Prof. Russ Taylor is the Director of the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy. He is a professor and SKA Research Chair at the University of Cape Town and the University of Western Cape. Russ is the founding Executive Secretary of the International Square Kilometre Array Steering Committee, the founding chair of the International SKA Science Advisory Committee, the vice-chair of the International SKA Science & Engineering Committee, the co-chair of the SKA Cosmic Magnetism Science Working Group and a member of the International Board of the Preparatory Phase Program for the SKA and of the International Board of the SKA Organization. He has published over 200 professional scientific articles and has edited five books. His work through IDIA focuses on the development of techniques and data science solutions for major SKA programs.