Alexander Hayes is an expert in communications, information systems, and body-worn camera technologies. Hayes attained a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Thesis in July 2020 for the research inquiry, The Socioethical Implications of Body Worn Computers: An Ethnographic Study through the Faculty of Engineering & Information Systems at the University of Wollongong, NSW Australia.

With over 25 years of entrepreneur, consultation, and researcher experience, Hayes describes himself as a polymath and versatilist, catalyzing social change through emancipatory human rights and social justice activity. With an impressive portfolio in the creative arts, Hayes also engages across multiple domains and disciplines as a practicing professional artist in works focussed on cultural frameworks and social commentary.

In recent years Hayes, as a filmmaker and producer, has released two feature documentaries, 120 short films, and attained multiple project commissions in collaboration with rural and remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia including the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, Western Australia. As a designer and projects manager, Hayes is an adaptable UX and UI consultant, bridging information systems and communications technologies with web, graphic design, and print press production. As an acclaimed author and biographer Hayes is widely published in high-ranking journals, books, periodicals, and online communities.

My Nyikina name is Malkay (pronounced mal-guy). I have a close relationship with the Nyikina people and country of the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

I was born on Tharawal country (Dharawal) at Caringbah, Sydney Australia and lived as a child in Bexley, Sydney then in a suburb called Kirrawee which derives from a Dharawal word, "gi(a)rrawee(i)" (alternative spelling "garrawi"), which means 'place of white cockatoos' or 'sulphur-crested cockatoos'.

My work over two decades with Aboriginal communities across Australia is focussed on building culturally appropriate information systems, data management services and mobile enabled access to support and meet the needs and aspirations of community. 

My experience in Australia has enabled me in projects around the world in industry, government, not-for-profit, arts, education, justice and welfare sectors.I identify publicly as being an artist (professional), an author (varied publications), an academic (PhD) and most importantly as an actionist (NOT an activist, rather a person of action).

LIFEWORLD
 

2017 - Moved to Broome, Western Australia - extensive travel across NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia screenng the 'Protecting Country' film with many communities
2016 - Moved to Yarralumla, ACT Australia - began 'Connections' creative works - travelled extensively through Broome, Derby, Pandanus Park, Balkinjirr, Looma communities in Western Australia
2015 - Moved to Mawson, ACT Canberra Australia
2014 - Moved to Kingston, ACT, Australia - wrote '#realstory' - http://www.alexanderhayes.com/publications/real-story
2012 - Moved to Bungendore, NSW Australia
2010 - 2016 - Postgraduate study at the University of Wollongong, NSW Australia
2008 - Move to Orange NSW Australia
2006 - Move to Sydney, NSW Australia
2005 - Represented by Gomboc Gallery, Middle Swan, Western Australia.
2005 - Traveled through Hong Kong, England, Spain, France
2004 - Extensive travel throughout urban, rural, remote regions of Australia
1998 - 2002 - Undergraduate study (Fine Arts) at Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia
1998 - Moved to Mount Lawley and Darlington, Perth Western Australia
1996 - Moved to Bellevue, Perth, Western Australia
1995 - Undergraduate study (Performing Arts) at Edith Cowan University, Bunbury, Western Australia
1992 - 1994 - Undergraduate studies (Education) at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia
1991 - Travelled throughout Western Australia
1988 - 1989 - Undergraduate study at the  University of New England, NSW Australia
1969 - Born in Caringbah, NSW Australia

Research
 

Higher Education Qualifications

  • Phd. Scholar - University of Wollongong, Australia ( 2010 - current )

  • Professional Associate - University of Canberra ( 2013 - 2016 )

  • Visiting Researcher - Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland ( 2013 - 2015 )

  • BA (Fine Art) (Honours) - Curtin University, Australia ( 1999 - 2003 )

  • BA (Education) - Edith Cowan University, Australia ( 1990 - 1995 )

Research Focus

  • Emerging technologies

  • Wearable Computing

  • Ethics, Cultural and Social Implications

  • Privacy, Security and the Law

  • Data Sciences and Data Management

  • Cultural Rights and Intellectual Property

Research Interests

  • Ethics

  • Culture

  • Community

  • Indigenous Studies

  • Wearable Technology

  • Implantable Technology

  • Educational Technology

  • Informatics

  • Robotics

  • Social Media

Biography - RESEARCH
 

Alexander Malkay Hayes is a Phd scholar at the University of Wollongong, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences (EIS), School of Information Systems & Technology (SISAT). Born in Sydney, Australia on Dharawal country he has a close relationship with the Nyikina people of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. He has also worked on numerous projects with the Martu people of the Great Sandy Desert in Western Australia and the Nyungar people in the South West region of Western Australia.

Hayes has had industry experience in information systems, data sciences and web development with industry, government, not-for-profit in the arts, education, justice and welfare sectors.

Hayes is a visiting Researcher at Aalto University, LeGroup, Media Lab, Finland and Professional Associate with the College of Adjuncts at the University of Canberra, INSPIRE Centre. He researches the social implications of emergent technologies with a focus on ethics and data sovereignty. Associated research interests include social media, networked & mobile learning, unmanned aerial systems, policing, privacy, state-society relations and national security.

His research is contributing to how academics and practitioners alike think critically about innovations such as Google Glass and related wearable technologies. As a web developer at the University of Wollongong he supports the Transnational Communication Community of Practice (TCCOP) and lectures in Social Informatics and the Workplace (ISIT203).

NETWORKS
 

Ngikalikarra - Administrator / Owner
UOW Blog - Author
Transnational Communication COP - Web Developer / Service Design
University of Canberra, INSPIRE Centre - Professional Associate
IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology - Administrator
IEEE ISTAS13 Conference Site - Administrator
Technology & Society - Author / Administrator
Uberveillance - Author / Administrator

EDUCATION


Doctor of Philosophy
July 2010 - current
Faculty of Engineering & Information Sciences (EIS)
School of Information Sciences & Technology (SISAT)
Institute for Innovation in Business & Social Research (IIBSOR)
University of Wollongong
NSW, Australia
Supervisor: Associate Professor Katina Michael
Co-Supervisor: Professor Teemu Leinonen (Aalto University)

 

Certificate IV TAA
January 2009 - July 2009
Workplace Training & Assessment
TAA - Australian Qualifications & Training Framework
Workplace Training Victoria

 

Doctor of Creative Arts - Candidate
December 2002 - July 2003
Curtin University of Technology
Bentley, Western Australia
Creative Arts - Arts
Division of Humanities
School of Art & School of Australian Studies
Chairperson: Professor Ted Snell
Supervisor: Dr. Ann Schilo
Co-supervisor: Professor Graham Seal
Associate Supervisor: Mr. Harry Hummerston

  • Professional Praxis

  • Doctoral Thesis Art

  • DCA Research Issues

Certificate IV - Training & Assessment
January - December 2002
Australian Qualifications & Training Framework
Crossbow Consultancy


Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) Honours
Curtin University of Technology
Bentley, Western Australia
Division of Humanities, School of Art

  • Fine Art

  • Networked Media Studies

  • Visual Arts Theory

  • Arts Honours Projects

  • Film & Digital Studio

Bachelor of Arts (Art) Distinction
February 1997 - June 2001
Curtin University of Technology
Bentley Campus, Western Australia
Division of Humanities, School of Art

  • Printmaking Major Studio

  • Art & The Environment

  • Visual Research

  • Studio Praxis

  • West Australian Art History

  • Issues in Contemporary Art

  • Professional Practice


Associate Degree - Visual & Performing Arts
February 1995 - December 1995
Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts
Edith Cowan University
Bunbury Campus, Western Australia


Bachelor of Arts (Education)
February 1992 - December 1994
Bachelor of Arts
Primary Education
Edith Cowan University
Bunbury, Western Australia


Certificate IV (Fine Arts) Art
February 1992 - December 1992
Art & Design - Sculpture
South West Regional TAFE
Bunbury, Western Australia
 

Associate Diploma - Applied Sciences (Biological Techniques)
1988 - 1989
Armidale College of TAFE
University of New England
Armidale NSW Australia

 

Certificate 3 - Hospitality (Bar Management)
March 1989 - December 1989
Armidale College of TAFE
Armidale NSW, Australia
 

Higher School Certificate (HSC)
1985 - 1986
Kirrawee Senior High School
Kirrawee, NSW Australia
 

Graduate School Certificate (SC)
1980 - 1984
Kirrawee Senior High School
Kirrawee, NSW Australia