About
A self-described “Technology and Design Evangelist,” she is a sought-after speaker and media commentator, known for translating complex technology into accessible ideas. She teaches across UniSC’s Computer Science program, with expertise in automation, AI, and task allocation. Her research develops user-centred technologies that advance digital health, sport, and privacy—making AI safe, inclusive, and impactful.
Speaking at AI Safety Forum 2026
Embedding AI Impact Assessment into Undergraduate Education
Dr Erica Mealy (UniSC) and James Gauci (Cadent) share how they embedded ISO 42005 - the international standard for AI impact assessment - into an undergraduate computer science course, pairing academic teaching with hands-on industry expertise. Drawing on James's work as one of Australia's first IEEE-trained AI ethics assessors, the session walks through the case study: what it looked like in practice, what worked, and what they would do differently. The takeaway is a practical model for giving students a repeatable, standards-based framework for assessing AI impact before they reach the workforce.
How Intersectionality Shapes Exposure to AI-Enabled Online Harms
This interactive session explores how intersectionality shapes exposure to AI-enabled online harms and creates hidden barriers to meaningful Internet inclusion. Drawing on our interdisciplinary research with rural, regional, and remote women in Australia, this session examines AI safety beyond “access,” focusing on the conditions required for people to feel safe, confident, and able to participate online. The session centres on co-creation. Participants will engage in structured discussion and small-group activities to identify emerging harm patterns, share lived or professional experiences, and collaboratively map barriers to safe, intersectional AI use. We will explore concepts such as “AI-enabled harms” and “digital withdrawal,” building a shared understanding of risk, trust, and participation across diverse communities. This work matters because safety is a critical yet under-recognised dimension of AI and Internet governance. The session aligns with the forum’s goals by foregrounding inclusion, safety, and human-centred AI, while generating community-informed insights to inform policy, education, and design.