Vishy Karri was born in Anakapalle, India and moved to Australia in his teens. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree and a PhD from the University of Melbourne.
He is the President of the Australian College of Kuwait and has held that position since 2008. Under his leadership, the institution has grown significantly and he has helped the Australian College with its seamless transition to becoming the best private university in Kuwait.
Professor Karri has held various academic positions, including Director and Program Leader at the Centre for Renewable Energy and Power Systems at the University of Tasmania, was visiting professor at Aalborg University in Denmark, the University of Applied Sciences, Stralsund, Germany and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. He has also been a professor, lecturer and research fellow at various academic institutions. He is also Adjunct Professor at Cape Breton University and is a Senior Fellow of the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment.
Over the past 23 years, Professor Karri has worked in the fields of multi-disciplinary manufacturing, renewable energy and mechanical design. He and his colleagues have intensively studied alternative energy sources and applications to mobile and stationary use. He has published over 200 peer reviewed papers, a book on engineering management and has been granted patents which are being used by industry. Professor Karri has also been awarded approximately $21 million in research grants.
In recognition of all of his teaching merits and accomplishments, Professor Karri has received a number of awards of excellence. He is a member of many professional associations including the International Federation of Automatic Control, the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Japanese Hydrogen Association. He represents the Australian College of Kuwait on many international levels and he has been invited to serve as keynote speaker at several international refereed conferences. He has also served on several organizing and scientific advisory committees around the world.
Professor Karri resides in Kuwait, with his wife, Shilpa. They have two sons, Hector and Raul.
Today, Cape Breton University confers the degree Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, on a man who is a visionary leader and accomplished researcher, Vishy Karri.
