Dr. Julian Tan Kok Ping (Dr. Julian) is a technology leader and researcher specialising in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), autonomous systems, and embodied robotics. With over two decades of experience across aerospace engineering, robotics, and intelligent infrastructure technologies, his work focuses on certification-ready, deployment-oriented systems operating in complex, safety-critical environments.
He currently serves at Monash University Malaysia, where he contributes to postgraduate education and applied research, including leading coursework in Engineering IoT Systems within the Master of Applied Engineering programme. As a member of the Monash Malaysia Drone Research Group, he advances real-world UAV applications that bridge engineering innovation, regulatory compliance, and commercial deployment.
Dr. Julian is a strong advocate for future mobility and frontier technologies, including autonomous vehicles, drone ecosystems, Advanced Air Mobility, quadruped robotics, and humanoid systems. He actively works with industry partners to introduce industry-grade robotic platforms into higher education and collaborative research environments, strengthening academia–industry integration and accelerating technology readiness. His efforts focus on enabling responsible adoption of emerging technologies through governance alignment, technical validation, and ecosystem development.
He also serves as an Authority Member of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and previously served as a Member of Parliament. His multidisciplinary experience spans engineering, regulation, policy, and strategic oversight, supporting deep-technology advancement aligned with national digital and innovation priorities.
Dr. Julian holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Monash University, a Master of Engineering Science from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, and a B.Eng (Hons) in Aerospace from Universiti Putra Malaysia. He is a Professional Technologist with the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT), a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM, USA), Vice President of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Malaysia Chapter, Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and a Life Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
