Rafal Kolanski

Rafal helped pioneer robust proof-engineering practices and led the seL4 Proof Engineering team for five years. The resulting techniques support the ongoing verification of a kernel used in commercial products and research. This work helps keep mathematical assurance maintainable as software evolves, giving engineers a practical foundation for sustaining confidence in software correctness.

Rafal Kolanski serves as Chief Engineer at Proofcraft, developing and maintaining large software proofs for seL4. Verification of the microkernel relies on machine-checked mathematical proofs to establish software properties, requiring robust engineering practices to build proofs and keep proofs functioning reliably as code evolves.

Prior to Proofcraft, Rafal spent five years leading the seL4 Proof Engineering team within the Trustworthy Systems group, following doctoral research at UNSW Sydney. That leadership helped pioneer practical methods for software proofs and introduced many of the techniques and mechanisms used in seL4 verification.

Because seL4 is deployed across commercial products and active research, maintaining mathematical assurance remains an ongoing operational commitment. Rafal was also part of the seL4 team honoured with the ACM Software System Award, recognising collective contributions to verified systems software.