Researcher-Practitioner · Humanitarian Technology · Sydney
I work at the intersection of technology, humanitarian action, and education. My research interest is in how AI and software systems can be designed and deployed in humanitarian field contexts — not as hypothetical interventions, but as tools shaped by the constraints and realities of community-facing work.
By day, I'm a Technical Delivery Manager at UTS Rapido, a university-embedded R&D hub at the University of Technology Sydney, where I lead software delivery for industry and social impact partners. I also teach Technology Innovation Management at UTS and design internship programs that connect engineering students with real-world project work.
Through IEEE, I chair the Tech4Good program on the Humanitarian Technologies Board, funding grassroots technology projects in underserved communities worldwide. I'm currently establishing an IEEE SIGHT group in New South Wales to build a local community of practice around humanitarian engineering. I hold a background in electrical engineering, mathematics, development studies, and environmental engineering, and spent eight years at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics at the University of Sydney.
My research focuses on AI-enabled systems for humanitarian field operations, and on how engineering education can better prepare students for social impact work. I'm particularly interested in the design challenges that arise when technology meets unstructured, resource-constrained, and community-driven environments.
M. Imhoff, G. Miao · Book chapter
Examines the role of generative AI as a diagnostic and pedagogical tool in a first-year humanitarian engineering design subject at UTS.
M. Imhoff · TBC
Explores how voice-driven AI tools can support volunteers working in night-time street outreach — reducing cognitive load and improving data capture in unstructured, high-empathy field settings.
My work spans applied R&D projects, education, and humanitarian technology leadership.
Technical Delivery Manager
UTS Rapido
Previously: Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney (8 years)
Casual Academic
University of Technology Sydney
IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board
IEEE
I build browser games in my spare time — mostly as an excuse to think about game mechanics, lateral thinking, and AI opponents.
Wordle with a strategic twist — each guess locks letters in place, forcing you to plan ahead.
Classic tic-tac-toe with an AI opponent and a duck blocker mechanic. Challenge Quacky or play with a friend.
Get 4 in a row to score points and build combos. Triangular scoring and cascading markers.
Whether it's research, collaboration, teaching, or humanitarian technology — I'd love to hear from you.
matthew@mimhoff.com