Josh Pienaar

Professor Josh Pienaar serves as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), overseeing strategic initiatives in learning, teaching, and research. Previously, he held senior roles including Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students) at University of Southern Queensland and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at Central Queensland University. His academic credentials include a PhD in Construction Management, an MBA, and multiple certifications in governance and finance.

Research focuses on academic governance, sustainable construction, student progression, and BIM adoption challenges. He has published extensively on construction waste management, educational technology, and industry-academia collaboration. His work emphasizes employability-focused curricula and radical innovation in distance education.

• Education:
  • PhD in Built Environment, Central Queensland University (2016)
  • MBA (Strategy), Bond University (2001)
  • BSc (Construction Management), University of Pretoria (1994)
• Awards:
  • Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building
  • President of the Australasian Universities Building Education Association (2016-2019)

His articles highlight themes like BIM implementation risks, student engagement strategies, and carbon labelling schemes. He advises on governance for universities undergoing TEQSA assessments and influences policy at national/international levels through leadership roles in professional bodies.