Professional Generalism in a Hyper-specialised World

Dr. Nektarios Karanikas is currently an Associate Professor in Health, Safety & Environment at Queensland University of Technology in Australia. He has over 28 years of experience in academia, the military, and industry. As an Aeronautical Engineering Officer in the Hellenic Air Force for more than 18 years, Dr Karanikas held leadership roles in aircraft maintenance, safety investigations, and quality assurance. Since transitioning to academia, he has conducted extensive work in ergonomics and human factors, and safety management systems.

Dr. Karanikas holds a BSc in Aviation Science, an MSc in Human Factors and Safety Assessment in Aeronautics, and a Doctorate in Safety and Quality Management. He is a Senior Fellow and an Associate Fellow (Indigenous Knowledges) of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Dr Karanikas’ research, characterised by its transdisciplinary nature, combines public health, engineering, management and social perspectives. Widely published in top journals, his work has attracted funding and led to impactful collaborations. He actively engages with industry and professional bodies, delivering invited talks, contributing to policy documents, and providing expert consultancy services. Dr Karanikas believes professionals should integrate diverse principles to enhance their practice, a concept explored in his book.