Dr Nayomi Kankanamge is a Lecturer in Urban Design and Town Planning at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She is an urban planner and researcher dedicated to integrating advanced technologies into urban planning practice to create smarter and more resilient cities. She has nearly ten years of experience in academia and obtained her PhD from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2022. Her recent research focuses on the innovative use of urban big data and cutting-edge technologies, including crowdsourced data, gamification, and AR to enhance urban design, disaster preparedness, and community engagement. She has successfully secured competitive research projects and has been recognised with the QUT Faculty of Science and Engineering High Achievers Award and the prestigious QUT Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award. Dr Kankanamge is an expert in integrating emerging technologies into urban planning practice to make cities more inclusive and resilient. She has authored over 50 high-quality peer-reviewed publications and actively supports professionals and students in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through research, teaching, and industry collaboration.