Dr Silvia Pfeiffer

Biography

Dr Silvia Pfeiffer is a technologist, entrepreneur, and standards pioneer with over 20 years of experience in web video technology, open source software, and digital health. She holds a PhD in Computer Science (Dr rer nat) from the University of Mannheim (Magna Cum Laude with Honours) and a Master’s Degree in Business Management.

Silvia is passionate about making user experience with video online as interactive and enjoyable as web page interaction — from searching within video content and hyperlinking to related material, to enabling video conferences directly in the browser. She is a strong advocate for open source, open standards, and accessibility.

Current Role

Chief Product Officer at CARED — a telehealth platform focused on NDIS participants and people with disabilities, spearheading innovative telehealth solutions with an emphasis on accessibility and fair access to care.

Career Highlights

CEO & Co-Founder, Coviu (2018–2024) Built Coviu from a CSIRO Data61 research spin-out into Australia’s leading telehealth platform. Scaled from 400 consultations/day pre-COVID to 25,000/day, grew the team to 42 staff, and achieved net profitability. Stepped down as CEO in early 2024 and remains on the board as a non-executive director.

HTML5 Video Specialist, NICTA / CSIRO Data61 (2012–2018) Worked on WebRTC — web-based video conferencing technology — exploring its use for healthcare and government services. Created one of the first working video conferencing implementations in a web browser. This research directly evolved into Coviu.

Co-Founder, Vquence (2006–2012) Co-founded an Australian online video technology company focused on aggregating quantitative measurements of online video use — web video analytics.

Research Scientist, CSIRO (2001–2006) Developed specifications and software for the Annodex project, creating annotated and indexed open media technology for an open media web. Founded the Annodex Association.

Contractor, Mozilla & Google Contributed to browser video capabilities and web standards implementation.

Standards & Specifications

• Co-Editor, HTML5 Specification, W3C (2012–2013)
• Editor, WebVTT Specification — Web Video Text Tracks format, W3C (2013–2019)
• Co-Author, Media Fragment URI Specification, W3C
• Invited Expert, W3C working groups (since 2008)
• Contributor, IETF standards including RFC 3533 (Ogg encapsulation format) and RFC 5334 (Ogg media types)

Awards & Recognition

• Founder of the Year, Women in Digital National Awards (2020)
• Top 100 Innovators (Medical & Healthcare), The Australian (2022)
• Brilliant Women in Digital Health Award (2023)
• Finalist, SBE Australia Impact Awards — Game Changer category (2022)
• Finalist, Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards — Emerging Leader in Health (2022)

Credentials

• GAICD, Australian Institute of Company Directors (2024)
• 5+ Year Member, Australasian Institute of Digital Health (2022)
• Google Developers Expert (GDE) (2018)

Publications

Author of three books:

• The Definitive Guide to HTML5 Video (Apress, 2010)
• Beginning HTML5 Media (Apress, 2015)
• Beyond the Clinic — Transforming your Practice with Video Consultations

See the full list of publications.

Education

• PhD in Computer Science (Dr rer nat), University of Mannheim, Germany (1994–1999), Magna Cum Laude with Honours
• Master’s Degree in Business Management