Irene Perez Lopez

Irene Perez Lopez is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, Australia, within the School of Architecture and Built Environment. She brings extensive international experience from academic and professional positions across Australia, Chile, Spain, and the UK. Her research focuses on climate change adaptation in coastal and estuary cities, exploring how water narratives can unite communities around sustainability and resilience.

Her educational background spans multiple institutions across Europe and Latin America, though specific degrees aren't detailed in the provided information. She has taught at Bío Bío University and Mayor University in Chile, Salamanca University in Spain, and the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Perez Lopez's research examines the future vulnerability and immense challenges of adaptation and mitigation that coastal and estuary cities face due to the climate emergency. She conceptualizes urban design within the 'Terrain of Water' (Mathur and da Cunha, 2014), advocating for reconceptualization of estuary urbanism that accommodates water and natural systems rather than fighting against them. Her work aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and focuses on generating evidence-based design guidelines for urban sustainability, security, resilience, and liveability.

Her recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward climate-resilient urban design, with increasing focus on estuary cities, water management, and community-based adaptation strategies. The research shows strong interdisciplinary connections between architecture, environmental science, and social sciences, with particular emphasis on the Hunter River Estuary in Australia and comparative studies across Latin America.

• NSW Institute of Architecture Undergraduate State Award
• Commissioner Hoffman Urban Design Award
• NSW Architects Registration Board Medallion (2020-21)
• Women in Research Fellowship 2021 ($30,000)

She currently supervises five PhD students working on diverse topics including disaster-resilient communities, smart materials for energy efficiency, traditional Aboriginal architecture, and post-pandemic urban design. Her research projects include Estuary Urbanism (2020-2024), I-Cities (2022-2023), and coastline resilience studies. As Director of TerritorioMayor and co-founder of OPPTA, she has worked with communities across Latin America on environmental restoration and climate adaptation. Her network includes UNESCO, UN-Habitat, CAF, and numerous international institutions.