Meriton joins the Centre for Smart Modern Construction at Western Sydney and becomes the foundation supporter of the Meriton Academic Fellowships

The Centre is delighted to announce that Australia’s largest residential builder Meriton will be the foundation supporter of the c4SMC visiting academic fellowship program for the next 3 years. The program will be named the Meriton Academic Fellowships. And, the Centre is excited to announce that Helena (Johnsson) Lidelöw Assoc Prof, Timber Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden has accepted to be the first visiting fellow and will take up this role in September 2019. This is part of the Centre’s strategy to fast track the transfer of leading edge, applied modern construction knowledge into Construction Management at Western Sydney University.
This will be of huge benefit to our teaching team, researchers, students and industry” said Associate Professor, Mary Hardie – Director Academic Programs.

Dr Harry Triguboff AO recently gave the annual Australian Institute of Building (AIB) address at the university. Dr Triguboff shared his experiences since he returned to Australia in 1960 and became an Australian citizen in 1961. He was born in Darien in, Liaoning, Republic of china in 1933. He graduated with a degree in textiles from the University of Leeds in England. Dr Triguboff started developing apartments in 1963, in Tempe, which led to a second development in 1968 in Gladesville on Meriton Street, Triguboff built a block of 18 units which provided the name of the company he registered in developers. The private company has since designed, developed and built more than 75,000 apartments across the east coast of Australia. Dr Triguboff spoke to the industry transformations he has experienced, firstly in textiles and then in residential development since.

Dr Triguboff told the AIB gathering that he has always believed that to be successful you need to be fast. “We live in a constantly changing world, while taking time to think and calculate about things you are planning is important its important to not waste time” he said. Dr Triguboff also emphasised the importance of future leaders developing intuition. “When you are able to make good decisions that affect the teams you lead based on speed and learned intuition, you have the basis of being a successful leader.” Dr Triguboff reflected on one of his early jobs being in Rydalmere, just near the University’s campus. He never thought that one day he would be delivering the AIB address and his honour to do so.

Meriton cadets and employees have a long-time experience with the university’s construction management program. Meriton’s National Construction Manager David Cremona is an industry advisor on the programs course advisory committee. David is a strong advocate for putting back into the construction industry. Meriton undertakes internal research projects to enable the company to remain at the leading edge of construction capabilities in Australia. Meriton are currently partnering on a research project with AP Mary Hardie to help develop a new method for measuring construction effectiveness. Meriton are keen to benchmark their performance with others who are participating.

Dr Triguboff’s insights into speed of construction translate well into the Lindbacks factory driven multi-unit residential business in Sweden who produce 3000 apartments each year. Associate Professor Lidelow is the factory production manager at Lindbacks in addition to her role at Lulea Technology University. Helena will be able to share her internationally regarded experiences with the academic teaching team, researchers, students and c4SMC supporters during her stay at Western Sydney University in September. This will include being the keynote speaker at the Centre’s September Industry Roundtable as well as conducting in-house workshops for Centre supporters and government agencies. Details of Helena’s visit will be shared once her final schedule is finalised. Centre Director, Professor Srinath Perera said “the timing of Helena’s will be very helpful to the Centre’s researchers who will have nearly completed a year of their projects. This will be a great opportunity for peer review, knowledge sharing and networking” he said. The Centre is very appreciative of Meriton’s support for the visiting academic fellowship program over the next 3 years. The Meriton Academic Fellowships will allow us to search for and bring leading academic practitioners to the university. “This is a wonderful industry partnership”, he said.

For more information about Associate Professor Lidelow and Lindbacks click here.
To register interest in the Centre’s Industry Roundtables click here.

For more information about becoming part of the Centre for Smart Modern Construction
Visit: westernsydney.edu.au/c4SMC

Contact

Professor Srinath Perera
E: Srinath.perera@westernsydney.edu.au

Scott Lyall – Business Development Office of Advancement
E: s.lyall@westernsydney.edu.au