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Building Resilient Futures: Addressing Climate Change Through Infrastructure Innovation

Event Name Building Resilient Futures: Addressing Climate Change Through Infrastructure Innovation
Start Date 18th Jul 2024 10:00 am
End Date 18th Jul 2024 12:00 pm
Duration 2 hours
Description

WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH WEEK 2024

The Next Decade of Discovery: Better Futures, Now

Urban Living Futures and Urban Transformations Research Centre present a day dedicated to the built environment; how we build into policy and into reality the cities of the future, delivering on resilience and livability in the face of a changing climate.

Thursday 18th July 2024

Join for the full day or part of the day

MORNING 10am to 12pm, Urban Living Futures presents:

Building Resilient Futures: Addressing Climate Change Through Infrastructure Innovation.

AFTERNOON 1pm to 3pm, Urban Transformations Research Centre presents

The Renewable Electricity Transition in our Cities. See HERE for full event session details.

REGISTER HERE

10am to 12pm Urban Living Futures presents

Building Resilient Futures: Addressing Climate Change Through Infrastructure Innovation

This groundbreaking event aims to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change.

This panel of discussion event serves as a platform for sharing cutting-edge research, innovative technologies, and forward-thinking policies and infrastructure delivery approaches that can enhance the resilience of infrastructure systems in the face of climate-related threats.

We have brought experts from diverse backgrounds and sectors, including engineering, environmental science, economics, and public policy, to have an exciting interdisciplinary dialogue on actionable solutions for a more sustainable and resilient future.

The panel will answer the following questions:

  • Extension of the use of Digital Engineering in infrastructure delivery with better consistency;
  • Consistent carbon footprint accounting benchmark (across the nation with international alignment);
  • How we deal with ageing assets (not just the carbon footprint to build new, but also to demolish/upgrade the old).

The benefit of attending this event includes:

  1. Gaining knowledge from experts and thought leaders in the field, providing valuable insights, information, and expertise on addressing climate change through infrastructure innovation. You can learn about the latest developments, strategies, and best practices in this critical area.
  2. Bring together professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates who share an interest in climate change and infrastructure innovation to expand your professional network, and explore potential collaborations or partnerships.

Speakers and Panel Members

Ms. Jessica Qiu – WSP – Expert in Infrastructure Contracts and Delivery

Mr. Jonas Li – Pitt & Sherry – Expert in energy and sustainability

Mrs. Julie Mikhail – Engineering Business – Expert in government tendering and fundings

Associate Professor Maria Estela Varua – School of Business, WSU – Expert in carbon accounting

Professor Greg Morrison – Urban Transformation Research Centre, WSU – Expert in Zero Carbon infrastructures

The event will answer the following questions:

  • Extension of the use of BIM in infrastructure delivery with better consistency;
  • Consistent Carbon footprint accounting benchmark (across the nation with international alignment);
  • How we deal with aging assets (not just the carbon footprint to build new, but also to demolish/ upgrade the old).

REGISTRATION Essential, numbers are limited 

Choose your tickets
1. Package Full Day (includes Lunch) [10am - 3pm]
2. Morning Session (10am - 12pm)
3. Afternoon Session (1pm - 3pm)

REGISTER HERE

Meet the Panel

 

Julie Mikhail, the founder of Engineering Business Pty Ltd, boasts over 17 years of invaluable expertise in the public sector, specialising in Defence projects ranging from major acquisitions to long-term sustainment contracts. In 2016, Julie embarked on a journey, establishing her own company to empower organizations in securing government tenders successfully. Throughout the past eight years, her strategic guidance has facilitated numerous companies in clinching multi-million-dollar contracts while enhancing their engineering systems and documentation. Evolving with the industry, Julie's venture has recently expanded its scope to offer tailored grant support, particularly catering to startups, fostering innovation, and championing Women in STEM. Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master's Degree in Engineering Science (Electrical Engineering), Julie's multifaceted expertise continues to redefine success in the engineering landscape.

 

Jessica Qiu is a Visionary engineering and management executive with extensive experience in large infrastructure project delivery. She is passionate about supporting and growing future resilient businesses to deliver sustainable infrastructure through policy engagement, governance, and operational improvement, defining engineering excellence and cultivating a winning team with a leadership mindset.

She graduated with a double degree in Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering from UNSW, a Master of Environmental Law, an MBA, and is currently completing her master in Construction Law.

She holds International Charterships in the areas of Civil Engineering, Project Management, and Leadership and Management. And she was one of the youngest members awarded the Fellowship status in Engineers Australia at age 35.

As a highly regarded leader in the Engineering Industry, She was the President over two terms for Engineers Australia -Sydney between 2020 and 2021, where she founded and led various industry programs, and she currently serves as the NSW Chief Judge in Sydney for the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards.

 

As an Energy and Sustainability Engineer at pitt&sherry, Jonas provides tailored solutions for major constructions and C&I businesses to decarbonise. He has a diverse experience in IS rating, sustainability advisory, embodied & operational carbon modelling for construction projects and solar PV systems design.

Jonas completed a Bachelor of Renewable Energy Engineering (Honours) at UNSW and is currently an ISAP, GSAP and accredited PV systems designer.

 

Professor Greg Morrison is the Lang Walker Endowed chair in Urban Transformation. He is also the Co-Director of the Urban Transformations Research Centre at Western Sydney University. Greg has a long academic career in both Sweden (Gothenburg) and Australia (perth) but has always worked closely with industry and society stakeholders on major projects in the built environment. He has also built two living labs with industry sponsors, one on sustainable living in Gothenburg and one featuring circular economy in Perth.

 

Maria Estela Varua is an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean, Research in the School of Business at Western Sydney University. She is an environmental and resource economist, econometrician and social

economist with over 20 years experience in international development in Australia as well as in various countries in Asia and Africa. Maria has extensive experience in water management, gender, productivity, cost-benefit analysis, economic and financial modelling, sustainable business enterprise, economic development, circular economy and business education. She has membership in various trans-disciplinary research teams and has led and managed several multidisciplinary research and development projects (Australia-India Council, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; local councils; Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam).