Mark Apperley is Professor of Software Engineering at the University of Waikato, Hamilton. He originally studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Auckland, and completed a PhD there in computer processing of radio astronomy data. Through a post-doctoral research appointment at Imperial College, London, he became one of the early researchers in human-computer interaction, working on many of the techniques which are now standard parts of the everyday graphical user interface. He has since held positions at Waikato and Massey Universities, including periods as Head of Department and Dean at both.
For a large part of his academic career, the main focus of Mark’s research has been human-computer interaction (HCI) and information visualisation. However, over the past fifteen years he has also taken on a strong involvement in energy informatics, specifically the application of information and communications technology in renewable and efficient energy utilisation. His work in this area includes vehicle-to-grid technologies, community energy systems, and smart micro-grids. As well as his work as Energy Strand lead in the Public Housing and Urban Regeneration Programme, Mark is also aim lead for the community/factory-edge component of the Ahuora project at the University of Waikato: Delivering sustainable industry through smart process heat decarbonisation, and is working on the development of a smart microgrid for a Māori community on Aotea/Great Barrier Island.