships

Advance HE Associate Fellowship

PR222363

Awarded by Advance HE (UK), the Associate Fellowship (AFHEA) recognises a commitment to professional development in teaching and learning in higher education. It is aligned with the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) Descriptor 1, demonstrating effective use of evidence-informed approaches to teaching, learning support, and assessment.

IEEE Member

Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world's largest technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Teaching

Units & Courses

Hardware Fundamental (designed new unit)
Microcomputer
Embedded and Electronics
Data Communication and Management (co-teach)
Concurrent System (co-teach)
Introduction to Software Defined Networks (designed labs)
EdX Curtin IoT Capstone (support)
EdX Curtin SDN (content creation)
Network Engineering (UOW)
Data Communication (UOW)
Internet Architecture and Communication Protocols (UOW)
Control Theory (UOW)