Ahmad is an accomplished Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Cybersecurity at La Trobe University’s Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, where he leads cutting-edge research and shapes the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. His career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of cybersecurity, blockchain technology, and digital trust systems.

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Academic leadership and research

Drawing on his PhD in Cybersecurity from Monash University, Ahmad has built a distinguished research career across leading Australian institutions, including Monash University, RMIT University, CSIRO’s Data61, and La Trobe University. At RMIT University, he served as a Research Fellow at the Blockchain Innovation Hub and the Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, where he architected the Digital CBD project, a landmark initiative integrating cybersecurity and blockchain that secured $2 million in Victorian Government funding.​

During his time at Monash University as a sessional lecturer, teaching associate, and research associate, he contributed extensively to the Cybersecurity Lab and Blockchain Technology Centre, supporting both postgraduate and undergraduate education while maintaining an active research portfolio. This experience underpins his ability to translate complex research into impactful teaching and industry‑relevant outcomes.

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Research focus and expertise

Ahmad’s research agenda centres on security, privacy, and trust architectures, with particular depth in access control frameworks, applied cryptography, blockchain technology, and distributed systems. His work further extends to edge and cloud computing infrastructures, Internet of Things security, and cybersecurity for digital health applications, positioning him at the intersection of contemporary cybersecurity challenges.​

Editorial and professional leadership

Ahmad contributes to the scholarly community through editorial service as a Guest Editor for leading outlets, including Blockchain: Research and Applications. He is actively engaged with professional bodies such as IEEE, the IEEE Computer Society, the IEEE Communications Society (COMSOC), AISA, ACS, IACR, and ACM, reflecting his strong standing in the international cybersecurity community.​

He has held leadership roles including program co-chair, track chair, and technical program committee member for conferences such as ACM AsiaCCS, IEEE HACS, IEEE TrustCom, HEALTHINFO, the CSIRO Data61 & DSTG Cyber Security Summer School, and the Australasian Information Security Conference. These roles demonstrate his influence in shaping research agendas and evaluating cutting-edge work in cybersecurity and blockchain.

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Student leadership, clubs, and advisory board

At La Trobe, Ahmad leads the La Trobe Cybersecurity Club, serving as the Academic Advisor and providing students with mentoring, industry engagement, and hands-on skill-building opportunities in cybersecurity practice. Under his leadership, the Club connects students with academic staff and external partners to enhance employability, practical capabilities, and professional networks.​

He also chairs the Cybersecurity Advisory Board at La Trobe University, bringing together academics, industry representatives, and cybersecurity professionals to support students and foster deeper collaboration between the university and industry. Through this Board, he is driving initiatives around joint research projects, work-integrated learning, and strategic partnerships that align with national cybersecurity capability needs.

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Supervision and mentoring

Ahmad maintains a substantial supervisory profile, with multiple current PhD candidates and several completed PhD supervisions in cybersecurity-related areas. His supervision focuses on topics such as blockchain security, access control, distributed systems security, and trustworthy digital health and IoT infrastructures.​

La Trobe University welcomes prospective PhD and master’s students interested in conducting research under his supervision, and more information on grants and projects is available via his Academic Profile and grants page. Interested candidates can explore current opportunities at: https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/a2salehishah/grants

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Industry engagement and consulting

Alongside his academic responsibilities, Ahmad engages in private consulting in cybersecurity and blockchain, bringing an industry-informed perspective into his research and teaching. This engagement ensures his work remains closely aligned with real-world challenges and supports translation of research into practice and policy.