Professor Ron Wakefield

Teaching areas

Quantitative Management, Project Management, Systems Engineering, Engineering Construction, Engineering Management, Construction Simulation and Design, Quality and Quality Systems, Construction Practice

Research interests

Construction information technology, Industrialization of construction, Simulation of engineering systems, Construction occupational health and safety, Automation, Optimization of construction systems, Productivity improvement, Housing construction, Project management, Visualization.

Honours and awards

• Excellence in Scholarship, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 2003

• Clifton Garvin Fellowship, Recognizing contributions to Virginia Tech’s Top 30 Research University Goal, May 2002

• Certificate of Teaching Excellence, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 2001

• Department of Building Construction, Exemplary Faculty Award, Selected by Building Construction Students, May 2004, 2003, 2000

Professional service

• Member, Building Practitioners Board, Victoria, 2007–present

• Chair, Learning Space Advisory Group, RMIT, 2008–2011

• External Reviewer, Discipline of Building Construction, University of Canberra, 2013

• External Reviewer, School of Built Environment, Curtin University, Western Australia , 2012

• External Reviewer, Building Science program, School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand , 2009

• External Advisor, Department of Building and Construction, City University of Hong Kong 2008–Present

• External Examiner, University of Newcastle, Construction Management Program, 2006–Present

• Member International Scientific Committee, Sustainable Building 08, The World Sustainable Building (SB) Conference series, Melbourne September 21–25, 2008

• Judge, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Awards, Young Achiever Category, 2006, 2007, 2008

• Member Editorial Board, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Emerald Ltd, 2006–Present

• Member Editorial Board, International Journal of Architectural Engineering and Design Management, James & James (Science Publishers) Ltd, 2003–present

• Member Scientific Committee, 3rd International Conference on ’Innovation in Architecture, Engineering And Construction (AEC)’ 15–17 June, 2005 Rotterdam, The Netherlands

• Member Scientific Committee, 2nd International Conference on ’Innovation In Architecture, Engineering And Construction (AEC)’ 25–27 June, 2003 Burleigh Court International Conference Centre, Loughborough University, UK

• Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) Industry Steering Committee, US Dept of Housing and Urban Development, 2003–2004

• PATH Technology Roadmap: Member of Panels for Information Technology to Accelerate and Streamline Home Building and Advanced Panelized Construction, 2001–Present

• Co-editor with D.G. Carmichael, Journal of Project and Construction Management, 1996–1999.

Honorary appointments 

• President, Sandringham College Council, Sandringham, Victoria, 2010–Present 

• Member, School Council, Sandringham College, 2006–present

• Director, Hanover Welfare Services, Victoria 2009–Present

• Director, Architects Without Frontiers, 2010–2013

• PhD in Civil Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Australia, 1993

• MSE in Civil Engineering and Operations Research, Princeton University, New Jersey, U.S.A., 1987

• BE(Hon 1) in Civil Engineering, University of New South Wales, 1984

Professional experience

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne, Australia
Professor of Construction and Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor – International, , Sept 2013–Present
Head, , Jan 2005–Present
Program Director, Delivery and Management of Built Assets, Cooperative Research Centre – Construction Innovation, August 2005–2008

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Director, Ph.D. Program in Environmental Design and Planning, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, July 2002–Dec 2004
Associate Director, Housing Research Center, February 2002–Dec 2004
William E. Jamerson Professor of Building Construction, August 2000–Dec 2004, Professor / August 1998–August 2000, Associate Professor

University of New South Wales, School of Civil Engineering
Department of Engineering Construction and Management, Senior Lecturer 1996–1998, Lecturer, 1989–1996
Teaching Fellow, 1987–1989

City University of Hong Kong, Department of Building and Construction
Visiting Fellow, 1995

Princeton University
Graduate Research Asst., 1985–1987

Electricity Commission of New South Wales
Civil Engineer, 1984–1985
Cadet Engineer, 1980–1983

Professional societies

• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Fellow

• Institution of Engineers, Australia, Member 

• American Society of Civil Engineers, Member