Dr Erica Mealy is driven to inspire the next generation of innovators and professionals. Calling herself a ‘Technology and Design Evangelist’, Dr Mealy is an accomplished speaker, regularly speaking at events and forums, sharing her passion for effective and affective technology design and development. Erica has been writing code for over 20 years and has experience in areas as diverse as sports analysis, train control, safety-critical software, embedded electronics, databases and the web. Erica’s strong industrial experience, mixed with a natural talent for teaching has lead to awards, commendations and a network of alumni and colleagues at leading software development companies across south-east Queensland and the world.

Erica’s research interests fall into the broad theme of applied user-centered design and software development. Current projects relate to interface and systems design for the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, a user-centered design approach to Entrepreneurship on the Sunshine Coast, machine learning, smart cities, wearable technologies, and software engineering support tool design.

Erica is also an exhibited visual artist with collaborative works centred on the intersection of art, science, technology and design which have been exhibited both domestically and internationally.