Above: Jon Shinkfield, Founding Director of REALMstudios, image courtesy REALMstudios.

In addition to launching and showcasing many new products, DesignBUILD 2016 is also hosting its annual Speaker Series – a platform in which experts in the built industry will discuss key issues surrounding the themes of compliance, innovation, and sustainability. With over 30 talks taking place over the three days, ADR highlights a few of the best.

THEATRE 1: Wed 12:00pm-1:30pm – Learn + Lunch Session: Sustainable design decision making

New for 2016, Learn + Lunch Sessions will feature on all three days of DesignBUILD, each with a different theme. Wednesday’s focus is on sustainable design, the business case for sustainability, implementing it into your designs and encouraging clients to consider sustainable options.

Speakers include:
James Cameron, Executive Director at ACIF. James has also worked with the Australian Institute of Building and Australian Automobile Association.
Fiona Winzar, Fiona Winzar Architects, who specialises in European Passive House design principals and aim to develop carbon neutral homes, such as the Victoria Road house.
Jon Shinkfield, Founding Director of REALMstudios, an urban design and landscape architectural practice who have worked on many public and private projects including Melbourne’s Carlisle Street streets cape.
Nellie O’Keeffe, Senior Development Design Manager at Grocon. Nellie has worked on many iconic and large-scale projects including the QV Development and the MCG Northern Stand Redevelopment.
Chris Barnett, Managing Director at Habitech Systems, who develop high-performance, sustainable, modular housing solutions. Chris also represents AIA on the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council – Sustainable Housing Task Group and is a Director of specialist architectural practice Third Skin.

THEATRE 2: Thur 3:00pm-3:30pm – Green skilling the construction trades

As sustainable technology and building practises continue to rapidly advance, the construction industry faces the issue of educating its workers in sustainable building and energy efficiency requirements. In “Green skilling the construction trades,” Daniel Wurm from the Green Building Institute explores how to educate a workforce in an efficient and cost-effective way.

THEATRE 1: Thur 3:00pm-3:45pm – It’s only our future…

In “It’s only our future,” Matt Mackay of HASSELL discusses the issues that desperately need to be solved within our cities, such as providing for a more centralised population, catering for the need for open space, and counteracting the urban heat island effect.

THEATRE 1: Fri 2:00pm-2:45pm – Choosing the right product: why is it so important?

Kristin Brookfield of the Housing Industry Association explores methods of wading through the selection of building product options available on the market today. She talks about the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC) Procurement of Construction Products: A Guide to Achieving Compliance, which helps answer the questions on whether a product is both suitable and durable for your purpose.

DesignBUILD is held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from this Wednesday 4 May until Friday 6 May, hosting more than 300 exhibitors and representing the largest Australian gathering dedicated to the architecture, building, construction and design community.

For tickets, more information, and the full list of Speaker Series events, visit designbuildexpo.com.au