Curran has co-authored software packages such as C&C tools,[4] a CCG parser (with Stephen Clark).[5]
Educational work
In addition to his work as a University of Sydney lecturer, Curran directed the National Computer Science School, an annual summer school for technologically talented high school students.[6] In 2013, based on their work with NCSS, he, Tara Murphy, Nicky Ringland and Tim Dawborn founded Grok Learning.[7]
In 2013 he was one of the authors of the Digital Technologies section of the Australian Curriculum - its first appearance in the national curriculum.[8] Additionally, he acted as an advocate for digital literacy among Australian students.[9][10]
He was the academic director of the Australian Computing Academy, a not-for-profit within the University of Sydney[11] until its merger with Grok Learning in 2021 to form Grok Academy.[12]
Harassment allegations
In October 2024 he resigned from his position as CEO and board member of Grok Academy after multiple allegations of harassment were substantiated by an independent investigator.[13] It was reported that over a 10-year span there were nine women, including six who were in high school at the time, that allege Curran sent them inappropriate messages.
Additionally, it was revealed that a 2019 University of Sydney investigation found 35 cases of harassment, after which he received a warning and a 2024 University of New South Wales investigation was referred to the NSW police, who took no action as they found no criminal wrongdoing by Curran, in part because the students were over 16 at the time of the alleged harassment.[13]
