Andy Russell has worked in the field of condensation in Europe with UK based building envelope specialists A Proctor Group. Andy has also worked in Japan for 7 years including a spell on secondment to Daiwa House, a major prefabricated steel frame house manufacturer. He also conducted research into the performance of construction membranes at the Kyoto Institute of Technology. Andy has been in Australia since 2007 and was a member of the group writing the first edition of the “Condensation Handbook” published in 2011 by the Australian Building Codes Board and presented across Australia on the subject to several industry associations and as part of the 2011 Australian Institute of Architects Refuel National Seminar Series.

A founding director, Ashley Beaumont has been creating sustainable lifestyles through building design for over 25 years. Dedicated to designing sustainable homes and commercial buildings, Ashley leads the sustainable design philosophy within the practice. His primary expertise lies in the creation of energy efficient, engaging and environmentally responsive living and working spaces. Focused on design integrity, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge to the business, ensuring each project transitions smoothly from design through to completion. Recognised for his design excellence, Ashley and his team have won multiple industry awards nationally.

Before making the exciting decision to become a Building Designer in 2021, Cade enjoyed a successful 16-year career in business management, sales and marketing. Most recently, Cade was Head of Marketing, Safety & Industrial Business Group at global innovation giant, 3M, in Australia & New Zealand. In his 13-year tenure with 3M, Cade held a number of senior management roles across business management, commercialisation, sales and marketing. Cade is also a prior Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and holds a degree in Visual Communication. In his spare time, Cade loves to fly as a private pilot and is an artist specialising in contemporary photography.

Chris has worked in the Insurance Industry for over fifteen years. Firstly for a large national insurance company where he was involved in underwriting policies and claims before moving to a large international broker. He later moved to a smaller suburban insurance broker before deciding to set up his own business. During the ten year period before setting up his own business, Chris gained much knowledge and experience working in varying insurance roles and gaining qualifications through external insurance studies. He successfully gained the following industry qualifications, showing his full commitment to the Insurance industry: Senior Associate of the Australian & NZ Institute of Insurance & Finance (ANZIIF), Qualified Practising Insurance Broker (QPIB) of the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA), Certified Insurance Practitioner (CIP), Diploma Financial Services (General Insurance), Diploma Financial Services (Insurance Broking), Diploma Financial Services (Risk Management). The knowledge Chris has gained working in the industry has been both beneficial and rewarding, and has given him an acute awareness of the importance of listening and working collaboratively with clients to achieve the best quality outcome for their insurance needs.

David studied Architecture and Building Engineering in the UK and also has an MBA from MGSM and a Master of Marketing from UNSW. He manages Planet Ark’s Make It Wood campaign, which aims to increase the use of responsibly sourced wood as a building material. Prior to joining Planet Ark David was CEO of a major Sydney-based building products manufacturer, and is also a judge on the Australian Timber Design Awards and the Banksia Foundation’s NSW Sustainability Awards.

Davina Jackson, International writer of books, will speak about Australian Architecture: A comprehensive narrative history of building and design styles in Australia, from traditional Aboriginal gunyahs; to the local interpretations of northern hemisphere trends; to the sustainable, climate sensitive and high-tech constructions of the 21st century. Dr Davina Jackson is an international writer of books, exhibitions and websites on architecture, technology and urban geography themes. She edited Architecture Australia from 1992 to 2000, and was a founder of annual city light festivals in Sydney and Singapore. After a multi-disciplinary design professorship at the University of New South Wales, she has guest-lectured at MIT and other major schools.

Geoff Woolcock is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southern Queensland’s Institute for Resilient Regions, an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s School of Social Sciences and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Griffith University’s Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI), assisting with the evaluation of Brydie Leigh-Bartlett’s Future Fellowship. His doctoral thesis on the HIV/AIDS activist movement whetted his appetite for meaningful, applied community-based research. His long-standing work with public, private and not-for-profit sector organisations concentrates on developing qualitative and quantitative measures of progress, closely collaborating with local communities in place-based, early intervention/prevention initiatives. Geoff is an experienced social researcher with considerable expertise in social and community service planning and evaluation, including social impact assessment and project evaluation, social capital and community capacity building. He has 30 years community-based research experience nationally and internationally, and has co-published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters and community reports. He has been a consultant to the community cultural development organisation Beyond Empathy, spoken at several writers festivals and written regular opinion pieces, including for Griffith Review. As a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), he is a board director of the Brisbane Housing Company (since 2009), the Australian National Development Index (ANDI) (since 2012), the Making Futures Foundation (since 2014) and co-established the Logan Child-Friendly Community Ltd in 2012 overseeing the high-profile collective impact initiative, Logan Together. Geoff is also a Research Fellow of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and an elected member of the Brisbane South Primary Health Network’s (PHN) Community Advisory Council (since 2015). As a co-director of the Global Talent Tracker company, he has worked closely with the Australian Football League (AFL) for several years and is a Visiting Professor at Loughborough University’s Institute for Sports Business. He was the Australian member on the executive committee for the Asia-Pacific Child-Friendly Cities Network (2010-2013) and the inaugural Queensland convenor for the Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth (ARACY) from 2013-2014. He also co-established the web portal Child-Friendly Communities Australia to encourage local communities across Australia to undertake their own state of children’s reports. Geoff is a frequent public speaker and commentator about social and community development using a whole-of-community approach.

4305 Design Principal Building Designer Esther James starts each project with a discussion behind the drivers that deliver the scope of work and guides the client in approaching the works from the perspectives of the present day, future years, and the next generation. 4305 design prefers a collaborative and educational approach to design. Our goal is to design homes that you are proud to live in, with features that are liveable, that future generations can respect.

Gaynor’s background includes over 20 years in Marketing and PR, Event Management and Corporate Fundraising in the UK and Australia. For the past 18 years I have run my own Business Development and Marketing Business (Marketing Naturally). During this time I have watched confident, capable people armed with a strategy, ‘freeze’ when it comes to the confidence needed to implement some of their ideas. This showed me, across all sectors, the enormity of selfdoubt in business, and caused me to change the shape of my own business. Six years ago I renamed the business Believe Australia and created two main focal points - growing the business, and growing the person behind the business. For the business I offer business reviews / business planning / financial forecasting / marketing plans / action plans all tailored to individual business needs, drawing on my 15 years as a NEIS Cert IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business trainer. For the business owner I shine a spotlight on their beliefs and what they bring to their business. My work as a belief strategist has lead me to study Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and use the philosophies of Dr Joe Dispenza and Dr Bruce H Lipton in Neuroplasticity and Epigenetics respectively. I work with business owners, entrepreneurs and team leaders to discover what they really believe about money, their business and themselves, this uncovers why their situation is as it is. My life experience brings a unique approach to my business mentoring backed by my broad work experience in London PR agencies; in-house for Manchester United Football Club and securing over £100,000 for ChildLine NFP in my first year as a Corporate Fundraiser. My drive comes from being part of other people’s journeys to achieve their intentions. It is a privilege to be a mentor and a role that I never take lightly. Any spare time I have you will find me renovating old caravans or in my shed upholstering furniture. I’m mum to my 16yo daughter, my dog and my cat!

Jane’s aim is to create change and lessen our impact on the planet through the built environment – it’s a challenging task! Jane strives to make good design available to more people whilst practising enoughness. Enoughness is about understanding what you need to live a healthy, happy and reciprocal life with those around you and our environment and not taking or using more than this. Her endeavours and passion for sustainability, integration, user well-being, affordable housing and buildability have created the foundations of what Designful provides. Jane says: “I question clients and prompt them to really consider their lifestyle. What are their true necessities? What is enough? What are their true values? We work out what the needs and desires are for the build – together.” Jane and Designful take budgets very seriously and invest time in creating concepts that address all requirements of a project, functional, financial, aesthetic and environmental. They like to look at what can be removed to make space for the meaningful. Jane’s favourite quote is “make it simple but significant”. She does not agree with complicating things for the purpose of design interest or just because you can. She appreciates refined and considered ideas that benefit more than one party. In life and in business, she is looking for win-win-win-win outcomes! Wins for Designful, our clients, society and the environment. “We like to take the time to get to know our clients, their families and their values in order to design homes that support healthy, down to earth and mindful lifestyles. We design differently in order to reduce mortgages and environmental impact and nurture connections with family, friends, nature and community. Be willing to reconsider your vision of your ideal home and what you think you need, because in reality some of it will come at the cost of your ideal lifestyle and our biggest home - planet earth.”

Jennifer Binns is a sole practitioner who has worked as a building designer on Tasmania's East Coast for the past 23 years. Originally completing a degree in Industrial Design and working as a furniture designer in Victoria, Jennifer was drawn to bespoke home design and pursued building design after relocating to Tasmania. She now has a thriving building design practice and while primarily a residential designer, Jennifer’s work also includes design and planning for public community spaces. Her focus is on meeting a clients brief through sustainable site responsive design and smart, considered design solutions which maximise the functional and aesthetic potential of developments.

Jerry Tyrrell is the father of Property Inspections and trouble-free buildings in Australia. He is a tradesman, Builder, Architect, Author and, most of all, an Activist working on your behalf to make sure every one of your building and property projects goes well.

Jess started her journey with Webber Insurance Services back in 2016, and over the years has been involved in various roles throughout the company. Upon completing her Diploma of Insurance Broking (ANZIIF) in 2018, she progressed into her current role as an Account Broker. Jess was awarded the Steadfast-ANZIIF Outstanding Insurance Professional Award and the SA/NT Young Professional Broker of the Year awards in 2019, both of which were certainly highlights of her career to date. She has a passion for learning and uses industry knowledge and information to provide quality insurance advice to her clients. Outside of her fast-paced work life, Jess thoroughly enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and partner. She is also a devoted ‘dog-mum’ to her dog Murphy.

Kirstie is passionate about sustainability and Shelter Building Design specialises in projects that use natural building materials. Such materials are preferred for their low embodied energy, health benefits to occupants and environmental benefits. Since building her own house from Hempcrete in 2014, Kirstie has gone on to design over 15 Hempcrete homes, teach Hempcrete Building workshops and present at the International Hemp Building Conference in 2020. Her Culburra Hemp House was featured in the 2022 book "Hemp Buildings - 50 International Case studies". Kirstie's ability to communicate with and advise clients about natural building materials and techniques comes from direct hands on experience with these materials and a deep undertsanding of their preformance characteristics. Through Shelter Building Design, Kirstie will continue to promote best practice in low energy, sustainable building through use of natural materials, Passive House, and good sensible deisgn.

Lou is our driving force and the face of Keystone. With 22 years of experience across the construction, commercial and property and development industries, he uses his knowledge and insights to help clients realise their business visions and goals. With family in the business, Lou’s passion for construction started from a young age. After completing a construction management degree and working in the industry for a few years, he moved into law, completed a law degree and became a commercial lawyer. “Lou’s passion for construction started from a young age.” Lou spent 10 years at a national firm working on construction and litigation projects. He then moved to a publicly-listed Danish mining services company where he was responsible for acquisitions and negotiating construction contracts across the Pacific before starting Keystone. In addition to leading the team, Lou spends a large portion of his time out and about in the community, meeting clients and presenting at industry events. He sits on the Master Builders Association Hunter Committee, is an adjudicator in NSW and Victoria and is also the NSW Supreme Court Independent Solicitor. “Clients to Lou aren’t just clients.” Clients to Lou aren’t just clients; they’re partners to whom he delivers practical legal solutions in order to drive their success. He builds strong personal relationships with people from the start and takes the time to get to know them and their business. Motivated by problem-solving, Lou describes himself as energetic, passionate, honest, loyal and focused. He spends his free time outdoors and keeping fit.

Mark Thomson is the founder of design and research organization “Eco Effective Solutions” and a multiple award-winning Brisbane Architect. Earlier this year he was appointed the Project leader for the Australian Furniture Association “Furniture 360 Project” grant funded by the Australian Government. Working over the past 30 years, designing work and living spaces throughout Queensland, Mark’s applied green building practices whilst implementing sustainable design and development. Since 2018, he has been a judge for the World Architecture Festival and Australia’s (Sustainability) Banksia Awards. Mark is an ex QUT Adjunct Professor and has co-authored books, journal articles and developed industry guidelines, plus lectured on sustainable design internationally. Understanding that by 2030, the World Economic Forum predicts there will be 3 billion middle class consumers, there is unprecedented pressure on natural resources to meet consumer demand. Mark believes designing and delivering Circular economy solutions is an urgent imperative.

Paul Haar, esteemed architect, will speak about New Opportunities For Building Professionals In A Climate And Biodiversity Emergency. For over 40 years, architect Paul Haar has been immersed in design and construction practice informed by deep green principles and operating inside small local economic and social systems. He dedicated his early career to revitalising self-help housing cultures amongst indigenous Australian communities. For 17 years, Paul guided the Mullum Creek eco-housing project towards deeply reducing environmental impacts tied to the lifetime operation of homes and the materials used to construct them. And a lifelong collaboration with CERES Melbourne inspired him to initiate CERES Fair Wood, a not-for-profit enterprise that aggregates, retails and promotes local farm-grown timber for builders and furniture makers. In 2020, Paul won the Australian Sustainability Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Revered architect Peter Stutchbury will speak on the topic of "We acknowledge Traditional Custodians of Country, on this land called Australia. Their connectivity and relationship with Grandfather Sun, Grandmother Moon, Father Sky and Mother Earth. We respect the Elders and their culture." Peter Stutchbury is recognised for his innovative approach to sustainability and design. Time spent living in the desert country of western NSW during his formative years, allowed him to develop a deep appreciation of the Australian landscape and its sustainability. He has won an unprecedented number of Australian Institute of Architects Awards for public, commercial and residential buildings.

Peter Johnson FRAIA, RIBA is a heritage architect whose work in London and Melbourne spans over forty-seven years. Peter studied at the University of Melbourne and subsequently tutored and lectured there. He has contributed to various publications including The Australian Dictionary of Biography, The encyclopedia of Australian architecture, and Australia Modern : architecture, landscape & design. Peter is a member of DOCOMOMO, the international Confederation of Architectural Museums (ICAM) and the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB).

Rachel Robertson, an esteemed business professional, will speak about Change is the new business as usual. Rachael is a proven leader: having successfully led in the world's toughest workplace - Antarctica. She is recognised internationally for her thought-leadership on what great leadership actually looks like. Rachael knows how to get the best out teams. She will introduce and explain a set of powerful tools to build innovation, collaboration and respect. They are straightforward and memorable so you can use them immediately. This is the story of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things. Rachael was the youngest and just the second female expedition leader to Davis Station.

B2B and B2C sales and marketing consultant with 15+ years of success building businesses, engaging clients, business communities and developing people.

Tim has more than 25 years experience in forestry, wood and pulp and paper industries in a variety of research, market data, intelligence and information services, advocacy, sustainable development, publishing and consulting roles.

Toby has worked in the building industry for 20+ years and more importantly specialising in Energy Efficiency for the past 14 Years working on a variety of projects of all sizes. He is the owner and operator of Torple Energy Ratings who predominantly work in cooler climate area’s. Having a passion for ‘Healthy Homes’ he strives to ensure clients are kept up to date with strategies and information that is relevant to their client’s needs.

Willem Overbosch is a Dutch serial entrepreneur and author, passionate about technology, futures thinking and sustainable development. In 2006 he founded the leading Dutch publisher MKBServicedesk.nl providing “how-to” content to business owners and aggregated data insights on business behavior to associations, academics and policymakers. His ability to think out of the box and translate complex issues into a small business context makes him a sought-after keynote speaker and expert on radio and TV. In 2020 Overbosch, co-founded Hobart based SDGAlign.com.au. A for purpose business on a mission to make sustainable development a business habit and align business with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Willem recently immigrated to Australia and lives in Evans Head, NSW with his wife Milou and their four kids.