Dr. Alireza Ahankoob is a researcher in Construction Management at RMIT University, bringing extensive experience across both academic and industry environments. His work focuses on digitisation in construction, with expertise spanning Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital fabrication, smart buildings, and lean construction. He has led and contributed to numerous research initiatives aimed at advancing digital technologies and prefabrication methods to enhance the efficiency, quality, and sustainability of construction practices. His research is characterised by a strong commitment to integrating theoretical insight with practical innovation, positioning him as a leading contributor to the evolving field of construction digitisation.

Myla is Associate Professor in Construction Management at RMIT University School of Property, Construction and Project Management. She conducts research in architectural and building science with industry oriented research revolving around the relevant and topical issues and questions on building pathology and performance, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and urban microclimates.

Myla is Director of the Sustainable Building Innovation Laboratory (SBi Lab). She examines building science through empirical, applied and participatory action research methodologies, informed by a clear understanding of the implications of various challenges such as climate, health and wellbeing and building performance which ensure ongoing contribution to knowledge of theory and practice in the discipline area.

Myla teaches in the Master of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Building (MEESB) and undergraduate Construction Management (on-shore and off-shore) programs. As educator in the built environment discipline, her teaching approach draws on her building science research and building construction experience to enable students navigate the dynamic construction industry and building sector, and moreover, the complex challenges in built environment, including climate change and energy use, urbanisation and  infrastructure construction. 

Prior to joining RMIT University initially as research fellow at the Centre for Design, Myla worked full-time as project coordinator in an Adelaide- and Sydney-based architectural practice specialising in commercial retail architecture and shopping centre planning and design. Among her key responsibilities include general project and contract administration, project documentation and monitoring, liaison with design and engineering consultants, project managers and builders, coordination with local councils and government authorities on development applications (mainly in South Australia and New South Wales). Myla also practiced as registered architect in the Philippines prior to pursuing her PhD and worked on architectural/engineering design and project management of design and construct (D&C) residential, ecclesiastical, retail and medium-rise commercial building projects.

Awards:

Adelaide (Research) Scholarship International (ASI) 2001-2004, University of Adelaide

Brenda Nettle Prize 2004, Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW) - South Australia

Professor Alisa Andrasek is a design researcher and innovator exploring how artificial intelligence and computation can expand the creative and systemic capacities of design. Her research develops what she terms agentic design cognition—a framework where human and machine intelligence co-author adaptive architectures, cities, and infrastructures through multimodal, data-rich, and multi-objective design processes.

As founder and director of AIARCH, she investigates how digital and material systems can converge into high-resolution fabrics of design that are context-sensitive, regenerative, and aesthetically advanced. Her work also extends into AI in education, pioneering new methodologies that position AI not only as a tool, but as a medium for reasoning, creativity, and co-evolution in teaching and learning.

Previously Director of B-Pro AD and the Wonderlab research group at UCL Bartlett, she has also taught at Columbia University, the Architectural Association, and the European Graduate School. Her work has been widely published and exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale, Centre Pompidou, and ZKM Karlsruhe.

Associate Professor. Current Projects:

Founding Director | Building AI Vision Group |  Artificial Intelligence in Architecture, Construction and Built Environment (2025- )

Guest Editor: Buildings: Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Construction Risk Management. Buildings AI

Regional Editor for Facilities, Emerald Publishing Group (2010- )  

Creative Director and Curator at The 2026 World Sustainable Built Environment (WSBE26), Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne Australia (June 2026). 

Visiting Professor at Politecnico di Milano and UNESCO Chair in Mantova (2012- )

Guest Lecturer at the Master in Landscape Architecture, SLU Malmo, Sweeden (2020- )

Forthcomming Solo Art Exhbition at Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia (June 2026).

Forthcomming Solo Art Exhibition at Grist Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia  (2026).

Recent:

Solo exhibition at Highlight Art: NeoEden60: Garden Cities. Singapre (9th July to 9th August, 2025).   HIGHLIGHT

Solo exhibition at the UNESCO Architecture HQ Tratti Sfumati: Cities in Transformation. Mantova, Italy. (October 2024).  Tratti Sfumati

Solo Exhibition at Gasworks Arts Park: La Citta Ideasle 2033. Albert Pak, Melbourne, Australia (May 2024). Angela Roberts-Bird Gallery  

Conference Publication: AUBEA, Canberra. November 2025

Guillermo is an Associate Professor in Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University 

Since 2010 he has served as Visiting Professor to Politecnico di Milano and the UNESCO Architecture Chair in Mantova (2013-2025). 

The biger picture:

I LOVE Architecture, Cities and Urban Life. I have lived and worked across 4 continents and have bee consulting and teaching in Melbourne and Singapore (RMIT-SIM) for over 20 years. Italy for over 15 years (UNESCO), The Netherlands (TU Twente and TU Delft) and Hong Kong (RMIT-IVE) for over 10 years and have published over 100 academic papers and technical reports in areas of architecture, building information modelling, construction management and digital visualisation of future cities. I am currently looking into Artificial Intelligence Vision in Architecture, Construction and Asset Managment (Building Sight, funded project).

In my work and research I looked at future cities, building innovation and adaptive-reuse/heritage and asset managment for over 30 years (my first project through ICOMOS 1995). My design practice informs research and research informs practice. My teaching is informed by both, industry and academia. I have been external advisor on small, medium and large-scale design and construction firms in Australia, Europe and Asia. Other roles over my professional life:

• Sconded Academic to FHNW and ETH in Zurich in Switzerland where I was teaching and advising to one of the first graduate programs in Building Information Modelling (2011-2012).
• Junior Architecture in Design and Build projects in the Americas (Trafalgar House Constrcution).
• I was the first Scholar to complete the Standford Certificate in Virtual Design for Construction (VDC) under the supervision of Prof. Martin Fischer (2009-2010).
• Project Manager, Researcher and Co-Author of the Australian National Guideline for Building Information Modelling (2008).

PhD in Construction Management, The University of Reading, United Kingdom (1996–2003).

Masters of Science in European Construction Engineering, Loughborough University of Technology, United Kingdom.

Bachelor of Science in Architecture in Guadalajara, Mexico (1992-1995)

Graduate Diploma in Arts and Architecture. Master of Heritage in Seville, Spain at Escuela Superior de Arquitectura (1995–1996).

Internationally, Guillermo has continued an active design and research agenda with the UNESCO, Stanford University, TU Delft, TU Twente, The National University of Singapore, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, ETH and the Politecnico di Milano.

Specialties:

Visual Arts

Creative Direction 

Artufificial Intellignece Vision

Design for Circularity

Sustainable Architecture

Precinct and City Planning

Construction Innovation

Heritage and Adaptive Reuse

GenAI-BIM. 

Format:
- Design Studios

- Briefing Workshops 
- Value Management
- Participatory Design

- Stakeholder Managment 

Techniques:
- Mind-mapping

- Hand drawing

- Architecture: BIM (Building Information Modelling)
- Design/Construction Process: VDC (Virtual Design and Construction)
- Planning: GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Accomplishments:

• I have taught over 10,000 students over professional life.

 
- 2013 Awarded Senior Research Fellowship at the Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy.
- 2012–2013 Awarded Visiting Professorship at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland.
- 2012 Awarded Australian Citizenship. Scored 100% at the official test.
- 2010 Awarded Australian Permanent Residency under the Distinguished Talent category (29 April 2010).
- 2010 Awarded Golden Key Honorary Membership by Professor Margaret Gardner, Vice-Chancellor of RMIT.
- 2008 Awarded Scholarship to Stanford University (awarded by the ‘Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation’) to undertake the Certificate Program in “Virtual Design and Construction” under the supervision of Professor Martin Fischer (2008–2010).
- 2007 Awarded RMIT Emerging Researcher Grant by RMIT University.
- 2006 Appointed Conjoint Academicto the School of Architecture, University of Newcastle, Australia.
- 2006 Awarded ‘Sigma Lambda Chi Society’Honorary Membership. Awarded by SLCS Melbourne Chapter.
- 1997 Awarded ‘PhD Endowment Trust Fund’from The University of Reading, United Kingdom.

Undergraduate:
- BUIL1154 Advanced Construction – Strategic Planning, Design and Management
- BUIL1215 Research Project – Sustainable Architecture Studio
- BUIL1256 Construction Planning and Design – Building Information Modelling Studio Post Graduate
- BUIL1005 Building Systems – Sustainable Architecture & Building Studio
- PHIL1008 Research Project – Sustainable Architecture Studio Singapore
- BUIL1213: Advanced Construction – Strategic Planning, Design and Management
- BUIL1222: Research Project – Sustainable Architecture Studio

2003–2009 Applied Research Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation including: Development of the Australian National Guidelines for Digital Modelling.

I LOVE Architecture, Cities and Urban Life. I have lived and worked across 4 continents and have bee consulting and teaching in Melbourne and Singapore (RMIT-SIM) for over 20 years. Italy for over 15 years (UNESCO), The Netherlands (TU Twente and TU Delft) and Hong Kong (RMIT-IVE) for over 10 years and have published over 100 academic papers and technical reports in areas of architecture, building information modelling, construction management and digital visualisation of future cities. I am currently looking into Artificial Intelligence Vision in Architecture, Construction and Asset Managment (Building Sight, funded project).

In my work and research I looked at future cities, building innovation and adaptive-reuse/heritage and asset managment for over 30 years (my first project through ICOMOS 1995). My design practice informs research and research informs practice. My teaching is informed by both, industry and academia. I have been external advisor on small, medium and large-scale design and construction firms in Australia, Europe and Asia. Other roles over my professional life:

• Visiting Academic at FHNW and ETH in Zurich in Switzerland where I was teaching and advising to one of the first graduate programs in Building Information Modelling (2011-2012).
• Junior Architecture in Design and Build projects in the Americas (Trafalgar House Constrcution).
• I was the first Scholar to complete the Standford Certificate in Virtual Design for Construction (VDC) under the supervision of Prof. Martin Fischer (2009-2010).
• Project Manager, Researcher and Co-Author of the Australian National Guideline for Building Information Modelling (2008).

PhD in Construction Management, The University of Reading, United Kingdom (1996–2003).

Masters of Science in European Construction Engineering, Loughborough University of Technology, United Kingdom.

Bachelor of Science in Architecture in Guadalajara, Mexico (1992-1995)

Graduate Diploma in Arts and Architecture. Master of Heritage in Seville, Spain at Escuela Superior de Arquitectura (1995–1996).

Internationally, Guillermo has continued an active design and research agenda with the UNESCO, Stanford University, TU Delft, TU Twente, The National University of Singapore, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, ETH and the Politecnico di Milano.

Dr Dingwen “Nic” Bao is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture, PhD supervisor, and Architecture Technology Course Coordinator at the School of Architecture and Urban Design, RMIT University, where he directs the FormX Research Lab and leads the Innovative Structures and Materials cluster. His research focuses on performance-driven architectural design, integrating computational design, structural optimisation, behavioural algorithms, additive manufacturing, robotic fabrication, and intelligent construction. His work explores how these domains can be synthesised into advanced design methodologies for high-performance and sustainable built environments.

Nic has published over 80 research outputs, including high-impact journal papers, books, book chapters, conference proceedings and creative work. He serves on the editorial boards of several international journals, including Architectural Intelligence (ARI), Sustainable Structures (SUST), Sustainable Engineering Materials (SUEM), Journal of Chinese Architecture and Urbanism (ICAU), World Architecture Review, and Urban Environment Design (UED).

Prior to joining RMIT, Nic taught at University of Melbourne and Monash University, while working as a full-time practicing architect in leading Australian firms including Bates Smart, Fender Katsalidis, COX Architecture with Billard Leece, and Architectus. Nic is a registered architect in Australia (ARBV, RAIA), the United States (NCARB), and the United Kingdom (RIBA Chartered Architect). He is the Director of B.W Architects (BWA) and Studio Nic Bao, and a partner at Ameba Institute of Engineering Structure Optimisation.

He also holds key leadership roles in international academic and professional organisations, including Secretary & former Chair of Awards Committee of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) , Secretary & Co-Chair of CDRF 2026 at the DigitalFUTURES Association, and Deputy Chair (Victoria) and National Lead for Digital Design and Building Technology at Prefab Council of Australia. He is also a member of Australian Institute of Architects, The Architects Society of China, and International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS).

Nic has contributed extensively to international conferences as a scientific reviewer, session chair, and workshop leader, including CDRF, Rob|Arch, SimAUD, SIGraDi, CAAD Futures, CAADRIA, ASCAAD, eCAADe, and DigitalFUTURES. He has delivered over 15 international workshops and masterclasses, including AA Visiting School, DigitalFUTURES, CAADRIA, SIGraDi, ACADIA workshops, IASS and CDRF master classes.

His work has been widely exhibited internationally, including at Hong Kong BoDW, Shanghai DigitalFUTURES, Melbourne Design Week, Venice Biennale, Shenzhen/Hong Kong Urbanism\Architecture Bi-City Biennale (UABB), and Melbourne/Barcelona IASS Expo. He has been invited as a guest lecturer, critic, and PhD examiner at leading institutions worldwide, including Tongji, Tsinghua, Southeast University, Shenzhen University, South China University of Technology, BUCEA, BIFT, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Southern University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Università di Pisa, ETH Zurich, The Bartlett, UCL, The University of Michigan, Massey University, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, The University of Newcastle, UNSW, University of Technology Sydney, The University of Queensland, The University of Tokyo, and Osaka University.

Nic received his PhD in Architecture & Civil Engineering (2022) and Bachelor of Architecture (2012) from RMIT University, where he was awarded the RMIT Research Excellence and Impact Award (HDR). He also holds a Master of Architecture (with a minor in Urban Design) from University of Melbourne (2014). His work has received numerous international awards, including the Young CAADRIA Award, A’Design Award, Grand Prix du Design Paris Gold Award, IAI Design Award, and the DigitalFUTURES Young Award. He has also received third prize in the IASS Design Competition in 2023, along with two first prizes in national and international competitions in structural optimisation and 3D printing design in 2019 & 2020. Additional recognitions include multiple DigitalFUTURES Project Awards, the Best Paper Award at CDRF (2024), the Engineering Structures Best Paper Award (2023), and the RMIT Award for Research Excellence (ECR) (2023).

He has also curated major international exhibitions, including Integration of Design and Fabrication at IASS Expo (Melbourne, 2023), and co-curated the ACADIA–CAADRIA Joint Exhibition Habits of the Anthropocene (Hong Kong, 2023).

Karolina is the Program Manager for the Graduate Certificate in Design Management and a lecturer in the Construction Management Program within the School of Property, Construction, and Project Management.

The Graduate Certificate program offers an accelerated, industry-based learning pathway designed to cultivate technical mastery, design excellence, and project leadership among senior design, engineering, and advisory professionals.

In parallel, Karolina is pursuing her PhD, focusing on landscape architectural and sensory design. Her research explores the impact of planting scents on restorative experiences for users of public parks and gardens. She aims to optimise planting schemes by considering the placement of plantings and user needs for restorative sensory experiences, specifically from the perspective of smell.

Kyle is a landscape architectural researcher and educator whose work focuses on post-mining landscapes and communities, and critical design pedagogies. Through a spatial practice centred on co-production and relationality, he has worked collaboratively on projects that challenge the exclusion of various communities from shared processes and narratives, aiming to build capacity and distribute agency during periods of transition.

Kyle’s most significant projects include:

• An emerging vision for post-mining land use: A synthesis of three community deliberations in Australia’s Latrobe Valley published in 2025 with collaborators at Federation University, University of Melbourne and CSIRO
• Landscape Architectural Discourses on Restoration: A Review from Strategic Beautification to Nature-Based Solutions published in 2024 in the Journal of Society and Ecology with a co-author at Nanyang Technological University Singapore
• ‘settlement’? or invasion., a creative work exhibited in the 2022 Thinking into Being: QUT Alumni Triennial at QUT Art Gallery
• Running Interference in Landscapes of Extraction, published in the 2022 edition of Kerb Journal: Power, 
• The Void, an industry partnered design studio in collaboration with MLRA and Engie Australia (2021-ongoing)
• the Pedagogies for Future Practice event series in collaboration with RMIT colleague Dr. Alice Lewis (2021-ongoing).

Kyle is a current PhD candidate. Read more about his research here: https://practice-research.com/candidates/kyle-bush

Dr Brian Considine is a Lecturer in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering at RMIT University. He completed a Masters Degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Dublin City University and worked as a Project Engineer for one year before pursuing a PhD. He obtained a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Trinity College Dublin in 2022 by investigating air pollution control technology for building HVAC systems. Prior to joining RMIT University, he worked as a Research Fellow at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Cambridge for three years.  

He specialises in building stock modelling, circular economy, building energy, indoor and outdoor environmental quality, urban climatology, hydropower and waste heat recovery.  His expertise spans computational fluid dynamics, building energy performance certification, building energy modelling, HVAC systems, retrofits, life cycle costs, hygrothermal modelling, air pollution control technology, microclimate modelling, nature-based solutions and renewable energy technology development for hydropower and wastewater sectors. 

Dr. Ollie (Olivier) Cotsaftis is a researcher-practitioner in the School of Design at RMIT University. His work operates at the intersection of design and futures, engaging living systems, critical ecologies, and material entanglements to advance regenerative transitions through material-driven and participatory design. He has published in leading journals such as Design Studies and exhibited at the Science Gallery Melbourne, the MPavilion and the National Gallery of Victoria. Before joining RMIT, he was a design lead at Fjord and founded future ensemble studio. He is currently Co-Program Manager of the Master of Design Innovation and Technology, Network Co-Lead and Design and Architecture Lead for the RMIT Nature Positive Network, Editorial Board Member of Biotechnology Design, and co-founder of the material futures studio neomatter.

Professor Karien Dekker works at RMIT University in the school of Property, Construction and Project Management. She is currently a Chief Investigator on a project on housing solutions for temporary migrants in Australia. She writes about social infrastructure and affordable housing in diverse communities.

Karien's life revolves around a greater desire to create inclusive communities in which everyone feels welcome. She is also passionate about affordable housing for all. To inform policy and public opinion, she interprets large datasets, while making sense of the findings with interviews and observations.

My research uses an economic geography lens to provide unique and valuable insights into the political economy of regional and urban development, housing and climate change adaptation. A focus of my research is the factors influencing the spatial redistribution of different forms of work, and the influence of social, material and environmental changes. My research has included qualitative and quantitative analysis, and multi-disciplinary collaborations.

I have conducted and contributed to projects on regional development and continue to publish on these issues, including the Australian Government's National Climate Risk Assessment, Evaluation of the National Urban Policy Programme of UN-Habitat, The Business Case for Social Housing as Infrastructure, Climate Resilience and Australian Festivals, and a range of projects regional population and economic dynamics.

Louise is a human geographer specialising in urban housing, home and the everyday politics of construction. Her work examines how apartments, modular and off-site construction, and other building methodologies shape residents’ daily lives, and how residents reinterpret and adapt to these systems. She focuses on what these lived experiences mean for future housing models and urban governance in Australia and Europe.

A Senior Research Fellow at RMIT University, Louise holds an ARC DECRA Fellowship (2024-2028) supporting her research on the lived experience of innovative housing. Her aim is to bring grounded evidence to debates on housing quality, sustainability and the long-term implications of construction innovation.

Louise collaborates with builders, manufacturers, developers, state and local governments, industry associations and policy-makers to understand how construction approaches and regulatory frameworks shape everyday life in apartments. She is particularly interested in the gaps between the promises of innovation and the realities experienced by households.

Her work is relevant to organisations exploring modular, off-site and mass-timber delivery; housing quality and resident wellbeing; medium- and high-density living; and the material politics of sustainability.

Dr John Doyle is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture and Urban Design at RMIT University, where he is the Associate Dean and Head of Architecture. He is a registered practising architect and partner at Common ADR, a Melbourne based architecture firm focusing on public projects. Since 2022 he has been President of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA) – the peak body representing architectural education and the broader discipline of architecture in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.  John’s research practice uses architectural design tools to explore innovative models for urban design. He is a director of the SuperUrban lab at RMIT University. His research has focused on rapid urbanisation in megacities throughout Asia. This research has developed a series of high-density urban models to address the challenges related to climate change, as well as equity, affordability, and food security. His work has been exhibited widely, including at the Shenzhen, Seoul, Rotterdam, Tallinn and Venice architecture biennales. He is the co-author of “Supertight: Models for Living and Making Culture in Dense Urban Environments,” and “House Precinct Territory: Design Strategies for the Productive City.”

Ruwini is a scholar of digital innovation in the Built Environment who undertakes pure and applied research to develop innovative solutions for the industry by integrating theory with cutting-edge technologies.

Her specific research projects address the emerging needs of the construction and facility management sectors to improve work health and safety, optimise asset performance, conduct life-cycle assessments for decarbonisation, and advance waste management and circularity through digital innovation. She is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Ruwini has demonstrated research leadership by securing a growing volume of grants and prestigious fellowships. So far, Ruwini has secured $ 4.9 million in research funding and has been awarded several research grants. She has a strong track record of leading collaborations with local and national research partners, industry, and the community to make an impact.

Ruwini has been a passionate and effective advocate for gender diversity in the engineering profession since 2012 through IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organisation and since 2014 through RMIT's Women Researchers' Network. Currently, she leads teams/committees to promote diversity beyond gender to make an impact across the whole 'education' and 'career pipeline'.

Awards and Distinctions:

• Research Excellence Award- Mid-Career (2025), College of Design and Social Context, RMIT University
• Outstanding WIE Leadership Award (2025) – IEEE Australia Council
• Best Research Paper Award (2025) – World Building Congress 2025, USA
• Best Scientific Paper Award (2025) at the 16th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment 2025 & Next-Gen Innovation and Advancement
• Leadership Award - Outstanding Organisational Unit Award (2024), IEEE, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Outstanding Volunteer Award (2023), IEEE, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Vistas Award (2023), CIB, The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction
• RMIT Vice Chancellor’s Research Award: Malcolm Moore Industry Award (2015),
• RMIT Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellowship Award (2015-2021)
• RMIT University Early Career Researcher International Travel Award (2014)
• Endeavour Post-doctoral Research Fellowship Award (2011), Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• Research Commercialisation Training Award (2008), Commonwealth Government, Australia

My 25+ years in the property, planning and construction industry include experience at all levels from contracting and design management to policy and client representation. 

With experience designing and building high performance environments, I now help educate our future industry leaders in sustainable housing design, development and construction. 

Dr. Kai Gao is a Vice-Chancellor Postdoctoral Research Fellow at RMIT University, specialising in urban climate resilience, building physics, and sustainable design. With a PhD in Philosophy from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), a Master's in Physics (Research) from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), and extensive postdoctoral experience at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Dr. Gao bridges fundamental scientific inquiry with practical applications to address pressing challenges in urban sustainability, extreme heat mitigation, and energy-efficient materials.

His research has significantly advanced urban heat mitigation strategies, including large-scale greening, reflective surfaces, and irrigation techniques. As a core contributor to the Riyadh urban heat adaptation project, Dr. Gao employed high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) simulations to evaluate interventions like urban forestry and albedo enhancements, delivering evidence-based recommendations for arid-city planning. His work on tree-based cooling has refined mesoscale climate models by incorporating detailed plant physiology and field data, revealing limitations in traditional approaches and enhancing predictions for heatwave resilience.

Dr. Gao's expertise extends to radiative cooling materials, where he has optimised passive technologies through heat transfer, optical, and electromagnetic simulations. This has led to innovations in low-solar-absorption surfaces for building envelopes and infrastructure, reducing energy demands in hot climates. Dr Gao has extensive interdisciplinary projects targeting urban heat mitigation, climate resilience and climate adaptive design, spanning Australia, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia, including initiatives like "Increasing Resilience to Extreme Cold Weather for the Elderly"  and "Smart and Cool Places" (AUD 483K), focusing on climate-responsive design for vulnerable populations and high-density environments.

An active contributor to the field, Dr Gao serves as Associate Editor for E-prime (Elsevier) and is a member of the Architectural Physics Branch of the Architectural Society of China. His peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Sustainable Cities and Society, Nature Cities, and Building and Environment underscore his commitment to translating research into actionable solutions for global urban challenges.

Chair, RMIT Academic Board | Professor of Project Management

Professor Ehsan Gharaie is an accomplished educator, researcher, and senior leader in the field of Project Management. With 19 years of experience spanning tertiary education, project management, the construction industry, and the not-for-profit sector, he is recognised for his expertise in governance, strategic leadership, and stakeholder engagement.

Ehsan has received multiple awards for his contributions to education and research, including a commendation in the DVCE’s Award for Teaching Innovation, the RMIT Early Career Academic Teaching Award, and the Doctoral Research Excellence Award. In 2018, he was made a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy in recognition of his commitment to teaching excellence.

In his leadership roles at RMIT, Professor Gharaie has played a pivotal role in shaping academic governance. He previously served as Deputy Chair of the Academic Board and Chair of the Higher Education Committee before being elected as Chair of the RMIT Academic Board. His leadership is driven by a commitment to enhancing academic quality, fostering innovation, and strengthening institutional governance.

Koorosh [BC(Eng), MEng, PhD, MEd, MIEAust, FITE, MCIAust, MATSE, MWSST], is both an academic and a seasoned practitioner in the field of engineering. His professional journey encompasses roles as an academic and a Professional Engineer specializing in transportation, where he has contributed to both public and private sectors. His extensive experience includes positions within numerous municipalities and prominent private enterprises, with a focus on heavy construction projects. Koorosh's portfolio features a diverse range of undertakings, from the development of high-rise buildings to significant civil infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges. Currently, he serves as a senior technical advisor for Transport for NSW and the Department of Transport in Victoria, where he is engaged in various civil infrastructure initiatives, notably the Sydney Metro and the recently launched Suburban Rail Loop. Additionally, he has facilitated independent short courses for professional organizations such as John Holland and VicRoads. Koorosh also plays a vital role as a reviewer for various international journals and conferences, and he contributes to the academic community by delivering guest lectures in engineering postgraduate programs at multiple universities.

Koorosh's professional interests encompass a range of fields, as highlighted in his profile as a media expert on the RMIT expert guide. His expertise spans transportation infrastructure engineering and management, heavy construction engineering, and steel engineering and construction, which includes modular construction and fabrication. Furthermore, he is knowledgeable in the use of composite materials in construction, structural analysis, and design, as well as the seismic rehabilitation of existing structures. Koorosh's contributions to the industry have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards. Koorosh’s current affiliations and professional memberships include:
• Institution of Engineers Australia.
• Institute of Transportation Engineers (Fellow).
• Association for Computing Machinery, USA.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
• Concrete Institute of Australia.
• The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
• World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies.

News & Media
• ABC Radio Melbourne Drive with Ali Moore, "The return of the infamous East West Link project",  Monday, 28th July, 4:30 pm, 2025.

• ABC News, “How do Australian worker commute times compare to Europe and North America?”, Monday, 8th July, 2024.
• ABC News, "TV story – Skyview", Thursday, 13th May, 7:00 pm news, 2021. 
• Channel 9 Broadcasting Network (Melbourne, Australia), Press Interview, “East-West Link Megaproject”, Thursday, 20th November, 2014 (11:20 am).

Dr Sarah Holdsworth is a Professor in the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in Environmental Science, a Master of Environmental Science, and a PhD in Urban Planning. Sarah teaches in the construction management program at RMIT.

Sarah has achieved competitive grant success and published more than 80 articles in built environment research.

Sarah collaborates with industry partners, professionals, and practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of the development of resilient communities. Her recent research projects include evaluating the planning practices for gas safety, regulatory mapping for future fuels, trades training for hydrogen, and understanding vulnerable customers in the transition to future fuels as part of the Future Fuels CRC.

Sarah has a strong understanding of the issues facing women in the construction industry, having undertaken research for the Victorian State Government since 2019. Sarah's research has provided evidence and a strong foundation for implementing the actions in Victoria's First Women in Construction Strategy 2019-22 and developing and evaluating the world's first Building Equality Policy. Sarah has partnered with the Victorian Government to develop the Building Equitable Future 2022- 2031 Strategy, Women in Construction and Action Plan. The research has been integral to the widespread cultural change we are now seeing. It is also the basis of ongoing conversations with employers, unions, industry associations and the Government about how practical actions can be implemented to address complex barriers.

Sarah's professional roles involve change projects related to improving tertiary learning and teaching, as well as delivering graduate capabilities to prepare students for the transition from university to the workplace.

Industry experience:
Advisor to Construction Skills Queensland's Women in Construction Advisory Committee
Provide ongoing advice to the Victorian Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC), government departments and other industry organisations on gender equity in the Victorian Construction Industry.

Accomplishments:
2015 Recipient of RMIT Teaching Award for the development of Graduate Learning Outcomes,  specifically Environmentally Aware and Responsible, and Work Ready.

2015 Recipient of RMIT’s Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.