Usha Iyer-Raniga

Professor Usha Iyer-Raniga is a leading academic and researcher in sustainability and circular economy at RMIT University's School of Property, Construction and Project Management. She serves as Co-Lead of the Circular Built Environment (CBE) working group under UNEP's GlobalABC and previously co-led the UN's Sustainable Buildings and Construction Programme (SBC) from 2015–2022. Her work bridges academia, policy, and industry, with a focus on circular economy frameworks, climate resilience, and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Her teaching includes pioneering courses such as 'Circular Built Environment' and 'Sustainability in the Built Environment,' developed for graduate and master's programs. She has extensive international teaching experience across Asia, organizing study tours to promote low-carbon urban development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Usha leads major initiatives like the Integrated Circular Economy, Climate Change, and Clean Energy Platform (IC3P) and chairs the Circular Economy Research Network Asia Pacific (CERN APAC). She has secured over AUD 12.4 million in funding for projects addressing circular economy transitions, climate resilience, and sustainable infrastructure. Notable grants include the AUD 5M ARC-funded ITTC Whole Life Design of Carbon-Neutral Infrastructure and the AUD 140M Solving Plastics Waste CRC.

Her research spans policy development, building design optimization, and waste-to-resource strategies. She advises global institutions like the United Nations University and chairs expert panels for circular economy integration. Usha is also a founding director of RMIT's Circular Economy Hub and has contributed to CSIRO's circular economy roadmap.

Her roles include Visiting Professor at IIT Kanpur, Board Member of ProSPER.Net, and reviewer for the UN Global Environmental Outlook. She actively engages in international conferences, policy panels, and NGO boards, driving global sustainability agendas.