Dr Tom Verhelst is the Program Director at Griffith University's Relational Insights Data Lab. In this role he works to identify and fast-track innovative solutions that address long-standing urban and regional challenges by using 'place', rather than discipline or agency, as the data linking framework.

Dr Verhelst has strong global industry research and development (R&D) experience in applying novel platform technologies towards scientific advancement to generate beneficial socioeconomic impacts. He worked previously as the Associate Director of R&D IT at UCB Biopharma (Top 30 Global pharmaceutical company) in Belgium and in the UK and as a program lead and consultant for PerkinElmer (Fortune 500 company) in Europe, the Middle East, North America and India.