Sustainable Development and Architecture

Michael Banney is a founding partner of m3architecture, a nationally commended architecture practice based in Brisbane which was founded in 1997. With a significant focus on collaboration and the creative design process, m3architecture’s work seeks to develop the idiosyncratic conditions of each project - including site, client, budget and brief - towards the creation of unique and project specific outcomes, rather than uniform or formulaic buildings. The work of the practice has been recognised at both a national and international level, with numerous publications, awards and exhibitions, including representation in the Australian pavilion at the 2006 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Professor Wouter van Hoven has been in the field of wildlife management and conservation in South Africa for over three decades and brings a wealth of academic and professional knowledge to universities, professional societies, and students worldwide via course instruction, speaking engagements and international education programs. Professor van Hoven has degrees in zoology, botany, ecology, and physiology and is currently a professor at the University of Pretoria in Wildlife Management and holds a prestigious Marsh Professorship at the University of Vermont, USA. He is the founder of EcoLife Expeditions, which is an experiential hands-on study abroad provider with programs such as Vets in the Wild, Wildlife Management and Conservation, and African Heritage. Professor van Hoven has spent a lifetime researching African wildlife and is alerting the world to the devastation that is taking place now. However, his message is not all doom and gloom. To counter the enormous incentive that the quack medicine trade has in poaching rhinos, Professor van Hoven argues that ‘we have to fight economics with economics’. This means to develop and promote a counter business to the illegal trade in rhino horns. Professor van Hoven will show how this is to be done and how Australians can play a major role. Genuine cures for poverty are the only hope for the planets' wildlife. Hear what Professor van Hoven recommends

Sir Peter Cook and Dr Soheil Abedian joined Dr Yael Reisner and Mr Mark Baggueley also from CRAB Studios; along with Professor Tom Hanrahan from the School of Architecture, the PRATT Institute, New York; and Canadian luminary Nat Chard in a two-part discussion about Architecture Education and Architecture and its role in society. This Symposium included the sod turning for Bond University’s $16.2 million Soheil Abedian School of Architecture building, with world renowned architects gathering to turn the soil. Designed by Sir Peter Cook and Gavin Robotham of CRAB Studios in London, who won the international competition in 2010, the building is a natural extension to the rapidly growing Institute of Sustainable Development and Architecture. Sir Peter Cook, knighted for his contribution to architecture, took inspiration from Bond University’s original architect Arata Isozaki, as well as the natural surroundings, when designing the building. Features include an internal streetscape that runs the length of the building and ‘scoops’ that provide individual workspaces for students to exhibit and critique their work, as well as dedicated environmental science laboratories

Sir Peter Cook and Dr Soheil Abedian joined Dr Yael Reisner and Mr Mark Baggueley also from CRAB Studios; along with Professor Tom Hanrahan from the School of Architecture, the PRATT Institute, New York; and Canadian luminary Nat Chard in a two-part discussion about Architecture Education and Architecture and its role in society. This Symposium included the sod turning for Bond University’s $16.2 million Soheil Abedian School of Architecture building, with world renowned architects gathering to turn the soil. Designed by Sir Peter Cook and Gavin Robotham of CRAB Studios in London, who won the international competition in 2010, the building is a natural extension to the rapidly growing Institute of Sustainable Development and Architecture. Sir Peter Cook, knighted for his contribution to architecture, took inspiration from Bond University’s original architect Arata Isozaki, as well as the natural surroundings, when designing the building. Features include an internal streetscape that runs the length of the building and ‘scoops’ that provide individual workspaces for students to exhibit and critique their work, as well as dedicated environmental science laboratories

Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author. His work includes starting ecological businesses, writing about the impact of commerce on living systems, and consulting with heads of state and CEOs on economic development. Businesses hold the future of the planet in their hands. Fundamental notions about commerce and governance and their roles in shaping our future are transforming. Foresighted companies, governments and communities are stepping up to the challenges inherent in the transformation to a sustainable future. Proactive, whole system and whole life cycle design approaches are essential if we are to meet these challenges. To move forward in a way that is both sustainable and profitable, what will business look like? What will it take to get there, and what is the role of all sectors of society in facilitating the great transition?

Matthew Wright is the lead author of the award winning Zero Carbon Australia Plan, and 2010's Young Environmentalist of the Year. As Founder and Executive Director of not for profit organisation Beyond Zero Emissions, Matthew heads the fastest growing climate change research and development group in Australia.. Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent, volunteer-based research group. Their award-winning Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy plan: - Recommends baseload concentrated solar thermal, wind power, and an upgraded transmission network - Uses only existing commercially available technologies that are already in service around the globe - Is jobs rich, providing around 150,000 direct jobs in construction, manufacturing and ongoing operation and maintenance - Is fully costed - Was developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne Energy Institute - Blueprint for a future free from climate-changing fossil fuels

After more than 20 years as a professional sports coach and administrator Dean joined Lend Lease in 2005 in a newly created position of Sports and Recreation Manager based at Varsity Lakes. Lend Lease to date is the only developer to have a full time designated Manager of Sports and Recreation. Dean’s role in the initial stages was to engage the community in sport and recreation programs and initiatives maximising the use of existing facilities and open spaces that Lend Lease has created. Dean now holds a national position working with community development and design teams on the majority of the 26 projects Lend Lease has nationally. Lend Lease recognises the important role that sport and recreation can play in creating community with Dean developing important relationships and models to allow the sustainability of programs and events once Lend Lease’s role in a project is complete. Lend Lease has developed a reputation for delivering master planned communities with exceptional level of open space including lakes, ovals and linear parks. Lend Lease's fully integrated mixed use master planned community model has a high degree of self containment and delivers exceptional networks of hike and bike trails that aims to make it quicker to walk or take the bike rather than get in the family car. Lend Lease designs it’s hard and soft infrastructure based on trends rather than traditional sports models and consults with current and potential users of sporting infrastructure to deliver an exceptional result for the end users. Whilst designing physical infrastructure is still a priority for businesses to place a strong emphasis on designing the soft infrastructure to activate and engage residents and businesses to enable them to come together in a more sustainable manner

David Marks presents a selection of the Marks Barfield's design work from the past decade. The south London based practice has achieved a truly international reach, involved in projects that stretch from the UK and mainland Europe to the Middle East, India and China

Dr. Wendy Proctor will explain why it is that this is an increasingly important area of research that needs to be addressed to ensure that adequate scientific knowledge is providing input into the demanding decision making tasks being encountered by coastal planners in local, state and federal government bodies. With around 86 per cent of Australia’s population currently residing on the coasts and a projected population increase to 35 million people by 2049, the need for this science will be essential input into planning decisions and to achieve integrated coastal zone management. Research integrates biophysical and socio-economic issues to tackle the increasing pressures on coastal regions arising from the changing demographics in coastal communities, the impacts of increasing development and climate change, and the need for effective foresight and adaptation to address these pressures. CSIRO's path to impact, is through engaging effectively with stakeholders and having decision makers use tools and information to progress integrated coastal zone management and, in so doing, maintain, restore or improve the quality of coastal zone ecosystems and the societies they support. Coastal Futures is a new stream of research within CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans Flagship

Mr Gittins argues that economics is too narrow to be allowed to dominate public policy advice the way it does. Politicians and economists pursue endless economic growth in the belief it makes us happier. But does it? If it doesn't that's good news because the scientists tell us continuing economic growth is physically impossible and we are close to the 'limits to growth'. But what do we do for an encore? Mr Gittins shows how we can too easily take the wrong route and miss out on a happy life, mainly because of poor economic reasoning and a neglect of those things that make life enjoyable such as the beauty of nature, and the trust and honesty in our community and business life. The Gold Coast could be a sustainable "paradise". All we need to do is set out to make it so. Mr Gittins is one of Australia's most respected and well-known journalists being the Economics Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and an economic columnist for The Age. He is also the author of popular books on matters of economic importance . You will know of his books their titles such as "Gittinomics” and his guides to economics, including a students' guide. His most recent book goes by an issue that entices us and too often manages to escape our eager grasp....happiness