Eric Burwood studied at the University of NSW for his electrical engineering degree (communications option) and later completed a Master of Engineering Science degree. For some years he was a television receiver development engineer before becoming involved in the development of hearing aids and equipment to test people's hearing.

Eric ran his own electronics development business for 11 years before returning to the National Acoustic Laboratories where he continues to work as a research engineer. His fields of interest range from classroom amplification systems, hearing aids, batteries for hearing aids and the effect of mobile phones on hearing aids. In recent years Eric has been involved in the development of bone conductors, microphones and implantable microphones.