Dominique received a science degree from Melbourne University and followed this with a graduate diploma in Engineering (Cleaner Production) and a Doctorate in Architecture 2005 from RMIT University, Melbourne. Her key research questions are: ‘why, when we have been ‘doing’ sustainability for so long, are we having an ever increasing impact?’ People create such beauty with music, food, art, buildings and community why is it so difficult to be a thriving part of the earth’s systems? and How can the built environment be part of this thriving? As such she has looked at biomimicry, biophilia, regenerative design, permaculture and development and positive development. This resulted in the publication of the award winning book 'Designing for Hope: Pathways to Regenerative sustainability', co-authored with Professor Chrisna du Plessis. Her continued research centres on how to create a built environment that is good for people and the nature they are a part of.
Robert is an international expert in life cycle assessment and modelling indirect (embodied) environmental flows. His research expertise focusses on improving the environmental performance of the built environment by developing tools for assessing building life cycle performance and identifying opportunities for creating more resource efficient built outcomes. He also has over 15 years’ experience working on improving the methodological aspects of life cycle assessment techniques. Robert teaches in the areas of life cycle assessment, supply chain management and prefabrication in construction. He has authored/co-authored over 100 international refereed papers as well as the book 'Life Cycle Assessment in the Built Environment' and was awarded the AIQS Infinite Value MBM Research and Teaching Award in 2013.
André has expertise in the built environment, sustainability, life cycle assessment, computer modelling and energy efficiency. His research focuses on life cycle environmental assessment and performance in the built environment, from materials to cities. André is currently a Lecturer in Architectural Engineering at the University of Melbourne. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium and the University of Melbourne and has conducted research in Belgium, Sweden, Lebanon and Australia. The contribution of André’s work to the field of environmental assessment in the built environment has been acknowledged by 10 awards so far.
Chris joined the faculty from industry bringing extensive experience as a sustainability consultant on a wide range of projects including commercial Green Star rated office buildings to energy modelling in Antarctica. His research interests are focused on the impact of solar, daylight and shading and the opportunities for sustainable construction, often with reference to European trends and systems. Recent research has looked at retrofit thermal performance products such as heat reflecting cool roof coatings, industry regulation of energy performance in housing and indoor comfort for template schools. Chris continues to direct a small consultancy along with research and teaching with the direct intention of connecting industry and academia more closely.
Sareh is an Early Career Academic Fellow in Landscape Architecture at the University of Melbourne. Sareh’s research and teaching activities focus on addressing challenges of effective design and management practices of water ecosystems in urban areas, with a particular interest in droughts and floods and changing ecologies. She has more than 6 years of experience practicing as an architect and landscape architect for a number of design firms in Iran. Her PhD research on dryland river systems (wadis) focused on design innovations and interdisciplinary practices for responding to hydrological, ecological and socio-cultural dynamics in arid and semi-arid environments. Her current research project investigates design and planning innovations in adaptation to climate change impacts in coastal landscapes and communities, through exploring performative design methods. She is particularly interested in the role of spatial analysis and modelling techniques in design-driven research on fluvial and coastal environments.
Tanja is an early career researcher with extensive experience in transdisciplinary research in the field of sustainability and creative practice. Her research integrates built environments, urban ecology, performance studies, wellbeing science, systems thinking and Indigenous knowledge to inform our capacity as humans to thrive in today’s changing climate. Working across artistic and scientific disciplines, international and national sectors, and academic and community contexts, her practice-led research explores the potential for creative engagement tools to catalyse ecosystem restoration, community vitalisation and systems healing. Tanja seeks to develop creative tools to engage the wider public in sustainability issues, and build effective partnerships between cultural, university, government, industry and community sectors. Her speciality is in exploring novel and creative approaches to sustainability within and beyond the performing arts.
Georgia joined the University of Melbourne as a Lecturer in Property in 2015. She teaches courses in property investment analysis, property development and construction studies. Prior to joining the University of Melbourne Georgia practiced as Certified Practising Valuer for Westlink Consulting covering a broad range of property including: commercial; retail; industrial; residential; and englobo, commercial and residential development sites. Georgia earned a doctorate from the University of Melbourne entitled 'Valuation practice issues in commercial property: the relationship between sustainability and market value'. Prior to and during her doctoral studies Georgia was employed by Jones Lang LaSalle as a property valuer and National Sustainability Manager (in New Zealand) and as a graduate development manager for the Mirvac Group. Geogia's research is focused on sustainability and resilience in the areas of valuation, urban development, investment and construction. She is a member of several boards at both State and National level with the Australian Property Institute.
Judy is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and deputy project leader for the ‘Urban Greening for Liveability’ project with the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on urban green space policy and governance in a changing climate. Her research is underpinned by a focus on the processes and success factors that can support the transitions and transformations towards nature-based cities. Her research is informed by the concept of an ecological worldview, and the necessity of provision of and access to urban green spaces for liveability and thriving – for both the human and non-human city dwellers. Judy also teaches urban environmental policy and planning at the University of Melbourne and at RMIT. Prior to her PhD research Cooling cities with green space: policy perspectives, she was the Executive Officer of Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action, a local government alliance for climate change action. She has also worked with Merri Creek Management Committee on waterway restoration, biodiversity conservation and community engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and a Master of Environment.
Xavier began his career as a structural engineer and has specialized in the design of complex timber systems using EWP (GL, LVL and CLT). Over the past 9 years he has been involved in France, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji on a range of programs and projects, from design research, structural timber design, structural timber modeling, to BIM models and their interface with the fabrication process, and site management. Xavier’s research focuses on the challenges and opportunities for architecture in facing the sustainability imperatives. He has worked with numerous researchers within a variety of domains including building carbon footprints, urban heat island effect, energy efficiency regulations and visual impact of thermal regulation for historical buildings.
Jenny's research experience embraces two themes: building science and sustainability evaluation. Her experience in building science combines fundamental laboratory investigations to understand indoor pollutant dynamics with field monitoring studies to investigate the influence of building operation strategy. Her expertise in sustainability evaluation contributes to establishing an overarching understanding of the built environment in relation to diverse factors in urban sustainability. Beyond publications in peer-reviewed archival journals, her research efforts have been recognised by international awards. She was an invited participant in research collegium in USA and UK, and was awarded the Green Talents for her work on sustainability evaluation.
Cristina is qualified with a Master of Environment, Melbourne University Bachelor of Biology, Universidad de las Americas. Combined with her qualifications within the field of ecology, she has extensive experience within Landscape Designer and Participatory Design. More recently, she graduated from the Master of Environment specializing in sustainable cities where she researched the complex process of integrating design disciplines with ecological science through Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design. Her research project was supported by design experts in The university of Melbourne, ecology experts of RMIT and by the United Nations Global Compact – Cities Programme. Cristina is a co-founder and the Head of Biodiversity Sensitive Design with BIOURBEM. Throughout her role with Melbourne Building Management, Cristina applies her research and analytical skills to assist drive the sustainability practices and support each member of staff to consistently Improve the Liveability of all buildings within Melbourne Building Management's care.
Adrian graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master of Architecture in 2013 and has since taught building science and environmental design at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Adrian practises as a professional ESD consultant and has experience in residential energy assessment and the creation of energy models for medium scale commercial and institutional buildings. In addition to his focus on sustainability, Adrian is also currently exploring ways in which data collection, virtual reality and computational design can be integrated within practice, and utilised to create innovative teaching models.