As the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Blackhall is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies, policies and systems to achieve the University's strategic goals in research and innovation.

Professor Blackhall was previously Entrepreneurial Fellow and Head, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program at ANU. He has led the development of world-first capabilities to monitor, optimise and control residential solar generation and battery storage, as well as the development of virtual power plant technology to aggregate energy storage to deliver services to energy networks, markets and utilities. Professor Blackhall holds a BE, BSc and PHD in engineering and applied mathematics, is Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a Fellow of both the Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust) and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE).