Sara Wilkinson

Professor Sara Wilkinson is a distinguished academic at the University of Technology Sydney, where she serves as Professor in the Faculty of Design and Architecture. With over 30 years of experience in the built environment sector, she is recognized as Australia's first female Professor of Property. Her academic leadership extends to her role as Director of ZEMCH (Zero Energy Mass Custom Housing), Australia, and Australian Hub Leader for the Carbon Leadership Forum.

Professor Wilkinson's educational background includes:

• PhD in Building Adaptation from Deakin University (2011)
• Master of Social Science Research Methods from Sheffield Hallam University (2002)
• Master of Philosophy in Green Buildings from University of Salford (1996)
• BSc in Building Surveying from University of Greenwich (1987)

Professor Wilkinson's research program sits at the dynamic intersection of sustainability, urban development, and climate change adaptation. Her transdisciplinary work focuses on green infrastructure, particularly green roofs and walls, and innovative building materials like hempcrete. She investigates how new technologies can deliver sustainable building outcomes while addressing urban resilience challenges. Her work spans from building-scale adaptation to city-wide green infrastructure implementation, with growing interest in the application of virtual reality and robotics for sustainable building assessment and maintenance.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on decarbonizing the built environment through innovative materials like hempcrete and green infrastructure technologies. There's a clear trend toward addressing climate adaptation challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations such as older Australians in bushfire-prone areas. Her work increasingly integrates multi-disciplinary approaches, combining engineering, health, and social sciences to develop comprehensive solutions for sustainable urban development.

Professor Wilkinson holds significant professional recognition:

• Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (since 1997)
• Chartered Building Surveyor with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (since 1987)
• Member of the Australian Property Institute (since 2010)

As an academic supervisor, Professor Wilkinson has guided numerous postgraduate students through their research journeys. Her funded research portfolio is extensive, with projects supported by prestigious organizations including the Australian Research Council, City of Sydney, City of Melbourne, ARENA, RICS, and the Kamprad Family Foundation. Notable projects include the development of a wallbot for green wall inspection, virtual reality assessments of green infrastructure value, and ARC Linkage projects evaluating hempcrete performance. She serves on editorial boards for five international journals and contributes to policy development through her work with government bodies and industry organizations.

Professor Wilkinson leads several research initiatives including the Sustainable Temporary Adaptive Reuse (STAR) Toolkit project and the Decarbonising Built Environments with Hempcrete and Green Wall Technology initiative. Her work with the UTS Centre for Autonomous Systems has resulted in innovative robotics applications for green infrastructure maintenance. She collaborates extensively with international partners across Sweden, Malaysia, and New Zealand, reflecting the global relevance of her research on sustainable urban development.