Darren Bagnall is a Professor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, he is Director of Macquarie Sustainable Energy Research Centre, and and Independent Non-executive Director at Bell Resources. He was Dean of Engineering from August 2017 to July 2022.

PhD University of Salford (1995). Post-Doctoral Research Assistant, Physics and Applied Physics, Strathclyde Universty 1993-1996, EU-JSPS Research Fellow, Tohoku University (1996-1998), STA Fellow, Photodynamic Research Centre, RIKEN (1998-1999). University of Southampton, Electronics and Computer Science, 1999-2012: Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Professor (2008), Head of Nano Group 2010-2012, Chair of UK Solar Energy Society (2010-2012). UNSW, Head of School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy 2013-2017.  

Professor Bagnall's primary research interests are in the development of opto-electronic semiconductor devices and systems. This has involved light-emitting devices but most recently has focussed on the development of high-efficiency photovoltaic devices and solar panels and systems. His most significant research contributions include the demonstration of the first room-temperature ZnO laser, the first demonstrations of optical activity of metallic and dielectric planar chiral metamaterials, and a range of nanostructured, biomimetic and plasmonic light-trapping schemes applied to photovoltaic devices. Increasingly his research interest is moving towards the integration and uptake of renewable energy systems. 

With increasing focus on project-based learning supported by on-line content delivery and formative assessment, Bagnall is seeking to ensure that a student’s everyday experience on campus is built around hands-on projects as individuals with unique skills and interests and within diverse interdisciplinary teams. With industry mentors, academic guides and a community that can provide informed and skilful technical assistance, school will increasingly become a rich and diverse community of entrepreneurial, problem-solving engineers.