Chris Napier accepting his degree from ECU Chancellor, Gaye McMath.
At an age when most people are enjoying retirement, Edith Cowan University (ECU) graduate and researcher Chris Napier is preparing for his next degree.
At 79, he has just completed a Master of Computing and Security by Research at ECU, earning a place among the top ten most senior graduates in ECU's history, and he's not stopping there, with plans to begin a PhD.
This qualification is not just a personal passion project; Chris is research active, cycles to ECU's Joondalup campus, and continues to publish award-winning academic papers with his co-authors.
He said returning to university was never about proving anything; it was about staying curious.
A lifetime of problem-solving
Chris began his academic journey at Queen's University Belfast, where he studied mathematics while playing saxophone in a soul band across Belfast and Dublin.
Chris Napier, when he was a mathematician in Northern Ireland.
He went on to spend more than 50 years as a software developer, working across aerospace, engineering, energy, finance, and gaming systems in the UK, Europe and Australia, working for major corporations such as Shell, Lucas Aerospace, Fokker and Tabcorp. His work included early digital control systems for jet engines, aircraft loading software, oil and gas data visualisation, and large-scale betting and lottery systems.
Throughout his career, Chris became known as a problem solver, an instinct that hasn't faded. "I've always enjoyed finding problems and solving them. That never really goes away," Chris said.
Finding his way to ECU
Chris Napier in front of Edith Cowan House.
After settling in Perth and completing contract work with Siemens, Chris faced a familiar question later in life: what comes next?
Retirement wasn't an option.
Encouraged by his wife, he enrolled in a Masters by Research at ECU, applying his programming expertise to real-world challenges in agriculture and plant science.
While the degree is classified as a computing and security qualification, Chris said agriculture has always been the focus, with programming simply the tool.
"The questions came from agriculture," he said.
Studying part-time over five years, Chris developed software to analyse plant health using image colour, shape, and texture. His approach avoided large datasets and neural networks, making it practical and accessible.
The aim was real-world impact, particularly for small farmers.
"If you can detect disease early with simple image analysis, that can make a real difference," Chris said.
Embracing the future
Chris is already developing new research methods and preparing to pursue a PhD in agricultural image analysis, confident and mentally ready for the challenge ahead.
"When people talk about slowing down, I don't relate to that. I still have ideas," Chris said.
At nearly 80, Chris Napier is not closing a chapter; he is starting a new one.
Interested in a career in computing and security? Visit ECU | Master of Computing and Security
For more information about the benefits of ECU's alumni network, visit the Alumni webpage.
