Passing the Baton: Celebrating Elsie Wang and Kylie Mills
The Australian Passivhaus Association (APA) is powered by a remarkable community of volunteers. They run chapters, deliver training, host site tours and speak for better buildings in rooms we could never reach alone.
As 2026 draws to a close, we want to recognise two volunteers who have left a lasting mark. Elsie Wang, our Passivhaus 101 National Coordinator, and Kylie Mills, our NSW Chapter Co-Chair, will hand over their roles at the end of this year.
Their work has changed how many Australian building professionals first meet Passivhaus. It has also shown what volunteer leadership can achieve.
Elsie Wang: Making Passivhaus Accessible Nationally
Passivhaus 101 is often the first step for building professionals exploring high-performance build and design. Under Elsie's leadership as National Coordinator, it has grown into a truly national program.
The results speak for themselves:
Over 2,000 building industry professionals have taken part in Passivhaus 101 training
More than 100 organisations have engaged with the program
A national network of 20 Passivhaus 101 speakers now delivers sessions across the country
Behind those numbers are thousands of architects, builders, designers and engineers who now understand what Passivhaus is and why it matters. Many have gone on to further training, certification and real projects.
Elsie's greatest legacy is the speaker network. By building a team of trained presenters nationwide, she has made sure Passivhaus 101 no longer depends on any one person. The program is ready to grow.
Kylie Mills: Building a Connected NSW Passivhaus Community
Working alongside fellow Chapter Co-Chair Trent Clarke, Kylie has helped build one of APA’s most active and connected state chapters, strengthening industry engagement and growing the Passivhaus community across NSW.
Under their leadership, the NSW Chapter has delivered:
Industry education sessions and PechaKucha Nights.
More than 18 member engagement events and industry insights sessions.
Passivhaus site tours showcasing high-performance buildings in action.
Strong NSW representation at THRIVE 2025 and 2026, with a significant proportion of attendees from the NSW building industry.
Kylie has also represented APA across numerous industry platforms, championing the Passivhaus standard and advocating for better buildings across Australia.
Your Chance to Lead in 2027
Leaders like Elsie and Kylie are the reason APA can drive change across the industry. As they hand over their roles, we're looking for people ready to build on their work and bring fresh ideas.
We're seeking Expressions of Interest for two roles, all starting in January 2027.
Passivhaus 101 National Coordinator (Volunteer)
Lead APA's national introductory training program. You'll support our speaker network and help more professionals take their first step into Passivhaus.
NSW Chapter Co-Chair (Volunteer)
Help lead one of APA's most active chapters. You'll shape events, strengthen industry connections and represent APA in NSW. Whether your passion is education, industry engagement or advocacy, we'd love to hear from you.
How to Apply
Complete our short Expression Of Interest form to register your interest. We'll then send you more information about the roles. EOIs close 18 October 2026.
Elsie and Kylie, thank you for your leadership, your generosity and everything you've given APA. You've both left our community stronger, and we look forward to seeing the next wave of leaders take it further.