“Abigail provides exemplary leadership in the realms of nature, climate action and sustainability. As an accomplished Sustainability Practitioner, Abigail possesses a rich professional background spanning over 20 years within the construction, development, and infrastructure industries, both in the UK and Australia.

Her expertise extends across various disciplines, including sustainability, ecology, and environmental science. Throughout her career, Abigail has actively contributed to projects across the entire project life cycle, ranging from planning to operation. Her project portfolio encompasses diverse sectors such as buildings, highways, rail, flood alleviation, wastewater, community infrastructure, and nature conservation.”

Adam Garnys is a recognised authority on environmental health and building performance, steering CETEC’s verification teams globally. With a medical science background and 25+ years in strategic IEQ consulting, Adam brings unmatched expertise across LBC, Greenstar, WELL, NABERS, BREEAM, and LEED.

He’s a co-author of NABERS IE, Fraunhofer research, Federal and State Health Guidelines, and serves on technical advisory panels for GBCA, NABERS, and IWBI. Adam is known for translating complex data into clear, actionable strategies that elevate health as a core metric of building success.

From SBRC, University of Wollongong, and Burwood Brickworks to Arup Head Offices his work has shaped resilient, high-performing spaces across Australia. Adam’s mission is to make clean air, safe materials, and resilient design foundational to every built environment.

Alvyn Williams is the founder of softloud architects, a small rural architectural practice located in coastal Victoria, Australia. softloud seek to engage clients and communities in a values-driven dialogue, creating deeply responsive places. Their values-based architectural process teaches people to clarify what is most important to them. This knowledge is used to modify the clients’ environment, making it coherent with who they are and the kind of world in which they want to live. softloud develop an empathic response to place, directing structure to mirror, merge and converse with landscape in a manner both soft and alive. Projects champion low consumption of energy and resources, combined with permaculture and regenerative design practices. Alvyn is inspired by the rhythm and movement of the natural world and his understanding of natural materials is informed by making prototypes with his own hands. softloud’s design response draws from the intricate web of relationships that makes up our environment and how that environment, in turn, shapes who we can be and what we can do as a culture.

Amanda is a senior executive with over 20 years’ experience in investment banking, venture capital, structured finance and non-profit management in the US, UK and Australia. Amanda is currently a Partner at Ecotone Partners, a boutique climate solutions investment and advisory group, where she runs its flagship fund the Planet Fund.

Before co-founding Ecotone Partners, Amanda was Head of Capital Raising at Impact Investment Group. While at IIG, Amanda helped develop, launch and manage the Giant Leap Fund, Australia’s first 100% impact-focused venture fund. She has deep relationships with private clients, family offices and wealth advisory groups across Australia, and helped raise over $700m of investor capital during her time at IIG. Amanda started her career at Goldman Sachs in the US and UK, after which she became a Principal in a UK-based VC firm. After arriving in Australia in 2001, Amanda worked with LJCB Investment Group, a diversified private investment group, and JCA, a non-profit fundraising and planning organisation. Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and a Master of Applied Finance degree from Macquarie University.

Amanda has served on a number of non-profit boards including The Observership Program and Stand Up, and currently sits on the Advisory Committee of HOPE Housing and on the Executive Committee of JCA.

Sydney-based Senior Sustainability Consultant specialising in circular economy, sustainable materials, whole life-cycle carbon reduction, nature impacts and dependencies, and the transition to net zero in the built environment. Specialist interest in design for a circular economy and its wide-ranging benefits for nature and communities, building retention, retrofit and optimising re-use opportunities in construction. Cambridge University graduate with an MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development from UCL. Chartered Environmentalist with ISEP.

Andrea is the National Sustainability Manager for Laminex Australia. She has worked in the building, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors for over 15 years. Her industry knowledge extends to collaborating with business partners, associations and industry peers, connecting business strategy with environmental and social impact.

Prior to working at Laminex, Andrea was a Senior Green Building and Strategy Specialist with sustainability consultancy thinkstep-anz. She is a Green Star Accredited Professional and former corporate lawyer.

Andrea Vargas is a Principal Sustainability Consultant at Arcadis, where she combines her engineering expertise with a deep commitment to building a more sustainable and just future. She helps clients navigate complex environmental and social challenges across diverse sectors, including infrastructure, commercial buildings, and social infrastructure. Her work focuses on delivering holistic outcomes that benefit both people and the planet.

Known for her collaborative leadership style, Andrea believes that resilient and innovative solutions are born from diverse perspectives. She is great at empowering high-performing teams by fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. Outside of her professional life, she can be found bushwalking and connecting with family and friends.

Andrew is the Brisbane based sustainable design lead at Hassell. He is an architect with over 20 years’ experience across Australia, Europe and Asia. Throughout his career he has been fortunate enough to work on several leading designs, including Australia’s first certified Living Building, The Sustainable Building Research Centre at the University of Wollongong, whilst working at Cox architecture. He is a Regensis Institute Regenerative Practitioner and will share his insights on understanding the revolution the design process undertakes in aiming for regenerative outcomes.

Archie Patel, a doctoral scholar in Architecture at Deakin University, is researching Nature Experiential Archetypes—a framework for designing rich, spatial nature experiences in architecture. Having spent almost a decade exploring, refining, and reimagining approaches to biophilic design, she has developed a deep understanding of how architecture can foster meaningful connections with nature. Her work clarifies what ‘nature’ means in the built environment and develops strategies to translate these insights into design. She is currently with DesignInc Melbourne, translating her research into built spaces that strengthen our relationship with the natural world, with a vision for a future where we live in perfect balance with nature and nurture our inner biophilia.

Caroline Pidcock is a leading Australian architect, advocate, and changemaker working at the intersection of design, climate action, and regenerative futures. Founder and Director of PIDCOCK, she brings decades of experience in sustainable and visionary practice. Deeply inspired by the lands, waters and skies she has lived and worked within, Caroline is committed to architecture that restores and regenerates people, place, and planet.

An Adjunct Professor of Practice at the University of Newcastle, Caroline is also Co-Chair of the AIA’s National Climate Action & Sustainability Committee, and an Ammodo Architecture Ambassador. Her leadership spans professional, academic, and community domains, including past presidencies of the RAIA NSW and ASBEC, and board roles across climate, design, and advocacy organisations. She has received wide ranging awards for her contributions and has participated in multiple national and international architecture awards juries. Caroline continues to inspire with her principled, generous, and courageous approach to transformation.

We are Russell McFarland and Carolyn (Austin) McFarland, directors of Austin Mcfarland Architects, a small practice located in Wingham, on the NSW Mid North Coast. In the 21 years that Austin McFarland Architects has been practicing, we have aimed to push the bounds and create award winning architecture in regional NSW for private, public and community clients.

Relocating from Sydney to Wingham to start our practice in the early 2000s, the AIA NSW Country Division community was an important resource. We regularly attended events organised by the AIA NSW Country Division for the opportunity to meet other architects who are practicing in regional centres and share many similar experiences. The importance of the AIA NSW Country Division as a place that provides support for not only us but other architects in the regions, encouraged us to became more involved. This involvement grow over the years and included organising events, Russell being a co creative director for an annual conference in 2013, Carolyn a representative on the committee between 2012 to 2014 and both Russell and Carolyn as co chairs of the 2015 and 2016 AIA NSW Country Division Awards. We have participated in the AIA NSW Country Division Awards, AIA NSW State Awards and other industry awards programs to promote and increase the visibility of regional architects within the broader community.

Austin McFarland Architects has always tried to promote architecture through their engagement with numerous community groups including talks about our projects, engaging with local council to establish positive working relationships and taking on numerous high school students for work experience. We have also been involved
with the Wingham Music Festival both as volunteer help and as a member of the organising committee to providing strategic thinking and on the ground creative problem solving.

A recent event we have been apart of was helping organise a workshop with Ken Henry AC, Accounting for Nature - First Steps in Realising Potential in the MidCoast and Beyond in September 2023 as part of the Sustain Building Futures Partnership. The Sustain Building Futures Partnership between local construction industry representatives and MidCoast Council was born out of community engagement with our project for First Steps Count Child and Community Centre, built under the principals of the Living Building Challenge.

Promoting architecture and urban design, particular in regional areas, has been a strong focus professionally for both Russell and Carolyn throughout their professional careers.

Claire Martin is an award-winning landscape architect and Associate Director at OCULUS, known for her systems approach across a range of scales from insect hotels to public spaces, through to statewide greening strategies. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Claire has curated projects across Australia, focusing on material thinking and landscape performance, creating places that support connection and resilience. A Fellow and past National President of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, she is a sought-after speaker and design advocate. Passionate about mentoring, Claire encourages the next generation of designers to reimagine their role in improving our everyday.

Clare is the Director of First Steps Count and the driving force behind this amazing child and community hub. With a background as a Speech Pathologist, she brings knowledge of health and community services and has a lifelong passion for creating better outcomes for children and families.

Clare Kennedy is a registered architect and founder of Five Mile Radius. With over a decade of experience across Australia, the UK, India and the USA, she leads the studio’s design vision, delivering projects that challenge conventional construction and demonstrate what circular, low-carbon architecture can achieve.

An expert in material technology, circular design and designing for disassembly, Clare focuses on integrating local, bio-based and recycled resources to create architecture that is progressive, robust and deeply connected to place. She works closely with clients, consultants and communities to ensure outcomes that are both technically rigorous and environmentally responsible.

Among many accolades, Clare is the recipient of the Australian Institute of Architects Dunbar Fellowship (2024) and serves on the University of Queensland Architecture School Advisory Panel.

Alongside practice, she contributes to the profession through teaching, writing and public speaking, helping shape the future of circular construction in Australia and beyond.

Damon is an experienced ESD consultant and Green Star assessor with an education in engineering and a family background in the environment. He is passionate about the creation of high-quality, self-sufficient buildings that are great for people, and which make a positive contribution to the local and global ecosystem.

Dan’s unique strengths cross at the intersection of creative problem-solving, systems thinking, and people development - more than a designer, he builds capability, facilitates change, and creates meaningful connections between complex ideas and practical outcomes.

David Kaunitz co-founded Kaunitz Yeung Architecture to focus on facilitating high quality architecture in some of the most disadvantaged communities and First Nations People in Australia and Asia-Pacific.

Underlying this is a deep commitment to participatory design and local construction. He has created a new paradigm that shows high quality, change making architecture is not a matter of cost, but of commitment.

He has worked in more than 40 Indigenous communities and authored the 2017 update to the Australian Government Department of Health’s ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Funded Capital Works Projects – Facility Design Guidelines’.

He was the recipient of the 2020 NSW Australian Institute of Architect Reconciliation Prize, and the prestigious UIA Vassilis Sgoutas prize for Implemented Architecture Serving the Underprivileged.

Kaunitz Yeung Architecture’s numerous awards in Australia and abroad have included European Healthcare Design Awards, World Community Architecture Award, and the inaugural ArchitectureAU Award for Social Impact.

Dominique Hes is an award-winning educator, researcher, and the author of seven books, with over 30 years of experience inspiring minds across universities, professional organisations, government, and communities. She was part of the team that started the LFIA in 2012.

Passionate about empowering people to shape a thriving future, Dominique’s work bridges disciplines to tackle the complex challenges facing our cities.

With expertise in regenerative development, placemaking, biophilia, urban greenery, and sustainable solutions, she blends her deep knowledge in botany, engineering, architecture and governance with a commitment to collaboration and innovation. Whether chairing a board, consulting, researching, or teaching, Dominique brings an interdisciplinary approach that transforms ideas into actionable, impactful outcomes.

Emily Antonio is General Manager of Sustainability & Environment at Brickworks, where she is leading a shift to a product-led sustainability strategy. With more than 25 years’ experience across building products, waste, and retail, Emily has worked with Boral, Veolia, and Woolworths before joining Brickworks in 2018.

At Brickworks, her team has delivered a 45% improvement in sustainability performance, earning top ESG ratings from Sustainalytics and MSCI. She has also driven measurable product outcomes, with over 1,000 Environmental Product Declarations and bricks that are up to 56% lower in embodied carbon than industry benchmarks.

Emily holds a Chemical Engineering degree and an MBA, and is also a certified energy manager and IFRS sustainability credential holder. She combines deep technical expertise with a focus on leadership influence and collaboration, connecting operations with customer value and helping the industry design lower-carbon buildings through verified product data, modelling, and practical partnerships.

Passionate about enabling others, Emily sees the future of sustainability not just in data, but in collaboration that delivers real-world impact through the products we build with every day.

Driven by the belief that housing is a key human right, Gavin leads the Living Sector for i2C Architects.

Gavin is an engineer and architect with more than a decade of experience delivering projects in Australia and the United Kingdom. Gavin has extensive experience in the design and delivery of medium to large scaled residential, mixed-use, childcare, aged care and medical projects.

Adaptable, versatile, robust housing that is designed for the changing needs of residents and the climate is a key focus. His international experience has aided him in identifying adaptive reuse, retrofit and Passive House as key to our future housing design.

Jess currently serves as the Deputy Lord Mayor at the City of Sydney, and is the current Deputy Chair of the Transport, Heritage and Planning Committee, and a member of the Central Sydney Planning Panel and Cycling committees. During the 2016-2021 Council term, she served as the Deputy Lord Mayor and delivered on a range of 24-hour economy, urban greening, air pollution, and waste reforms.

Professionally, Jess works on a range of strategic projects, all of which promote and enable resilient and sustainable outcomes for urban communities. Previously, she has worked at Republic of Everyone, the NSW State Government, with local government, and in the private sector.

Jess served for 5 years on the Board of the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre and for 7 years on the Board of TEDxSydney. She teaches boxing and kickboxing in Waterloo, loves (but is not very good at) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and plays AFL and baseball as part of the Sydney Women’s Baseball League.

Jess is an urban leader and thinker who works at the intersection of creativity, culture and regenerative urban systems.

With a background in sustainability and behaviour change communications, she has served as the Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, on various boards and advisory groups and continues to work as a consultant across culture, business, local and State Government.

Jess’s contributions to urban life include advocating for urban green space, creative uses of buildings and the 24-hour economy, and campaigning for practical and effective policy solutions, like for example household energy upgrades from gas to electric hot water systems.

Currently, she is the Director of a New Normal initiative for Sydney – a creative ‘do tank’ fast-tracking solutions to achieve a self-sufficient city.

Josh joined the GECA team in 2023, bringing a breadth of experience from the not-for-profit, corporate and government sectors with a track record of creating lasting impact for organisations and communities.

Having worked extensively across countries, cultures, and industries, Josh believes that inclusive and courageous collaboration is the best way to get things done. He is thrilled to be using this passion to develop partnerships within the GECA Family and beyond for the good of people and planet. Whether you're a business, not-for-profit, community organisation or in the public sector, Josh is eager to connect with you to improve social and environmental outcomes.

Josh is proud to be leading an organisation that delivers positive environmental impact using globally-recognised best practice standards.

Justin Medcalf is a proud dad of two and co-founder of UNLESS Financial, where he helps people use their money to create a fairer, cleaner future. Inspired by his mum’s journey from Indonesia to Australia, and shaped by humble beginnings, he believes finance is about more than returns – it’s about values, relationships, and leaving things better than we found them.
With nearly 20 years’ experience in responsible investment, ethical finance, and innovation, Justin has worked at Ethinvest, co-founded the Ethical Advisers’ Co-op, led The Emerald Club, and served on the board of the Responsible Investment Association Australasia. His insights have appeared in The Guardian and the Australian Financial Review, and he is often invited to speak on finance’s role in driving positive change.

Outside of work, Justin is a Non-Executive Director at Parents for Climate, a community fire unit member, and an enthusiastic soccer coach.

Karen Shaw, Manager Circular Economy, Bradfield Development Authority
Karen is responsible for embedding circularity in the design, construction and operations of Bradfield City Centre – the new city being built in Western Sydney. Bradfield Development Authority (BDA) has high ambitions around using sustainable materials, reducing construction waste, embedding systems to collect and reuse resources, and allocating space for the sharing economy.

Karin Martin is A & D Manager and Sustainability Ambassador at Humanscale, a global leader in ergonomic design and a pioneer in sustainable manufacturing. Karin leads local sustainability initiatives and champions Humanscale’s planet-positive mission, delivering measurable environmental benefits across both products and processes. She collaborates with architects, designers, and clients to advance material health, transparency, and circularity, equipping project teams to make informed, sustainable choices. Through education and industry outreach, Karin advocates for regenerative design that aligns with robust sustainability standards and supports both human wellbeing and a thriving planet.

Ken is the Regional Sustainability Manager South Australia and Victoria for Lendlease and a recognised advocate for sustainable built environments. With qualifications in Architecture, Sustainable Design and Ecologically Regenerative Design, Ken facilitates a holistic system thinking approach to design problems. Ken’s professional experience traverses organisational sustainability and net zero advisory and technical sustainable design consultancy for developments of all scales. This includes carbon accounting, business ESG strategy, project design optimisation, building performance simulation, biophilic design integration, green building ratings and life cycle analysis. Alongside his professional career advancement, Ken is very active in advocating for sustainable built environments within the South Australian development and design industry. As the Chairperson of the Adelaide Sustainable Building Network, Ken helps facilitate opportunities for professionals and general public to engage with concepts of sustainable design and be inspired to implement them.

Laura is a sustainable building design consultant with Arup in Melbourne specialising in regenerative office design. She played a lead role in implementing the Living Building Challenge for the recently completed Arup offices in Auckland, Perth and Brisbane. This push towards healthy, net-positive design represents Arup’s desire to pursue sustainable development. Laura’s current work focuses on materials where she works closely with designers and industry to advocate for transparent and healthy products, and promotion of circular economy principles.

Laura Hamilton-O'Hara is an accomplished leader and advocate for sustainability and social justice, with over two decades of experience in the field. She has a Master's Degree in Social Ecology and an unwavering commitment to sustainability leadership.

Having held strategic positions at renowned institutions such as Taronga Zoo, Macquarie University, and the Centre for Sustainability Leadership, Laura's professional journey has been marked by her passion for creating positive change. She was recognised as one of the 50 Women in Global Sustainability Leadership by Sustainability X Magazine in 2022, a testament to her influential role in shaping sustainable practices worldwide.

Currently serving as the CEO of the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA), Laura spearheads the organisation's mission to harness the power of the built environment in creating a socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative world.

Matt is a built environment sustainability consultant with 18 years experience. He achieved his undergraduate studies with an Honours double degree in Engineering and Science at the University of Melbourne. After working in automotive manufacturing, HVAC consulting and in the biotechnology industry, Matt joined Umow Lai Consulting Engineers. In 2018 Matt obtained his PhD in Biomimicry (Engineering-Architecture) at the University of Melbourne, which focussed on biomimetic solutions for building facades and biological thermoregulation. Matt shifted to academia for several years at Griffith University as a Lecturer focussed on biomimicry, construction management, building performance, architecture and sustainability.

In 2022 Matt moved back to consulting with Introba and works with clients to improve sustainability performance through life cycle analysis, energy modelling, design analytics (early phase quantitative design) and performance management. Alongside his Introba colleagues, Matt is focussed on regenerative practice, both internally as a framework for personal and professional development and externally as a method for living systems-focussed consulting to deliver holistic sustainability outcomes. He is interested in bringing nature-positive methods and frameworks, such as biomimicry, into built environment projects in practical and feasible ways.

Melinda Dewsnap is the Chief Resilience Officer with Resilient Sydney. Resilient Sydney is a collaboration of the 33 Greater Sydney Councils aligned with the global Resilient Cities Network and is working with State and Federal government partners, business, academia and community to strengthen the resilience of our City.

Mia lives and works on Wadawurrung Country, in Envirotecture’s Victorian studio. She has a Masters of Architecture with a focus on sustainability. She’s been working as a Graduate Architect on many award-winning biophilic design projects since finishing her Masters in 2016, and becoming a certified Passivhaus Designer in 2018. Mia has presented sustainable and regenerative design educational content to industry peers and was a finalist in the Sustainability Awards as Emerging Sustainable Designer. In her spare time Mia enjoys reading, writing, hiking and renovating – her favourite ways of following her sense of curiosity.

Michael is the General Manager of SHAPE Victoria, an ASX-listed leader in construction services with 120 staff in Victoria and 645 Australia-wide.

With qualifications in both civil engineering and architecture, Michael brings a rare depth of understanding across all facets of design, construction, and delivery. Michael specialises in Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) projects where his strategic vision and technical expertise allow him to guide teams seamlessly from ECI to practical completion delivering outstanding outcomes for clients and stakeholders.

Michael was responsible for the delivery of the revitalisation of Chadstone Place, Australia’s first project to achieve the prestigious Living Future Zero Carbon certification.

As a registered architect and Studio Lead at AJC architects in Sydney, Michael is committed to design solutions that are pragmatic, joyful, and meaningful. Over 18 years at AJC, Michael has contributed to award-winning projects across a range of sectors and at a variety of scales, including indoor sports centres, education facilities, community centres and public buildings.

He is deeply passionate about creating buildings and environments that make a positive contribution to human and natural systems. Sustainable and regenerative design are central to Michael’s design process. He promotes evidence-based design solutions that respond to global and local issues. His work demonstrates a robust consideration for material life cycles, upfront embodied carbon and building energy performance.

In 2024 Michael authored the AJC Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) and leads AJC’s Sustainability Working Group whose remit is to improve the sustainability of AJC’s portfolio of projects.

Nathan Robertson-Ball is a recognised sustainability, ESG and innovation practitioner with experience spanning multiple sectors and a range of subject matter areas. He is a passionate advocate for better business performance that takes into account and pays respect to environmental regeneration, human rights and social inclusion.

Nathan’s personal purpose is to inspire others to realise their potential which has been developed through years of professional practice, personal reflection and time with wise mentors. He has committed his career to pursuing work that seeks to drive a more sustainable and just future and is motivated to work with and for others who are also seeking to create the same.

Throughout his career, Nick has helped clients navigate complex planning processes, develop innovative sustainability strategies and achieve a wide range of nationally and internationally recognised sustainability certifications.

He provides invaluable advice to help clients define and achieve their sustainability aspirations, and is passionate about exceeding even the most ambitious of targets.

A notable highlight of Nick’s career was the revitalisation of Chadstone Place, Australia’s first project to achieve the prestigious Living Future Zero Carbon certification. The project also achieved a 6 Star Green Design & As Built, 6 Star NABERS Energy and 6 Star NABERS water rating. The building’s sustainability features include full electrification, reuse of over 80% of an existing building, mixed-mode ventilation and installation of a 440kw solar array.

Nick is a qualified Green Star Accredited Professional, NABERS Energy Assessor (Australia and the UK) and CBD-accredited Assessor.

Philippa (Pip) Stone is an experienced sustainability leader, passionate about the role of materials in the built environment. Pip currently leads on sustainability for BlueScope in Australia where she drives initiatives focused on product sustainability. Prior to working at BlueScope, Pip led the sustainability strategy of global construction specialist, ISG, based in London. Pip is a Board Director of EPD Australasia.

Richard is the Sustainability Team Leader at Arup in Melbourne. He has over 14 years of experience across Australia and internationally in building design and performance ranging from workplaces to masterplans. He is leading Arup's pursuit of the Living Building Challenge for their workplaces around the ANZ region and has been a Living Futures Accredited Professional for 3 years. He will bring his experience from his active client pursuits including a modular home prototype in South Australia, a workplace for Meridian Energy in Wellington and a residential development in Melbourne.

We are Russell McFarland and Carolyn (Austin) McFarland, directors of Austin Mcfarland Architects, a small practice located in Wingham, on the NSW Mid North Coast. In the 21 years that Austin McFarland Architects has been practicing, we have aimed to push the bounds and create award winning architecture in regional NSW for private, public and community clients.

Relocating from Sydney to Wingham to start our practice in the early 2000s, the AIA NSW Country Division community was an important resource. We regularly attended events organised by the AIA NSW Country Division for the opportunity to meet other architects who are practicing in regional centres and share many similar experiences. The importance of the AIA NSW Country Division as a place that provides support for not only us but other architects in the regions, encouraged us to became more involved. This involvement grow over the years and included organising events, Russell being a co creative director for an annual conference in 2013, Carolyn a representative on the committee between 2012 to 2014 and both Russell and Carolyn as co chairs of the 2015 and 2016 AIA NSW Country Division Awards. We have participated in the AIA NSW Country Division Awards, AIA NSW State Awards and other industry awards programs to promote and increase the visibility of regional architects within the broader community.

Austin McFarland Architects has always tried to promote architecture through their engagement with numerous community groups including talks about our projects, engaging with local council to establish positive working relationships and taking on numerous high school students for work experience. We have also been involved
with the Wingham Music Festival both as volunteer help and as a member of the organising committee to providing strategic thinking and on the ground creative problem solving.

A recent event we have been apart of was helping organise a workshop with Ken Henry AC, Accounting for Nature - First Steps in Realising Potential in the MidCoast and Beyond in September 2023 as part of the Sustain Building Futures Partnership. The Sustain Building Futures Partnership between local construction industry representatives and MidCoast Council was born out of community engagement with our project for First Steps Count Child and Community Centre, built under the principals of the Living Building Challenge.

Promoting architecture and urban design, particular in regional areas, has been a strong focus professionally for both Russell and Carolyn throughout their professional careers.

Dr Sarah Breen Lovett is an artist and academic, currently Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, engaging in practice-led, industry-collaborating and socially-engaged research projects. Across all of these modes of engagement, Sarah focuses on interconnectivity between self, community, built and landscaped environments through a combination of earth building, prefabricated architecture, wellbeing and eco-social practices.

Working with industry and peak bodies, Sarah is driven to research the use of earth materials in the building industry for more regenerative architecture. Sarah is particularly passionate about how earth building is on one hand a sustainable, low carbon material, which can be used to support planetary wellbeing; and on the other hand has many health benefits that can be used for the development of personal wellbeing.

Shanica is the Sustainability Project Technical Lead at Stantec, bringing together her expertise in architecture and sustainability. She plays a role in growing the firm's sustainability impacts through strategic leadership, design excellence, business development and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Shanica's commitment to sustainability extends beyond her professional duties. She volunteers for several thought-leading organisations. Her participation in the Technical Working Group of the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA), Environment Advisory Group (EAG) and Sustainable Architecture Forum (SAF) at the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) underscore her dedication to driving sustainable and regenerative design principles. As State Chapter Chair at the Australian Passivhaus Association (APA), Shanica advocates for the awareness of Passivhaus principles, and as a member of the People & Wellbeing Expert Reference Panel at the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA),she contributes to developing strategies that prioritise health and wellbeing in building practices. As a Community Concept Advisor for the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and previously its Health Equity Advisor, she offers expertise in creating spaces that enhance human health and wellness.

Before joining Stantec, Shanica was the National Sustainability Lead at NBRS and Group Sustainability Lead at DWP, where her project leadership was recognised, earning her commendation for the 2022 NAWIC NSW Award for Excellence in Sustainability. Shanica holds multiple professional accreditations, including Architect registration (VIC), Living Future Accredited Professional, Certified Passivhaus Designer, WELL Accredited Professional, and Green Star Accredited Professional. She is dedicated to guiding the architectural industry towards a more sustainable, equitable, and environmentally conscious future.

Talina Edwards is a Director of Envirotecture, and cares deeply about creating healthy, beautiful, functional, comfortable and sustainable architecture which combines building-science and biophilic-design. Talina brings over 25 years experience to her architectural practice and has completed Passivhaus Designer certification and studies with the Living Futures Institute. Talina has gained recognition as an industry leader, celebrated for her sustainable architecture and her tireless work to build a better future. She advocated for more sustainable design as former co-ordinator of Australian Architects Declare, committee member of ArchiTeam Advocacy committee and served as a board member at the Australian Passivhaus Association.

Dr Vyt Garnys is the Founder, Managing Director, and Principal Consultant at CETEC, a leading consultancy in Indoor Environment Testing and Building Performance. An analytical chemist by training, he conducted the pivotal NHMRC-funded Lead Burden of Sydney Schoolchildren study that led to the removal of leaded petrol in Australia.

With six decades of technical leadership, Vyt has chaired the Indoor Environmental Quality Standards Committee, served as a NATA assessor, and contributed to Australia’s first Green Star technical working group. He is a NABERS Accredited Assessor and founding member of ISIAQ.

Vyt has advised governments, councils, and industry bodies, including NABERS, GBCA, FMA, and multiple city councils. He brings global and national leadership to indoor air quality having shaped policy with the World Green Building Council, led chemical testing standards at NATA, and guided Australia’s Indoor Air Committee at Standards Australia.

At Duber Construction we combine all the essential ingredients to deliver a top quality home. Our commitment is to design and construct buildings that best reflect consideration for our planet and the well being of our clients.

We take an integrated approach to building and collaborate closely with architects, designers engineers and the owners. The results are highly satisfactory outcomes.

There’s no waste in nature
We actively promote all methods of waste reduction, recycling, up cycling and repurposing in all our construction.

This is a cost benefit for our clients and the right thing to do for our planet when considering that up to 40% of landfill is construction waste.

We bring together bespoke architecture with a philosophy of maximising sustainable and regenerative outcomes.

Our practices are informed by LBC - Living Building Challenge the most rigorous international sustainability level, the professionals and clients we work with and our own motivation to deliver best results.

The most commented feature of our projects are the quality of craftsmanship from our own team and subcontractors. The satisfaction of being part in creating unique and well crafted homes sustains the quality our clients expect and get from us.

Other features include
Active and passive solar design
Low embodied energy
Predominantly use of local materials and manufacturing
Low chemical use
Best practices in all areas of home design and construction
Heat recovery systems
Hydronic heating and cooling
100% recycled aggregate in our concrete work

We draw our lessons from traditional wisdom and the latest information on design aspects, new materials & building methods. The results are sophisticated and unique homes.
We believe that principled behaviour is more important than commercial gain. We deliver our designs at a fair price, and offer fixed price or cost plus contracts.

Dr. Weliton Menário Costa (artistically known as WELI) is a cross-disciplinary artist/singer-songwriter, researcher, and award-winning storyteller who transforms science into compelling art. With a PhD in Ecology and Evolution from ANU—and now leading his own independent creative practice—he turns rigorous research (from kangaroo behaviour to climate-data systems) into vibrant music, performance, and cultural stories.

His globally recognized projects—Kangaroo Time (winner of Science Magazine’s “Dance Your PhD,” reaching over 15 million people) and Cabra da Peste (G.O.A.T.)—demonstrate how complex ideas can spark curiosity and connection across diverse audiences. Through hands-on workshops and performance, WELI teaches researchers, students, and artists to uncover the emotional core of their work and transform difficult topics into creative, joyful experiences.

As the Symposium’s closing speaker, WELI will invite participants into an active, collective moment of resilience—leaving them with the spark, energy, and optimism to carry complex ideas into the world with clarity and joy.

Senior Associate Architect at Hassell with international project experience, and project Architect on the First Building at Bradfield City Centre. Champions industry transformation through innovation; country led design, circular design thinking, mass timber construction, prefabrication, and modular systems, pioneering approaches that move practice beyond business-as-usual towards a more regenerative future. A strong advocate for a materials revolution, embracing low embodied carbon, natural materials, with strategies for reuse and recycling. Combines a design-led focus with deep technical expertise to advance environmentally responsive architecture.