Catherine Holloway

Cathy Holloway (she/her/hers) is a Professor of Interaction Design & Innovation at University College London's Interaction Centre, as well as a co-founder and the Academic Director of the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub). Cathy co-directs the World Health Organization's (WHO) only Collaborating Centre on Assistive Technology at UCL. She graduated from the Na tional University of Ireland, Galway in Industrial Engineering (design stream) before embarking on a brief career as an R&D...See more

Cathy Holloway (she/her/hers) is a Professor of Interaction Design & Innovation at University College London's Interaction Centre, as well as a co-founder and the Academic Director of the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub). Cathy co-directs the World Health Organization's (WHO) only Collaborating Centre on Assistive Technology at UCL. She graduated from the Na tional University of Ireland, Galway in Industrial Engineering (design stream) before embarking on a brief career as an R&D Engineer with Medtronic. She left Ireland to pursue her career in assistive technology and disability at University College London (UCL). This began with a Ph.D. that explored the biomechanics of wheelchair propulsion. During her Ph.D., years she hung out in equal measures at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hos pital, the Accessibility Research Group, and Science and Technology Studies. During this time, she developed her interest in the intersectionality of technology, disability, and poverty--and ultimately power within societies. Cathy went on to run the UCL Pedestrian Accessibility Movement Envi ronment Laboratory and learned a lot about UCL, academia, port, and life from her mentor and boss Prof Nick Tyler CBE. In 2016, she transferred her academic post from Accessibility Engineer ing to UCLIC as she began the journey to start the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) with her co-founders and friends Victoria Austin and Iain McKinnon. UCLIC is the base from which Cathy has found her vision and purpose, and the GDI Hub journey has allowed Cathy to realize her childhood dream to work in all areas of the globe and with people who are marginalized. She feels grateful and privileged each day for the opportunities she is afforded in her roles at UCL. Cathy's research will continue to try and advance the possible with technology while searching for social justice. Currently, this is achieved though her formal roles with the World Health Organiza tion, in her teaching and research, and by mentoring and leading a wonderful team. See less