Professor Usha Iyer-Raniga

Research

Usha brings wide industry experience to her teaching and research. She has been involved in key projects on sustainability and circularity in the built environment since her commencement at RMIT University at the Centre for Design. She has been invited as key note speaker and invited speaker at National and International Conferences. She has been involved as an expert in panel discussions for Australian government and industry. She is Board member for various NGOs and on advisory committees for various industry organisations. Her research projects include national and international projects.

Usha started working in the field of energy efficiency and conservation since the late eighties. This has now broadened to encompass sustainability issues in the built environment. She commenced working in this field on maximising daylighting in office buildings as part of her Masters’ thesis, which she completed in the early nineties. She has worked in architectural practices in India, Canada and Australia, bringing practical knowledge of energy efficiency and conservation and triple bottom line sustainability to buildings and the built environment.

Usha completed her Doctorate thesis in Australia in the late nineties and worked in private consulting and government before re-commencing her career in academia. Her work in private consulting and government was focused on tool development and matters pertaining to introduction of regulatory compliance for energy efficiency measures in the residential and commercial building sectors in Australia.

Professor Usha Iyer-Raniga has combined government, industry and academic experiences. She has worked in government, private practice and academia as researcher. While Usha is Professor in Sustainable Built Environment at the School of Property, Construction and Project Management, she is also Co-Leading the United Nations One Planet Network’s (OPN) 10 Year Framework’s (10YFP) Sustainable Buildings and Construction (SBC) Programme, arising from the Rio+20 Conference. This programme is responsible for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12; and responds to targets 12.1 and 8.4, the goal relates to sustainable consumption and production, and the targets relate to progressive improvement of resource efficiency in production and consumption as outlined by the United Nations SDG.  

Usha has had senior leadership/management roles in developing, leading and managing (researching and delivering) innovative projects to governments and private sector clients; teaching, research and leading staff, managing onshore and offshore programs with partners internal and external to RMIT. In previous roles, Usha acted as Senior Advisor on building regulation and sustainability to the Minister for Planning, and to the Building and Plumbing Commissioner (now Victorian Building Authority). She is reviewer and scientific committee member for national and international journals and refereed conferences. She is also on editorial board of selected journals. She has served and is currently serving on various industry advisory committees and not-for-profit organisations. Some of her key activities include:

• In the Spotlight: Usha Iyer-Raniga
• Victorian Government’s Circular Economy discussion paper
• RMIT professors push for industry input on circular economy
• Circular economy plan neglects corporate buy-in at its peril
• RMIT University sustainability comment on Victorian Government’s circular economy discussion paper
• Distracted by rubbish, sustainability plan forgets people
• It’s about more than just rubbish: Victoria’s circular review ignores people
• Building urban climate resilience in the Solomon Islands
• Pacific Island cities call for a rethink of climate resilience for the most vulnerable
• Interview: Building materials use in residential construction, The Sunday Age, 27th June 2010.
• Interview: Life cycle understanding of building materials, Sanctuary Magazine, October 2010.
• Radio: WA radio station: Interview/discussion on sustainable, affordable housing.
• Wall Street Journal: Expert opinion on sustainable buildings in Asia.
• Government news: Expert opinion on policy document.

Roles held (since 2000)

• Director, Victorian Circular Activator (VCA) (2021-2023)
• Director, Integrated Circular Economy and Climate Change Platform (IC3P) (2021-2023)
• Chair, CE Hub@RMIT (2019 –2023)
• Professor, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, (2019 onwards)
• Deputy Dean International, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, (2011-2018)
• Co-Lead, 10YFP Sustainable Buildings and Construction Programme, United Nations Environment (2015 onwards)
• Director, SBi Lab, Research team based at the School of Property, Construction and Project Management (2015 - 2017)
• Associate Professor (from 2012 onward) and Senior Lecturer (till 2010), School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University
• Assistant Director (2009–2011), Centre for Design, RMIT University
• Program Director, Sustainable Built Environments (2006 - 2011)

Accomplishments

• Wolfgang Gerson Memorial Prize (Canada)
• Lotus Scholarship (India)
• Sethna Scholarship (India)
• Professional interests
• Non-Executive Director, Australasian campus towards sustainability (ACTS)
• Director, ProSPER.Net (Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research), United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) and Chair, Expert Advisory Committee on Circular Economy
• Academic Board member, Australian Industrial Systems Institute (AISI)
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Professional interests

• Non-Executive Director, Alternative Technology Association

University of Melbourne, Australia
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
“Participative techniques for urban environmental improvement”

University of British Columbia, Canada
Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture (M.A.S.A.)
“Daylighting in Atrium Spaces”

University of Bombay, India
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)

• Speaker, NCHU Green Campus Forum, 8 Jun 2023
• Speaker, World Environment Day Luncheon, 17 May 2023
• Speaker, Australian Manufacturing Week RMIT, 12 May 2023
• Keynote, 14th International Conference on Environmental and Rural Development, 4 Mar 2023
• Expert Panel Member, Relationship Between Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Goals, 8 Dec 2022
• Keynote, SBEfin 2022 – Emerging Concepts for Sustainable Built Environments, 23-25 Nov 2022
• Expert Panel Member, Circularity 2022 – Emission Reduction Opportunities: The Remaining 45%, 24 Nov 2022
• Expert Panel Member, COP27 – Creating a Circular Built Environment: The Why and How, 14 Nov 2022
• Keynote, International Summit “Build Sustainable: #BuildZero” – Chile Green Building Council, 26-28 Oct 2022
• Keynote and Lead, AURECON Design Academy on Circular Economy, 24-25 Oct 2022
• Presenter, ProSPER.Net General Assembly and Board Meeting, 19 Oct 2022
• Co-lead, 10YFP Board Meeting Paris, 18-19 Oct 2022
• Presenter, Rotary Club of Sydney Presentation on ‘What does Circular Economy mean to you’, 10 Oct 2022
• Presenter, Workshop 2 Sustainable Urban Development, 5 Oct 2022
• Presenter, Future of urban living: interview on sustainable and resilient urban living, 4 Oct 2022
• Expert Panel Member, Breakthrough Victoria Challenge Launch, 30 Sep 2022
• Expert Panel Member, Circular economy and the role of transport planning, 29 Sep 2022
• Speaker, Driving value via circular economy, 28 Sep 2022
• Expert, Barely Gettin’ By Podcast Interview, 20 Sep 2022
• Speaker, From all-electric to sustainable homes and communities, 12 Sep 2022
• Expert Panel Member and Speaker, EcologiQ Greener Infrastructure Conference 2022, 6-7 Sep 2022
• Expert, Christopher Wren Club, 5 Sep 2022
• Expert Panel Member, Victorian Circular Activator Focus Group Workshop, 25 Aug 2022
• Expert Panel Member, Circular Economy Integration for Built Environment Education, 28 July 2022
• Expert Panel Member, Circular Economy Workshop by BUILT, 28 July 2022
• Host and Speaker, Circular Economy Research Network (CERN), 14 July 2022
• Member, ACTS Board Meeting 2022, 13 July 2022
• Expert panellist, Universities Australia Conference, universities and climate change session, 6-7 July 2022
• Chair, Circularity in the built environment and scientific committee member, CIB Conference 27-30 June 2022
• Expert panellist, CIB W116 SASBE Seminar 2022, 25 May 2022
• Expert panellist, Loops, Lattices, Systems: Circular Economy for the Building Industry, 25 May 2022
• Expert panellist, DesignBUILD Total Facilities & Be Summit 2022, 10-13 May 2022
• Expert panellist, A Carbon Neutral Society, May 13 to June 10, 2022
• Lead, What Does Waste Mean to You? - Melbourne Knowledge Week, 11 May 2022
• Academic expert: Study Australia Masterclass – Circularity in the Built Environment, 9th Feb 2022
• Expert panel member: Homes from Waste Symposium Session 1, 3 Dec 2021
• Expert panel member: Homes from Waste Symposium Session 2, 3 Dec 2021
• Expert panel member: Sustainable Homes Challenge Team Pitches, 3 Dec 2021
• Expert panel member, IURC, Dec 15 2021
• Expert panel member: Homes from Waste Symposium, Dec 3 2021
• Expert panel member: RICS symposium - Circling the square – the possibilities and promise of a circular built environment, 10 Nov 2021
• Expert panel member: COP26 organised by WBCSD, 9 Nov 2021
• Speaker: The Future of Cities is Circular, 5 Nov 2021
• Expert panel member, GGGI Week October 21 2021
• Facilitator: Beyond the Lab -Activating the Circular Economy in Australia, 13 Oct 2021
• Panel member, The Ortus Club - Executive Knowledge Sharing, 7 July 2021
• Expert panel member: A Greener Future, 8 July 2021
• Academic expert, 4th PAGE Green Economy Academy, Towards a Green, Fair and Sustainable Recovery, 10-21 May 2021
• Expert panel member, Green recovery policies: examples of green construction and energy efficiency, 11 May 2021
• Chair, CEHub Roundtable, 22 April 2021
• Australian Research Council Reviewer
• Special Editor, Journal of Sustainability Research:  Sustainable Development Research in Asia-Pacific
• Special Editor, Sustainability: Circularity in the Built Environment
• Scientific Committee, WSBE 20, Beyond 2020, Sweden 2020
• Scientific Committee IBPSA 2020 Conference
• Panel Judge, International Green Gown Awards 2020
• Panel Judge, Participate Melbourne’s Open Innovation Competition
• Panellist, Australia National Tech23Circular Economy
• Advisor, The Open EdWork (TOE), India
• Chair, Sustainable Development Research in the Asia-Pacific, 19-21st December 2019, MITS Gwalior. Following from the first sustainable development symposium in Australia.
• Editor, Special Issue: International Journal of Sustainability Research.
• Judge, Premier’s Sustainability Awards (ongoing).
• Invited Speaker, Living Future Australia, Energy + Education Forum (June 2019).
• Invited Speaker, Carlton Rotary Club. Understanding the Sustainable Development Goals (May 2019).
• Reviewer for Journals: Building Research & Information, Buildings, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, International Journal of Construction Management, Construction Management and Economics, Urban Policy and Research, Journal of Sustainable Building Technology & Urban Development, Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, EDG papers (AIA), Historic Environment (HE), International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA), Australian Solar Energy Society (AUSES). 
• Who's Who in the World® 2016 (33rd Edition).
• Inclusion of Usha’s biography in this Marquis authored edition, along with approximately 55,000 of the most accomplished men and women from around the world, including such luminaries as Grammy Award-winning singer Sam Smith, activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. 
• Co-Chair, Sustainable Development Research in the Asia-Pacific Symposium, July 2017, RMIT University.
• Scientific Committee, Passive Low Energy Architecture Conference (PLEA).
• World Green Building Council’s Panel Judge for the Asia Pacific Awards, 2016.
• Trialogue 2047 on Urban Affordable Housing: Decoupling Material Resources, Development Alternative, 28th May 2016.
• Invited Speaker, Low Carbon Developments, Indonesia, Sydney South East Asia Centre, May 13th, 2016 (presentation by Neville Hurst, co teacher for related study tour).
• Member, Victorian Research Institute on Social Cohesion (RIOSC).
• Invited Speaker, Energy Efficiency Working Group, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, 10-15 April 2016, Taiwan.
• Lead/Co Lead, Sustainable Buildings and Construction Programme, Sustainable Consumption and Production, 10 Year Framework, United Nations.
• Lead, Flagship project on Built Environment Curricula, UNEP 10YFP SBC, 2016.
• Keynote speaker: Conference Series on Life Cycle Assessment, AusBuildLCA, November 23-27, The 1st Life Cycle Assessment Conference for Building and Construction, November 26-27, Mercure Melbourne Treasury Gardens, Melbourne 2015.
• RICS Initiative to Drive the Adoption of Sustainable Development Principles in Built Environment Higher Education Awarded to School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University 2015 (http://www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-education/academic-schools/property-construction-and-project-management/news/).
• Invited Speaker, Best Practice in student mobility to Southeast Asia, organized by South East Asia Centre Initiative at the University of Sydney, Aug 2015.
• Invited Member, State Industry Groups, Green Building Council of Australia, 2014-15.
• Panel Judge, United Nations Association of Australia Awards 2015.
• Scientific Committee Member, Building Simulation Conference 2015.
• Statewide Industry Group panel (SIG) Green Building Council of Australia 2014-18.
• Invited Speaker, Australia Pacific Association of International Education (APAIE), March 23-25, 2015.
• Invited Speaker, Energy Efficient Buildings Workshop, Singapore Green Building Week, September 2014.
• Invited Speaker, International Education Association of Australia, May 2014.
• Invited Speaker, International Finance Corporation, Sustainability Capacity Building in the Built Environment, Jakarta, April 2013.
• Invited Speaker, ProSPER.Net Workshop, Jogjakarta, July 2013.
• Editorial Board member, IJFEM International Journal of Forensic Engineering and Management.
• Scientific Committee member for CIB led, Sustainable Buildings Conference, Philippines November 2013.
• Scientific Committee member for ARCOM Conference, Reading, September 2013.
• Scientific Committee member, Building Simulation Conference 2013.
• Expert Panel member, Planning Institute of Australia, Clean Energy Future, 2012
• Organising Committee Member, AIRAH Preloved Buildings Conference, 2012
• Organising Committee Member, AuSES Conference 2012
• Reviewer for the Journal of Industrial Ecology
• Reviewer for the AuSES organised Solar11 Conference
• Reviewer for the Journal of Construction in Developing Countries
• Expert Panel member, Planning Institute of Australia Clean Energy Future (CEF) 2012.
• Invited Speaker, Inaugural Senior Executive Development Programme on Sustainable Buildings for Asia Pacific held in Singapore at the BCA Academy from October 8 - 10, 2012, BCA Centre for Sustainable Buildings (BCA CSB), a Centre Collaborating with UNEP, in partnership with the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC).
• Invited Speaker, Research Methods in Built Environment: Case studies, Presented at the National Association of Advanced Studies in Architecture Forum, Pune, India, July 2012.
• Chair, Thriving Neighbourhood Conference 2012, Melbourne 12-14 November 2012.
• Organiser and Scientific Committee member, Australian Solar Energy Society SOLAR 2012 “Golden Jubilee” 50th Annual Conference, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn Campus, Thursday 6th and Friday 7th December 2012.
• Expert Panel member, Planning Institute of Australia, Clean Energy Future, 2012.
• Invited Speaker, MahaCON India 2012.
• Reviewer for IBPSA Conference, Building Simulation 2011
• Reviewer for the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) EDG Papers
• Reviewer for the Journal Historic Environment (HE)
• Invited participant for Sustainability Victoria’s Education for Sustainability workshop, May 2011
• Organising Committee member, Association of Building Sustainability Assessor Conference (ABSA) 2011 Conference, “Sustainability: Does it measure up?”
• Invited Presenter at Engineers Australia- Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering (SSEE) Continuing Professional Development seminar in November 2011 on green buildings and sustainability. 
• Panel Chair and Organising Committee member Thriving Neighbourhoods Conference, November 2011.
• Keynote Speaker at the MADD (Mites Asthma Domestic Design) Conference 2011 on 'Trends in the Built Environment: Past, Present and Future' in Sydney, 8-9 November 2011.  
• Invited Presenter 'Building Green: Sustainability in the context of museums and art galleries' was presented at the Regional & Public Galleries NSW 2011 Conference, entitled Currency: Resourcefulness, Relevance, Resilience, 30 October – 1 November 2011 in NSW.
• Reviewer for Journal of Industrial Ecology.
• Reviewer for the Journal of Construction in Developing Countries.
• Reviewer for the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) EDG Papers.
• Invited participant for Sustainability Victoria’s Education for Sustainability workshop, May 2011.
• Organising Committee member, Association of Building Sustainability Assessor Conference (ABSA) 2011 Conference, Sustainability: Does it measure up?
• Special contribution, 2010 Global Mayors Special Issue in conjunction with GLOBAL MAYOR Magazine.
• Invited Panel “Less Red Tape, More Green Action”, Philips Sustainability Panel Discussion, Sydney, November 2010 organised by Niche Media.
• Invited Expert for the Prime Minister’s Task Force Group Workshop Discussions on Energy Efficiency, April 2010.
• Special contribution, 2010 Global Mayors Special Issue in conjunction with GLOBAL MAYOR Magazine.
• Interview: Building materials use in residential construction, The Sunday Age, 27th June 2010.
• Interview: Life cycle understanding of building materials, Sanctuary Magazine, October 2010.
• Keynote speaker at the Australasian Registrar’s Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010.
• Judge for the Yarra City Council Sustainability Award, 2010.