Meet the speakers

APA Chair

As management partner at OPAL, Timothy Lock specializes in the management and direction of large-scale institutional projects and spearheads the practice’s overall approach to building ecology. Timothy believes firmly in the importance of architectural design in producing transformational, positive societal outcomes, and is committed to maintaining the highest quality of process and integrity of ecological architectural design, practice, and implementation. He received his professional architectural degree with honors from Syracuse University. Prior to relocating to Maine, he then practiced extensively in New York City with several firms on a wide range of residential and commercial design projects. Timothy sits on the Maine AIA Board of Directors, the AIA National Strategic Council, and is the Co-Chair of the Maine AIA Committee on the Environment.

Luc is a Sustainability Engineer and director of Detail Green. With a background in the commercial building industry and a range of Green Building qualifications including Certified Passive House Consultant & Building Certifier, Green Star Professional as well as NatHERS Assessor, Luc provides specialist ESD input to all areas of the built environment. Luc is passionate about ensuring buildings are designed and constructed in a manner to minimise their environmental impact during their whole life cycle.

Throughout my career, I have consistently pursued sustainable design practices, advocating for high-performance buildings that enhance indoor air quality and occupant comfort. My passion for sustainable architecture led me to become a certified passive house designer, enabling me to create comfortable, affordable, and energy-efficient buildings.

My commitment to sustainability was recognized with the 'Smart Building Ideas' award for designing a certified classic passive house in Ballina, NSW in 2022 inArchitecture & Designs Sustainability Awards. As an educator, I instill sustainability principles in future architects, however, I aspire to make a broader impact on the built environment.

Leadership skills are constantly evolving through representing clients, stakeholders, and associations in various settings, both in-person and online. These skills have been crucial in managing BluKube Architecture during the pandemic and fulfilling my educational roles. My dedication to sustainable architecture was evident in my recent candidacy for the NSW Architects Board, where I advocated for building better practices. I continuously strive to expand my knowledge, exploring the Living Building

Challenge and WELL standards to further my contribution to sustainable architecture and the UN's climate action objectives.

To further enhance my expertise in sustainable design from a non architecture perspective, I have recently completed an Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainable Design. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices that are applied by the United Nations Sustainability Goals. Covering communicating sustainability, living with fire, sustainability, and humans: earth shapers has been insightful and enriching.

My 24+ years in the property, planning and construction industry include experience at all levels from contracting and design management to policy and client representation. I have led teams to deliver world-class built environments that have pushed innovation boundaries. I am presently focused on university built environments and user needs across different campus facilities.

With years of experience building high performance environments, I also now research sustainable housing design, development and construction, and their lived experience. I am an advocate for greater adoption of rigorous and proven measures to reduce carbon emissions in the property industry without sacrificing occupant wellbeing. Unsurprisingly, I am a certified Passivhaus building designer as well as a trainer for the Australian Passivhaus Association.

I also presently sit on the national standards committee for Air Quality at Standards Australia contributing to new and existing national air quality standards. I am a member of the international research advisory group for the WELL building standard, and I am involved in the Tertiary Education Facility Management Association (TEFMA) as a contributing committee member.

Fortunate to work and live in many countries outside of Australia, my cross-cultural experiences in combination with my strong understanding of the design, construction and user-centred operation of built environments now help inform the courses I lead and the research I conduct.

Paul O’Brien is a Sustainability Project Technical Lead at Stantec with mechanical engineering background and experience in both technical consulting and testing in a range of fields. Paul applies a pragmatic strategy to his projects, working closely throughout the consultation process to achieve our clients’ ideal outcome. Finding the best solution for each particular sector comes naturally to him and he easily works a multi-disciplinary approach into sustainability initiatives – from passive design, through to testing and design of HVAC products. Working in the ESD field has also led him to gain accreditations in Green Star, Passivhaus, WELL, NABERS auditing and a Diploma in Sustainable Living from UTAS.

Andy Bancroft is a Registered Architect in Victoria and Tasmania, a Certified Passive House Designer, and a senior associate at BayleyWard. With over 20yrs experience, Andy has worked across a broad range of projects at many different scales, from single dwellings to large institutional and mixed-use commercial projects. Andy trained at the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow and moved to Melbourne after graduating. His broad architectural experience is complimented by the experience of working as a Development Manager. On each project Andy strives for increased sustainability targets, with practical, cost-effective design solutions. As project architect on ANMF House, Andy guided the project and championed the adoption of the Passive House standard.

Alex specialises in cost planning, cost management and advisory services across various sectors including commercial offices, industrial, education, research facilities, healthcare, entertainment, public and civic projects, retail, security, diplomatic, residential and civil works.

Alex is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, as well as holder of A class builders license and a certified Passivhaus Tradesman. He designed and built his own Certified Passivhaus in Canberra in 2021.

Alex also has specialist skills in dispute resolution and providing ‘expert’ opinion in litigation matters. He has been involved with several building dispute matters in the capacity of expert witness, some involving Passivhaus.

Linden is a Sydney based Architect & Certified Passivhaus Designer, specialising in the design and delivery of sustainable buildings. He is the Practice Principal at Linden Thorley Architects and Co-chair of the Australian Passivhaus Association Retrofit Taskforce. He is passionate about creating well designed and comfortable buildings that are a joy to live, work and play in, whilst being beneficial to the wider community and the planet.

Linden has extensive experience in the design and delivery of projects of varying typologies, size and budgets. Including carefully crafted, often small footprint private houses, as well as multi residential, public, commercial and childcare projects. Many of his projects have strong sustainability objectives as well as heritage overlays and community considerations.

Linden’s onsite construction experience, understanding of the planning system, contemporary heritage practice and construction detailing expertise bring a strong practical understanding to projects, whether they be located on tight inner city pocket sites or in regional and remote areas.

I am driven by the desire to create a built environment that makes a positive impact on the natural environment. I believe that good design can solve the climate crisis, one building at a time and that knowledge-sharing is key to our success as an industry. I use my analysis skills to help developers and design teams create buildings that are good for people and the planet. My diverse background in architecture, engineering, research, and industry helps me identify creative and practical solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sven Maxa established award-winning Maxa Design in 2004 and has developed the practice’s reputation for leading-edge sustainable design excellence.

The studio specialises in high-level eco and energy efficient homes built to brief and budget with creativity, a practical can-do approach, and a singular dedication to creating the best possible outcomes for every client and every project. From humble beginnings as husband-and-wife duo, the studio has grown to a team of eight based in Melbourne.

Sven is a Registered Building Practitioner and Certified Passive House Designer and was an early adopter of Passivhaus. The studio also designed the country’s first 10-star rated relocatable home.

The studio, which works on projects all over the country, has more than 20 awards to its name, including the 2020 Design Matters Awards for ‘Building Design of the Year’, as well as ‘Best Residential New Home Design ($1m-$3m)’ and ‘Best Environmentally Sustainable Design’.

Sven is actively involved in the building design community and regularly presents to professionals, and advocates for eco homes design for the broader community. Sven was also a judge in the 2017 BDAV Design Awards.

Luke is a leader in designing architecture that reduces resource demand, establishes symbiotic relationship with ecology, and embraces local and friendly materials. He completed his first operationally Carbon Positive building in 2006. This low embodied energy school building was design as a 3D open textbook for users.

Luke’s experience ranges from large-scale urban design projects (both locally and internationally), exceptional residential architecture including sensitive heritage projects, and innovative furniture design. He has significant experience in providing environmental design advice for government, commercial and residential projects. Luke works with project teams and clients to guide and advocate for environmentally and socially conscious design at every stage of a project.

He has continuously upskilled with specific courses as well as collaborative, research projects, education campaigns such as resource minimisation, Permaculture, Passive House design and recently Living Building Challenge.

Knut Menden draws on more than 20 years of experience as an architect in sustainable architecture. With a European background and in depth knowledge of sustainability and energy-efficient buildings, along with experience in different climate zones in different countries (Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, New Zealand and Australia), he runs an architectural studio based in Coledale, NSW together with his partner Bettina Steffens.

Coming from high-end residential design and complex commercial projects (particularly education projects) the practice offers a personal and passionate service to clients, covering a wide range of project typologies and delivering creative and innovative design.

A major focus of their work are pre-fabricated mass timber structures, as well as utilising Passivhaus design principles. Minimising architecture’s impact on the natural environment with very low energy use as a pathway to creating sustainable and healthy living and working environments is at the centre of the practice’s core values.

Registered Architect Knut Menden: NSW (ARB 10926), Germany (AKNW 39738), Passivehouse designer.

Joel Seagren is a mechanical engineer and an intelligent ventilation solutions engineer at Fantech. He has a particular focus on systems that ensure high levels of indoor air quality. Joel has a passion for helping deliver comfortable, healthy and energy-efficient spaces in buildings.

Cameron Munro is an engineer with a PhD in aerospace engineering and has spent his career developing computer models to help design better transport in cities. He’s passionate about bring analytical rigour and best practice science to building heatlhy, comfortable and sustainable homes.

Kin has over 15 years' experience in construction, project management and development. He delivered complex fit-out projects for leading technology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, and delivered the construction, operations and financing of a major infrastructure project in Malaysia. With his colleague Michael, Kin runs C Street Projects, a relationship focused developer that draws on the technical and interdisciplinary expertise to apply lessons in innovation and performance to its current projects.

Wade is a Registered Building Practitioner and a Certified Passiv Haus Tradesperson with a passion for outdoor lifestyle and making sure the homes we build are well designed, well insulated and, above all, comfortable. Wade has worked in the building industry both here and in Canada for over 20 years. Wade started North South Homes with his wife in 2015 after noticing the need for builders to get on board building environmentally sustainable homes. We have developed a strong philosophy around building homes that support current and future goals of reducing global energy usage.

Sophie is passionate about projects that generate both socially and environmentally sustainable outcomes. With a background in both design and engineering, she enjoys big picture thinking as well as delving into the technical details of buildings and materials.

Sophie is a senior consultant in Arup’s Sustainable Building’s Team, bringing experience from several previous sustainability roles within the industry.

Sophie is knowledgeable in façade performance and building physics and has a keen interest in passive design, with experience working on various Passivhaus projects across both education and affordable housing sectors.

More recently she worked in a sustainability strategy role, advising on energy, water, waste, and materials solutions with an emphasis on creative visual communication.

Sophie has developed expertise in circular buildings and sustainable materials. She has worked on several projects creating circularity strategies and investigating pathways to reduce embodied energy by performing life cycle assessments.

Lawrence is a Sustainability and Building Physics Engineer at Inhabit, supporting clients to achieve their sustainability and design aspirations. He has worked on several projects targeting Passivhaus certification in Victoria, including single-dwelling houses, schools, and community buildings. His experience in building physics modelling also extends to thermal bridging, condensation, and reflected glare studies. By engaging in projects across all stages of the lifecycle, Lawrence has been able to support sustainable building outcomes from early design to construction.

As Business Manager, Co-founder and Occupational Health Nurse for Blue Eco Homes, Merylese is responsible for the company’s business operations, the staff and the health effects of current building standards. Her background as a senior Respiratory Nurse, has given her a different perspective to the health and wellbeing of people. As well as a Master’s degree in Health Science from the University of Western Sydney, Merylese also holds a Cert IV in Carbon Management.

As a believer in the growth and sustainability of the business within the building industry, Merylese understands the key factor to success starts with the people: staff, clients and the wider community;

It is this belief that has seen Merylese source and provide both professional and personal development opportunities for all the staff at Blue Eco Homes, to ensure a continually growing and improving team.

With the development and maintenance of the company’s Management System to International ISO standards, Merylese has ensured clients are provided with the highest standard of quality and environmental service.

Outside of Blue Eco Homes Merylese remains involved and passionate about the broader business and general community, as a valued member of various business networks, construction groups, community groups and reputable charities.

Labelled a ‘veritable powerhouse’ when awarded the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Australian Business Partner Award in 2017, Merylese has always provided a strong direction in the sustainability of Blue Eco Homes. With a vision to build on the strong reputation as a high-quality construction business, she has a passion to show Blue Eco Homes can protect the environment and promote sustainable, healthy living.

Talina is passionate about creating healthy, beautiful, functional, comfortable and sustainable architecture which combines building-science and biophilic-design. Biophilia is about our intuitive connection to nature, where the health and wellbeing of people and planet are inextricably linked. This ethos extends to our purpose to ‘ care for country’ and cultivate a living future for all. Talina has over 25 years experience in Architectural practice, is a registered Architect in Victoria, and is a Director of Envirotecture. She has gained recognition as an industry leader, known for her sustainable architecture and

From an early age I have had an interest in numbers, buildings and calculations. Passivhaus has provided the opportunities to express these interests in the aid of helping others design better buildings and at least understand the ramifications of design. I work in the grey area a lot!

Being a NatHERS Assessor and working with different tools to measure building and environmental performance, I test the outcomes against local, tried and tested knowledge to see if we can increase our capacity to improve on what we know.

My professional journey is diverse and informative and I seek to help others.

With over 30 years of experience in sustainable architecture, Julia Bennett is now running her own practice.