Biography
Chad Whelan is a Professor of Criminology and Deputy Director, Centre for Cyber Resilience and Trust, Deakin University. He principally conducts research in cybercrime, organised crime, and security. Much of his research involves applying network perspectives to these and other problems. He has received numerous research grants worth over $5m on these and related problems and has over 50 research publications.
He is author of Networks and National Security: Dynamics, Effectiveness and Organisation (Routledge, 2012); Securing Mega-Events: Networks, Strategies and Tensions (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018; with Adam Molnar); Policing Across Organisational Boundaries: Developments in Theory and Practice (Routledge, 2019, with Benoît Dupont and Peter Manning); and Organised Crime and Law Enforcement: A Network Perspective (Routledge, 2021; with David Bright). His work has appeared in many criminology and management journals, including British Journal of Criminology; Crime, Law and Social Change; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Global Crime; International Journal of Police Science and Management; International Public Management Journal; Journal of Criminology; Police Practice and Research; Police Quarterly; Policing; Policing and Society; Security Journal; State Crime Journal; Studies in Conflict and Terrorism; Surveillance and Society; Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice; and Trends in Organized Crime.
Read more on Chad's profileResearch interests
Chad Whelan conducts research in various areas, particularly on organised crime, cybercrime and security, and multi-agency responses to such problems across organisational boundaries and professional disciplines.
Teaching interests
Chad Whelan teaches across the undergraduate and postgraduate criminology program.
Knowledge areas
Chad Whelan has expertise in areas such as: organised crime; cybercrime; policing; security; networks; and network analysis.
Awards
Senior Fellow, Advance HE (previously Higher Education Academy), United Kingdom), 2019.
Office of Learning and Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, 2014.
Deakin University Excellence in Teaching - Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teacher of the Year, 2013.
Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, 2009.
Publications
Assessing variation in co-offending networks
David Bright, Chad Whelan, Marie Ouellet
(2024), pp. 101-121, The Criminology of Carlo Morselli - Part I, Abingdon, Eng., B1
Offence versatility among co-offenders: A dynamic network analysis
D Bright, J Lerner, G Putra Sadewo, C Whelan
(2024), Vol. 78, pp. 1-11, Social Networks, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
J Martin, C Whelan
(2023), Vol. 12, pp. 1-25, State Crime Journal, C1
Reconceptualising organised (cyber)crime: The case of ransomware
Chad Whelan, David Bright, James Martin
(2023), pp. 1-17, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, London, Eng., C1
Chad Whelan, James Martin
(2023), pp. 1-13, Current Issues in Criminal Justice, London, Eng., C1
Assessing variation in co-offending networks
D Bright, C Whelan, M Ouellet
(2022), Vol. 23, pp. 1-21, Global Crime, London, England, C1
Civilianising specialist units: Reflections on the policing of cyber-crime
C Whelan, D Harkin
(2021), Vol. 21, pp. 529-546, Criminology and Criminal Justice, C1
Enhancing relationships between criminology and cybersecurity
Benoît Dupont, Chad Whelan
(2021), Vol. 54, pp. 76-92, Journal of criminology, London, Eng., C1
Perceptions of police training needs in cyber-crime
D Harkin, C Whelan
(2021), Vol. 24, pp. 66-76, International Journal of Police Science and Management, C1
Organised crime and law enforcement: a network perspective
David Bright, Chad Whelan
(2020), [Abingdon, Eng.], A1
Exploring the relational properties of networked intelligence systems
Chad Whelan, David Bright
(2020), pp. 166-182, Policing transnational crime : law enforcement of criminal flows, London, Eng., B1
On the Durability of Terrorist Networks: Revealing the Hidden Connections between Jihadist Cells
D Bright, C Whelan, S Harris-Hogan
(2020), Vol. 43, pp. 638-656, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, C1
Exploring the hidden social networks of 'lone actor' terrorists
D Bright, C Whelan, S Harris-Hogan
(2020), Vol. 74, pp. 491-508, Crime, Law and Social Change, C1
Understanding the structure and composition of co offending networks in Australia
D Bright, C Whelan, C Morselli
(2020), pp. 1-21, Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, C1
Understanding the structure and composition of co-offending networks in Australia
David Bright, Chad Whelan, Carlo Morselli
(2020), Canberra, A.C.T., A6
Taking stock of networks across the security field
Chad Whelan, Benoit Dupont
(2019), pp. 90-106, Policing Across Organisational Boundaries: Developments in Theory and Practice, London, Eng., B1
C Whelan, A Molnar
(2019), Vol. 29, pp. 85-99, Policing and society, Abingdon, Eng., C1
A Molnar, C Whelan, P Boyle
(2019), Vol. 59, pp. 107-125, British journal of criminology, Oxford, Eng., C1
Intelligence-led policing in practice: reflections from intelligence analysts
morgan Burcher, chad Whelan
(2019), Vol. 22, pp. 139-160, Police quarterly, London, Eng., C1
On the relationship between goals, membership and network design in multi-agency "fusion" centres
D Bright, C Whelan
(2019), Vol. 42, pp. 441-454, Policing, C1
Exploring the implications of 'low visibility' specialist cyber-crime units
D Harkin, C Whelan
(2019), Vol. 52, pp. 578-594, Australian and New Zealand journal of criminology, London, Eng., C1
Policing Across Organisational Boundaries : Developments in Theory and Practice
Benoît Dupont, Chad Whelan, Peter Manning
(2019), London, Eng., A7
Securing mega-events: networks, strategies and tensions
C Whelan, Adam Molnar
(2018), London, Eng., A1
M Burcher, C Whelan
(2018), Vol. 21, pp. 278-294, Trends in organized crime, New York, N.Y., C1
The challenges facing specialist police cyber-crime units: an empirical analysis
D Harkin, C Whelan, L Chang
(2018), Vol. 19, pp. 519-536, Police Practice and Research, C1
Security networks and occupational culture: understanding culture within and between organisations
C Whelan
(2017), Vol. 27, pp. 113-135, Policing and Society, C1
C Whelan
(2017), Vol. 30, pp. 310-327, Security journal, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
C Whelan, A Molnar
(2017), Vol. 18, pp. 176-197, Global crime, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Taking stock of networks across the security field: a review, typology and research agenda
C Whelan, B Dupont
(2017), Vol. 27, pp. 671-687, Policing and Society, C1
Networks and National Security: Dynamics, Effectiveness and Organisation
C Whelan
(2016), London, Eng., A1
Organisational culture and cultural change: a network perspective
C Whelan
(2016), Vol. 49, pp. 583-599, Australian & New Zealand journal of criminology, Thousand Oaks, Calif., C1
C Whelan
(2016), Vol. 39, pp. 145-158, Policing, C1
M Burcher, C Whelan
(2015), Vol. 16, pp. 104-122, Global crime, Abingdon, Eng., C1
C Whelan
(2015), Vol. 18, pp. 536-567, International public management journal, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Policing and networks in the field of counterterrorism
D Palmer, C Whelan
(2014), pp. 145-166, Examining political violence: studies of terrorism, counterterrorism, and internal war, Boca Raton, Fla., B1
Surveillance, Governance and Professional Sport
I Warren, D Palmer, C Whelan
(2014), Vol. 11, pp. 439-453, Surveillance & Society, Kingston, Ontario, C1
C Whelan
(2014), Vol. 11, pp. 392-404, Surveillance & Society, Kingston Ont., C1
Networks and national security : dynamics, effectiveness and organisation
C Whelan
(2012), Surrey, England, A1
C Whelan
(2011), Vol. 70, pp. 275-286, Australian journal of public administration, Sydney, N.S.W., C1-1
Policing in the 'communal spaces' of major event venues
D Palmer, C Whelan
(2007), Vol. 8, pp. 401-414, Police practice and research: an international journal, Abingdon, England, C1
Counter-terrorism across the policing continuum
D Palmer, C Whelan
(2006), Vol. 7, pp. 449-465, Police practice and research, Abingdon, England, C1
C Whelan, D Palmer
(2006), pp. 1-13, Social Change in the 21st Century, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, E1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Revealing the hidden networks of criminal groups conducting and facilitating ransomware attacks.
Prof Chad Whelan, Prof David Bright, Dr James Martin
Aust Institute of Criminology - Criminology Research Grants
- 2023: $13,941
- 2022: $34,854
Using network science analytics for identifying, anticipating, and disrupting covert threats
Prof Chad Whelan, Prof David Bright, Prof Matthew Roughan, Prof Lewis Mitchell
Office of National Intelligence National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grant (NISDRG)
- 2024: $75,558
- 2023: $86,500
Analysing and disrupting outlaw motorcycle gangs in Australia
Prof David Bright, Prof Chad Whelan
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2024: $14,048
Other Public Sector Funding
Understanding the structure and composition of co-offending networks in Australia
Prof Chad Whelan, Dr David Bright, Prof Carlo Morselli
Australian Institute of Criminology - Criminology Research Grants
- 2019: $5,843
- 2018: $14,281
- 2017: $8,438
Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS)
Prof Michele Grossman AM, Prof Fethi Mansouri, Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh, Prof Anita Harris, Dr Vanessa Barolsky, Dr Amanuel Elias, Prof Greg Barton, A/Prof Anna Halafoff, Dr Vivian Gerrand, Prof Amanda Keddie, Prof Yin Paradies, A/Prof Matteo Vergani, Dr Jessica Walton, Prof Chad Whelan, Dr Ana-Maria Bliuc, Dr Philippa Collin, Dr Hass Dellal, Dr Nida Denson, Prof Kevin Dunn, Dr Liam Magee, Dr Liam McGarty, A/Prof Amanda Third, Dr Michael Ungar, Dr Sherene Idriss
Department of Premier and Cabinet Vic
- 2019: $1,824,753
- 2018: $1,065,362
Evaluation of Victoria Police Cultural and Community Diversity Educational Strategy (working title).
Prof Chad Whelan, Prof Michele Grossman AM
The State of Victoria (through Victoria Police)
- 2019: $39,682
Pathways to radicalisation: Using social network analysis to detect harmful and protective in fluences within social networks.
Prof Chad Whelan, Johan koskinen, Dr David Bright
Department of Justice & Community Safety - Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Research Grant
- 2020: $2,727
- 2019: $17,571
Revealing the hidden networks of criminal groups conducting and facilitating ransomware attacks.
Prof Chad Whelan, Prof David Bright, Dr James Martin
Australian Institute of Criminology
- 2024: $13,941
Cyber Harm Prevention
Prof Robin Ram Mohan Doss, Dr Jay Jeong, Prof Chad Whelan, Prof Judy Currey, A/Prof William Yeoh, Prof Gang Li, Dr Adnan Anwar, Dr Paul Cooper, Mr Damien Manuel
VIC Managed Insurance Authority
- 2023: $175,280
- 2022: $50,763
eSAFETY COMMISSIONER- Preventing and disrupting technology-facilitated abuse against women using targeted digital advertising and search engine optimisation techniques
Dr Diarmaid Harkin, A/Prof Mary Iliadis, Prof Chad Whelan
Office of the eSafety Commissioner
- 2023: $170,281
Industry and Other Funding
Policing financially motivated cybercrime: Current and emerging challenges.
Prof Chad Whelan, Dr Diarmaid Harkin, Dr James Martin
University of Montreal
- 2023: $28,881
Other Funding Sources
Qualitative end user evaluation, D2D CRC Federated Police Project
Prof Rens Scheepers, Prof Chad Whelan, Prof Ingrid Nielsen, Prof Louis De Koker
Data to Decisions CRC
- 2017: $40,056
- 2016: $40,056
Improving strategic direction and implementation of Big Data (technologies and analytics) in Australian National Security Agencies: A new framework to inform decision makers
Prof Chad Whelan, Ms Miah Hammond-Errey
Data to Decisions CRC
- 2020: $7,500
- 2019: $30,000
- 2018: $20,000
- 2017: $30,000
Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS)
Prof Michele Grossman AM, Prof Fethi Mansouri, Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh, Prof Anita Harris, Dr Vanessa Barolsky, Dr Amanuel Elias, Prof Greg Barton, A/Prof Anna Halafoff, Dr Vivian Gerrand, Prof Amanda Keddie, Prof Yin Paradies, A/Prof Matteo Vergani, Dr Jessica Walton, Prof Chad Whelan, Dr Ana-Maria Bliuc, Dr Philippa Collin, Dr Hass Dellal, Dr Nida Denson, Prof Kevin Dunn, Dr Liam Magee, Dr Liam McGarty, A/Prof Amanda Third, Dr Michael Ungar, Dr Sherene Idriss
Victoria University, Western Sydney University
- 2023: $152,089
- 2022: $152,089
- 2020: $163,325
- 2019: $112,204
Examining opportunities and constraints of civilianisation for enhancing law enforcement cyber capability in Australia.
Prof Chad Whelan, Dr Diarmaid Harkin, Dr James Martin
Cyber Security Research Centre Limited
- 2023: $94,947
Examining the intersections between cybercrime and organised crime
Prof Chad Whelan, Prof David Bright, Dr James Martin
CYBER SECURITY RESEARCH CENTRE
- 2023: $19,000
Analysing the structure and dynamics of ransomware criminal groups
Prof Chad Whelan, Dr James Martin, Prof David Bright
CYBER SECURITY RESEARCH CENTRE
- 2023: $19,000
Supervisions
Miah Hammond-Errey
Thesis entitled: Big Data and National Security: Impacts for Intelligence
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Owen Ormerod
Thesis entitled: Advancing the epistemology of intelligence analysis: A Polanyian perspective
Master of Arts, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Morgan Richard Burcher
Thesis entitled: Social Network Analysis as an Investigative Tool for Crime Intelligence
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Sciences