Ainslie is a designer and educator based in the west of Ireland with a background in non-profit management.

As a lecturer at Atlantic Technological University, she teaches in the areas of industrial design, design thinking, and design history. She is the professional practice coordinator for the undergraduate design program at ATU Galway City, and the program chair for the Creative Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development postgraduate program. Ainslie is passionate about fostering links between students and industry.

As a designer, past collaborations include product design for furniture, homeware, and lifestyle brands, residential care facilities, and more recently, the design of public spaces. Ainslie's current research interests are primarily focused on design for health and wellbeing, sustainable materials, and the role of design in creating inclusive communities.