Dr. Frank Ruess

A bit about me...  

I'm Dr. Frank Ruess, an avid and multilingual explorer, proficient in German, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. My journey began with a strong foundation in science and technology, especially in quantum research at UNSW - which has always been my guiding star.

After UNSW, my journey encompassed seven years in management consulting across tech, automotive, and telco industries, honing adaptability and expertise across diverse sectors and authoring an influential Quantum for Business report.

With over a decade in product management, I ventured into influential roles, most notably at Google, always fuelled by curiosity and a strong belief that consumer-centricity leads to meaningful innovation. I've led engineering teams to create data-driven insights platforms for millions of businesses, introduced new Ads products and designed cutting-edge cloud solutions for autonomous robotics.

While the power of curiosity has been the fuel for my career, my journey is one of transformative leadership, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence across a range of industries and domains and I am proud to be part of the UNSW alumni community.

Quick-fire Q&A:

Do you have a favourite quote or mantra?

Stay curious and follow your heart and the world will be your oyster.

Why is science important?

Science fuels innovation, nurtures curiosity, encourages exploration, and pushes boundaries.

Throughout my journey, from quantum research to consulting and product development, a hypothesis-driven, data-backed, and rapid prototyping approach has been the cornerstone of my success. Science will continue to be the driving force that inspires transformation and the underlying beacon that will guide us toward a brighter future as a society.

How is your career /area of expertise solving real-world challenges, fostering innovation, or improving societal well-being?

There are a few things that personally stand out for me like helping millions of businesses to connect better with their customers, pioneering innovative urban mobility solutions, advancing autonomous train frameworks, and making significant contributions in the form of publications, patents, and business-level reports within the field of quantum computing

What was your most memorable experience from your time at UNSW?

During my time at UNSW, I had the honour to work with Prof. Michelle Simmons, one of the global leaders in quantum computing. Receiving the UNSW Science prize and being the first UNSW recipient of the BRAGG Gold medal from the Australian Institute of Physics are highlights. I have fond memories of delivering the BRAGG lecture and the UNSW graduation speech but the most memorable experience was that first time when I realised and demonstrated that it is possible to manufacture quantum devices with atomic precision.

What advice would you give a student approaching the end of their degree?

My advice is to discover your passion, keep nurturing that curiosity, seek practical experience, and network actively. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success, set clear goals, and be open to changes in life, society and your career. Don’t just focus on work but maintain a work-life balance and give back to your community as you progress in your career. Your journey has just begun, and with dedication, flexibility, and a curious mindset, you can achieve great things.