Meia is Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, where she also leads the IISS China Programme and the Institute's cross-disciplary research on China and Taiwan. Her specialism lies in Chinese security and defence policy, cross-service military modernisation and Chinese defence-related industry and innovation. Earlier in her career, she worked for the European External Action Service at the EU's representation offices in Taipei and Wellington, and also has experience working on foreign policy, defence and security in the private sector.

She holds a BA (Honours) from Macquarie University in International Relations and Political Science, an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy from Leiden University in conjunction with the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael, and an MPhil in Modern Chinese Studies from the University of Oxford in conjunction with Peking University in Beijing. Meia speaks English, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish and French.

Meia is a frequent commentator on developments in China, Taiwan and Western government policies toward China. She has provided testimony to the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as US Congress on Chinese defence policy and military modernisation.