Kerryn Wilmot

Kerryn Wilmot serves as Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where she leads smart cities and healthy urban environment research programs. With over 30 years of combined experience as a sustainability-focused architect and researcher, she specializes in creating urban environments that prioritize human well-being through evidence-based approaches to planning and design.

Her educational foundation includes a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Melbourne. Prior to joining UTS in 2012, Kerryn established herself as a leading sustainable architect in Victoria, most notably as project leader for the pioneering 60L Green Building in Carlton, which won a Banksia Award and significantly influenced sustainable commercial building practices across Australia.

Kerryn's research focuses on the critical intersection between urban infrastructure and human health, with particular emphasis on air quality, urban heat mitigation, and sustainable building practices. She employs environmental sensor data to inform planning, construction, and operational decisions that directly impact people's daily lives. Her work on the Victorian Healthy Homes Program, a randomized controlled trial examining residential thermal comfort impacts, demonstrates her commitment to generating robust evidence for policy and practice. She approaches urban development from a user perspective, ensuring that technical solutions translate into tangible human benefits.

Analysis of Kerryn's research output reveals a strong emphasis on practical applications of sustainable urban development, with consistent focus on measurable health outcomes, environmental benefits, and economic viability. Her work bridges academic research with real-world implementation, particularly evident in her smart cities projects that integrate sensor data with urban planning decisions.

• Banksia Award for the pioneering 60L Green Building project
• Accredited Green Star Professional for a 5-star Green Star rated senior school campus in ACT
• Trained facilitator in the LENSES framework for creating regenerative living environments
• Australian auditor for the Living Building Challenge through the International Living Futures Institute

Kerryn has successfully secured funding for approximately 40 research projects over the past five years, demonstrating exceptional grant-writing capabilities and research leadership. Her collaborative approach has fostered partnerships across UTS faculties (Business, Engineering, Architecture, ACRI) and with government agencies including DISER, Sustainability Victoria, OEH, DEWLP, CSIRO, and numerous industry partners. She has served as an expert reviewer for the 2021 NSW State of the Environment Report Transport section and maintains active involvement in professional organizations including the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) Resilience Special Technical Group and the program advisory committee for the annual Liveable Cities conference.

Her work extends to laboratory and team environments through the Institute for Sustainable Futures, where she leads interdisciplinary teams focused on smart cities and healthy urban environments. These teams integrate environmental monitoring technologies with urban planning expertise to develop practical solutions for cities facing climate challenges. Her leadership in projects like OPENAIR demonstrates her commitment to creating collaborative research environments that produce actionable insights for urban decision-makers.