Professor Kate Nguyen has been leading research on new materials and advanced construction solutions for sustainability and fire safety since joining RMIT in 2019.

Kate is currently the Deputy Head (Research and Innovation) of the Department of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering and the leader of RMIT's Innovative Fire and Facade Engineering Group. She has established herself as a leader in sustainable and fire-safe construction solutions.

Prof Nguyen is proud to be the first researcher in Civil Engineering to receive the L'OREAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship (2020). She was the second female engineer in Australia to be awarded the Batterham Medal for Engineering Excellence by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. Prof Nguyen was named in The Australian’s 2021 Research magazine as Australia’s top researcher in composite materials. She was awarded the Victoria Young Tall Poppy Award in 2023 by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS). 

Her research impacts are proven through her leadership in major industry-oriented projects, including five CRC-Ps, a Global Innovation Linkage, the prestigious Discovery Early Career Researchers Award (DECRA), and the Future Fellowship by the Australian Research Council. She has attracted over $16 mil in research grants and industry funding. She is currently a member of the Australian Research Council's College of Experts.

Prof Nguyen's passion for Engineering, particularly Construction and Civil Engineering, extends to enabling gender equity and supporting inclusion and belonging in the profession.

Industry experience

Chief Engineer - Residential Apartments and Complex Buildings, Building and Plumbing Commission (2026 - current)

Chief Engineer - Cladding Safety Victoria (2021 - 2024)
State Chair, Victoria/Tasmania/Overseas Committee, Society of Fire Safety, Engineers' Australia (2023 - current)
Member - FP-011 Special Hazard Fire Protection Systems, Standards Australia (2024 - current)
Member - Fire and Life Safety Working Group, Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (2018 - current)
Guest Editor of Polymer's Special Issue on "Flame Retardant Polymers and Hybrid Composites: recycling and circular economy"
Member - Editorial Board of "Frontiers in Built Environment" (Fire Resistant Engineering)

Awards and Professional Achievements

2025

Future Fellow by the Australian Research Council

2024

Appointed member of the College of Experts (Australian Research Council)

Fellow of Engineers Australia

2023

Victoria Young Tall Poppy Award by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science

2022

Top ten female scientists leading the fight against Climate Change by Global Citizen

DVC Impact Award by RMIT University

2021
Batterham Medal for Engineering Excellence by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
Australia's Top Researcher in Composites Material by The Australian's Research Magazine

2020
L’OREAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship
RMIT Award for Research Excellence (ECR-Enterprise)
Executive Dean’s Research Excellence Award for highest performing researcher (Academic Level C)

Chartered Engineer in Civil and Fire Safety, Australia and APEC region (Engineers Australia)

2019
Discovery Early Career Researchers Award by the Australian Research Council (2019-2022)
Victoria Fellowship in Physical Sciences by the Victorian State Government and veski 

2018
Early Career Researchers Grant by the University of Melbourne