The Week in Review

Last week, many of us headed into town for two popular BE events, a Learn @Lunch at Customs House and our 2018 Engaging Women in the Built Environment event at Town Hall. Our City Futures researchers latest report on significant changes to the rental sector also attracted media attention. On campus we welcomed new academics to the BE community and our new BE UPskilled program was launched with sessional teaching staff. Plus, as always we have some new opportunities for staff and students to share.

Engaging Women in the Built Environment: On Wednesday evening, we were joined by The Right Honourable Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, one of 20 amazing women who shared their professional stories and achievements. She spoke of how her early activism to improve their neighbourhood playground was the beginning of her career as a city shaper.  The initiative was conceived to showcase the diverse and extraordinary achievements of women in the Built Environment professions, for despite women graduating in equal numbers women do not experience equal opportunity throughout their careers. As the first female Dean of the Faculty, I pledged to achieve 50% of women in leadership roles. We hope through this initiative to raise awareness and engage others across industry to do the same. Support for this initiative has been growing each year and significantly we have also attracted many new scholarships and awards to attract young women to study in the Built Environment. Key takeaway: From little things big things grow. Find out more.

AHURI Report: You may have read in the media, a new report by CFRC has found that the private rental sector has grown by 36% over the past 10 years – twice the rate of household growth. This growth is set to continue largely due to a decline in home ownership, particularly among younger and middle-aged Australians faced with rising house prices and a shrinking social housing sector. Debt-based financing of properties has also increased significantly, with the report suggesting a regulation re-think. Find out more.

BE Recruitment: I would like to welcome our recent academic new starters to the Faculty. Their disciplines range from Architecture, City Analytics, Computational Design, Property & Construction, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design. Appointments have been made at the Lecturer to Professor level and include early career to senior academics. We look forward to introducing you to our new academics over the coming weeks with meet the BE academic profiles.

EOI Myanmar Research and Development Roadshow: UNSW Institute for Global Development (IGD) Call for Applications. The IGD will fund a select group of UNSW researchers to visit Myanmar in February 2019. The purpose of the trip is to promote and 
showcase research and development projects that exist between UNSW and Myanmar institutions and partners, and to network with local and international agencies and institutions with the aim of strengthening and forging new partnerships and opportunities. Find out more.

BE Learn@Lunch: Professor Susan Thompson presented ‘Welcome to Health City’ to a full house of industry, alumni. students and friends of the faculty at Customs House Sydney. Susan presented a sobering analysis of the increase in lifestyle related illnesses and ultimately an uplifting prognosis showing how better planning, design and management of our cities can support people being more physically active, socially connected and healthier. In doing so, cities can support a healthier population and planet for all. Find out more.

BE UPskilled: After a successful Pilot, BE will soon be introducing an online capability development program for our valued sessional teachers. BE Upskilled, aims to strengthen teaching skills and support the delivery of high quality educational experiences to our students. Sessional educators will be paid for their time and will be eligible for CPD points. Thank you to all those who attended last week’s focus group and launch to celebrate this exciting new initiative. The program will be released to all sessional educators in week 3, so stay tuned…

Calling BE Students: We’re excited to announce that Built Environment is partnering with UNSW Business School and UNSW Founders to run a Product Sprint this September. Indisprint  Indigenous Diabetes Product Sprint 2018  will include 20 students from Business School and 20 students from Built Environment working in cross-disciplinary teams of four, to create a physical prototype that will provide early detection of diabetes whilst also valuing and respecting Indigenous knowledge and being conscious of cultural sensitivities. Expressions of Interest are open to UG and PG students from 2nd year onwards. Applications Close 5pm Fri Aug 17. Apply now.

Finally, HDR students Malay Dave and Behnaz Avazpour are among the winners in the Living Future Institute Australia Biophilia 2018 Photography Awards. Malay is the overall winner in this competition, while Behnaz is the winner in the place-based relationships category. Find out more.

Until next week,
All the best,
Helen