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  2. The Housing Assembly
Melbourne School of Design

The 2021 Housing Assembly: Creating Socially Valuable Housing

3 – 5 November 2021

About Program Speakers FAQs Live illustrations

Presented by the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning in collaboration with the Hallmark Research Initiative for Affordable Housing (HRIAH).

Assembly - a group of people gathered together in one place for a common purpose.

Assembly - the action of fitting together the component parts of an object or system

Date: 3 – 5 November 2021

Location: Online

Watch the Housing Assembly symposium session recordings here

Join us online for three days of presentations, workshops, and panel discussions that focus on the social value of affordable housing. This conference is for the people working to make housing that is good and does good.

As COVID-19 has made evocatively clear, housing is valuable. House prices and construction activity has skyrocketed in the last 12 months in Australia, building wealth for many homeowners and delivering jobs in the construction industry.

But the true value of housing goes well beyond this. A home can protect you from a virus, provide space for home-schooling and work, seed a new gardening hobby, and deliver the stability necessary to survive a global pandemic. A well-designed home can support a person with a disability to live with autonomy and reduce incidences of asthma and heart disease while reducing energy costs. Access to crisis and permanent accommodation can literally save lives. This is the social value of housing.

As Victoria and other jurisdictions across the world respond to the pandemic with unprecedented investments in social and affordable housing, we are confronted with an opportunity to maximise the social value of housing. In Victoria, the Big Housing Build will deliver over 12,000 social and affordable dwellings over 5 years. It is an opportunity to build homes while also driving better health, employment, community, environment and design outcomes – all the things that make housing truly valuable.

Who should attend:

In 2021 we invite researchers, designers, service providers, developers, funders and policy makers to join the Housing Assembly.

Why you should attend:

We will be addressing the social value of affordable housing to ask:

  • What (beyond financial profit) makes housing truly valuable?
  • How can demonstration projects play a role in inspiring new thinking, encouraging experimentation and building coalitions for  best practice social housing?
  • How can we harness unprecedented levels of investment in social and affordable housing to deliver the best social outcomes?
  • How can we expand our conceptualization of ‘what matters’ when it comes to housing?
  • What can we learn from international best practice and home-grown solutions to build a truly valuable housing system?

We will unpack these topics through international case studies, presentations from worldleading thinkers, industry-focused panel discussions and workshops.

We look forward to seeing you at our event, online, in November.

UoM Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning logoAffordable Housing Hallmark graphic

Join us for three days of discussion about housing that is good and does good.

CommonHaus

Commhaus by Lauren Ho, Madeleine Archer and Ben Thorp, University of Melbourne.

Keynote release dates

Keynote presentations that have been recorded will be released prior to the Symposium date so that delegates can have maximum opportunity to view these presentations before the live panel discussions at the online event.

At the conclusion of the Symposium we will be providing recordings of presentations. A link to recordings will be provided soon.

Wednesday, 3 November

Saskia Sassen - Robert S. Lynd Professor, Department of Sociology, Columbia University

Topic: Housing and Inequality

Wednesday, 3 November

Kurt Hofstetter - Coordinator of IBA Vienna, New Social Living

Topic: Vienna IBA - Demonstration Projects as an Instigator for facilitating Change and Social Value in the housing sector

Thursday, 4 November

Emma Power - Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences and Institute Fellow of Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University

Topic: Housing as an Infrastructure of Care

Thursday, 4 November

Barbara Penner - Professor of Architectural Humanities, Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London

Topic: The Value of Public Housing

Friday, 5 November

Michael Maltzan, Founder and Principle Architect- Michael Maltzan Architecture

Topic: Los Angeles - The Architecture of Michael Maltzan

Friday, 5 November

Leona Lynen - Board Member, ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG

Topic: Co-Productive City-Making

Friday, 5 November

Johannes Molander Pedersen - Founding Partner, Nord Architects

Topic: The Danish Housing Lab: Five Demonstration Projects

Wednesday, 3 November

Day 1

Histories, Policy and Economics

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Welcome to Country

Welcome to the Housing Assembly

Karen Percy - MC and Journalist

Opening Remarks

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Opening Keynote:

Ben Rimmer - Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

9:30 AM– 10:30 AM

Live Keynote: Housing and Inequality

Moderator:

Michele Acuto - Associate Dean (Research), Professor of Global Urban Politics and Director, Melbourne Centre for Cities

Keynote:

Saskia Sassen - Robert S. Lynd Professor, Department of Sociology, Columbia University 

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

BREAK (30 MIN)

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM

International Panel on National Housing Strategies

Moderator:

Michele Acuto - Associate Dean (Research), Professor of Global Urban Politics and Director, Melbourne Centre for Cities

Panellists:

Hal Pawson - Professor of Housing Research and Policy, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW

Kwan Ok Lee - Dean’s Chair Associate Professor, Urban Planning at the NUS Business School, National University of Singapore

David Hulchanski - Dr. Chow Yei Ching Chair in Housing and Professor in Urban Planning, University of Toronto

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

LUNCH BREAK (45 MIN)

1:00 PM- 2:00 PM

Housing Regulation for Disability Housing

Moderator:

Andrew Martel - Lecturer in Architecture and Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Panellists:

Vidal Paton-Cole - Lecturer in Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Phillip Greenham - Enterprise Fellow, Senior Fellow (Melbourne Law Masters), University of Melbourne

Owen Jourdian - Founder and Managing Director of Illowra Projects and Deputy Chair of SDA Alliance

2:00 PM- 3:15 PM

Economic Insights into Affordable Housing

Moderator:

David Harris - Head of Department, Professor of Econometrics, University of Melbourne

Panellists:

Brendan Coates - Economic Policy Program Director, Grattan Institute

Sam Tsiaplias - Principal Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne

Gehann Perera - Partner, MinterEllison

Louisa Borland - Honour Student, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Melbourne

3:15 PM - 4:30 PM

BREAK (75 MIN)

4:30 PM - 5:45 pm

The Social Value of Affordable Housing

Moderator:

Katrina Raynor - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Affordable Housing, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Panellists:

Mitra Anderson-Oliver - Senior Manager, Melbourne Arts Precinct, Transformation Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions

Laura Mahoney - Chief Impact Officer, Launch Housing

Flora Samuel - Professor of Architecture in the Built Environment, University of Reading

5:45 PM - 6:00 PM

EVENING BREAK (15 MIN)

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Vienna IBA - Demonstration Projects as an Instigator for Facilitating Change and Social Value in the Housing Sector

Moderator:

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Keynote:

Kurt Hofstetter – Coordinator of IBA Vienna, New Social Living

Thursday, 4 November

Day 2

Human Elements of Housing

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Welcome

Acknowledgement to Country

Karen Percy - MC & Journalist

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Katrina Raynor - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Affordable Housing, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

11:00 AM - 12:15  PM

Housing as an Infrastructure of Care

Moderator:

Hélène Frichot - Director, Bachelor of Design and Professor of Architecture and Philosophy at University of Melbourne

Keynote:

Emma Power - Senior Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University

Panellists:

Cina - Founder and Facilitator of Melbourne Homeless Women's Peer Support Group

Nicole Kalms – Associate Professor, Department of Design and Founding Director of the Monash University XYX Lab

Claire Stacey – Manager, Social Housing Reform at Homes Victoria

Erika Martino - Research Fellow in Healthy Housing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne

12:15 PM - 3:00 PM

LUNCH (135 MIN)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Discussion Circles

This discussion circle is open to all interested in exploring innovative approaches in understanding communities’ perspectives on housing affordability. What might be some of the challenges one could encounter in engaging across intergeneration’s and diverse community groups?

Discussion Circle 1 

This discussion circle is open to all interested in exploring innovative approaches in understanding communities’ perspectives on housing affordability. What might be some of the challenges one could encounter in engaging across intergeneration’s and diverse community groups?

Session Host:

Jenny Weller-Newton - Director of the Rural Health Academic Network/Principal Research Fellow, Department of Rural Health, The University of Melbourne

Discussion Circle 2: Have we been here before? Housing initiatives in Melbourne in the 1960s

Session Host:

Paul Walker - Professor of Architecture, Interim Director, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne

Catherine Townsend - Investigator Hallmark Affordable Housing Initiative and PhD Candidate, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne

Discussion Circle 3: Housing and Productivity

Description: The multifunctional use of people’s homes is not a new phenomenon but COVID has drawn attention to it. This discussion room welcomes attendees to ask: Does working at home actually increase our creativity? What are the implications of the ‘domestication’ of office and ‘officefication’ of home?  Join this session, led by Dr Julie Miao from the University of Melbourne, for an interactive and informal conversation.

Session Host:

Julie Miao - Senior Lecturer in Property and Economic Development, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne

Zhiyuan Li - PhD candidate in Property and Economic Development, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Sustainable and Affordable Build-to-Rent Housing

Moderator:

Georgia Warren-Myers, Senior Lecturer in Property, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Panellists:

Djordje Stojanovic - Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Cameron Quinn - Associate Director, Assemble Communities

Christian Grahame - Head of HOME

Sean Ryan - Director, Development, Greystar

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

BREAK (30 MIN)

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Roundtable Discussion: Housing Regulation for Disability Housing

These roundtable discussions will be made up of three separate rooms, limited to six registrants per room with one facilitator. These discussions are a part of the "Fit  for Purpose" project, ethics number:  2021-21464-21761-3.

Facilitators:

Andrew Martel - Lecturer in Architecture and Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Vidal Paton-Cole - Lecturer in Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Phillip Greenham - Enterprise Fellow, Senior Fellow (Melbourne Law Masters), University of Melbourne

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Accessibility; Affordability; Agency...Housing for People with Disability

Facilitators:

Ilan Wiesel - Associate Professor, Faculty of Urban Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne

Kate Tregloan - Associate Professor & Assistant Dean (Teaching Quality), Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Libby Callaway - Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University

Panellist:

Ben Gauntlett - Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Alison McDonald - FRAIA, Architect, Neuroarchitecture Consultant, Industry Fellow, Ambassador

Margaret Ward, Co-Convenor, Australian Network for Universal Housing Design

Michelle Cobelens- Director, MSM & Associates Pty Ltd

Luke Bo'sher - Executive Director - Strategy, Partnerships & Governance at Homes Victoria (DFFH)

Adrian Pisarski - Executive Office, National Shelter Inc.

Jonathan Bredin - Founder of Jonathan Bredin

Michael Bleasdale - Executive Officer, R&IA

Jessica Ivory -  Associate Director Registered LHA assessor, MSM & Associates Pty Ltd

6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

BREAK (30 MIN)

7:00 PM - 8:15 PM

A New Deal Legacy: Race and Fair Housing in America

Moderator:

Paul Walker - Professor of Architecture, Interim Director, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne

Keynote:

Barbara Penner - Professor in the Architectural Humanities, Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London

Panellist:

Catherine Townsend - Investigator Hallmark Affordable Housing Initiative and PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne

Philip Goad - Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor and Chair of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne

Friday, 5 November

Day 3

Architecture Versus Housing

8:45 AM -  9:00 AM

Welcome

Andrew Mackenzie - Director, Citylab

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

9:00 AM -  10:00 AM

Retrofitting the Suburbs

Moderator:

Rory Hyde - Associate Professor in Architecture (Curatorial Design and Practice), University of Melbourne

Panellists:

Maryam Gusheh - NMBW Architecture Studio, Melbourne and Practice Professor of Architecture in the Faculty of Art Design and Architecture at Monash University.

Dana Cuff - cityLAB director, UCLA faculty, PhD Architecture (UC Berkeley) BA Psychology and Design (UC Santa Cruz)

10:00 AM  - 11:00 AM

Los Angeles - The Architecture of Michael Maltzan

Moderator:

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Keynote:

Michael Maltzan - Founder and Principal Architect, Michael Maltzan Architecture

11:00 AM- 2:30 PM

Architecture vs Housing: Four Case Studies - PART 1

Moderator:

Djordje Stojanovic - Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Speakers:

Fernando Brunel and Tomás Balparda (BBOA): Social Housing Granadero Baigorria in Rosario

Marc Frohn (FAR frohn&rojas): Wohnregal Apartments and Ateliers in Berlin

Ramon Bosch and Bet Capdeferro (BOSCH.CAPDEFERRO): 6x6 Block in Girona

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Architecture versus Housing: the Local Context

Moderator:

Andrew Mackenzie - Director, Citylab

Panellists:

Toby Pond - Senior Associate, KTA

Kerstin Thompson -  Principal and Design Director, KTA

Thomas Gilbert - Principal, Hayball

Andy Fergus - Assemble Communities

Jeremy McLeod - Founder and Design Director, Nightingale Housing

Sophie Dyring - Director, Schored Projects

Emma Appleton - Director, Portfolio and Development, Homes Victoria

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Public Housing Works

Speaker:

Paul Karakusevic - Founder, Karakusevic Carson Architects

Pooja Agrawal -  Co-founder, Public Practice

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Roundtable Discussion: Housing Regulation for Disability Housing

These roundtable discussions will be made up of three separate rooms, limited to six registrants per room with one facilitator. These discussions are a part of the "Fit  for Purpose" project, ethics number:  2021-21464-21761-3.

Facilitators:

Andrew Martel - Lecturer in Architecture and Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Vidal Paton-Cole - Lecturer in Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Phillip Greenham - Enterprise Fellow, Senior Fellow (Melbourne Law Masters), University of Melbourne

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Keeping Public Land Public

Moderator:

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Keynote:

Leona Lynen - Board Member, ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Architecture vs Housing: Four Case Studies - PART 2

Moderator:

Djordje Stojanovic - Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Speaker:

Lisa Garner and Andrej Vodstrcil (LIAN): Future Homes Demonstration Project in Melbourne

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

The Future of Future Homes

Moderator:

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Speakers:

Stefan Preuss - Associate Victorian Government Architect, OVGA

Matthew Borg - Senior Adviser, OVGA

Jack Davies, Adviser, Design and Architecture, OVGA

Amy Mak - Manager, Places and Precincts, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Cara Wiseman - Senior Adviser, OVGA

6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

The Danish Housing Lab: Five Demonstration Projects

Moderator:

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Keynote:

Johannes Molander Pedersen - Founding Partner, Nord Architects

6:45 PM - 7:45 PM

Event Wrap Up and the Future

Moderators:

Alan Pert - Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Andrew Mackenzie - Director, Citylab

Panellist:

Ian Gilzean - Chief Architect, Scottish Government and Fellow of the RIAS

Johannes Molander Pedersen - Founding Partner, Nord Architects

Stefan Preuss - Associate Victorian Government Architect, OVGA

Amy Mak - Manager, Places and Precincts, DELWP

Katrina Raynor - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Affordable Housing, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Master of Ceremonies

  • Karen Percy
    Karen Percy

    MC and Journalist

  • Opening and Acknowledgement of Country

    • Ben Rimmer
      Ben Rimmer

      Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

    • Julie Willis
      Julie Willis

      Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne

    • Alan Pert
      Alan Pert

      Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne; Chair of the Affordable Housing Hallmark Research Initiative and Lens Leader, Design Innovation

    Keynote Speakers

    • Emma Power Headshot
      Emma Power

      Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences and Institute Fellow of Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University

    • Barbara Penner
      Barbara Penner

      Professor of Architectural Humanities, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL)

    • Kurt Hofstetter Headshot
      Kurt Hofstetter

      New Social Living Coordinator, IBA Vienna

    • Michael Maltzan
      Michael Maltzan

      Founder and Principal Architect, Michael Maltzan Architecture

    • Johannes Molander Pedersen
      Johannes Molander Pedersen

      Founding Partner, Nord Architects

    • Leona Lynen
      Leona Lynen

      Board Member, ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG

    Panellists

    • Hal Pawson
      Hal Pawson

      Professor of Housing Research and Policy, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW

    • Kwan Ok Lee
      Kwan Ok Lee

      Dean’s Chair Associate Professor, Urban Planning at the NUS Business School, National University of Singapore

    • David Hulchanski
      David Hulchanski

      Dr Chow Yei Ching Chair in Housing and Professor of Housing and Community Development, University of Toronto

    • Andrew Martel
      Andrew Martel

      Lecturer in Architecture and Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

    • Vidal Paton-Cole
      Vidal Paton-Cole

      Lecturer in Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

    • Phillip Greenham
      Phillip Greenham

      Enterprise Fellow, Senior Fellow (Melbourne Law Masters), University of Melbourne

    • Owen Jourdian
      Owen Jourdian

      Founder and Managing Director of Illowra Projects and Deputy Chair of SDA Alliance

    • Brendan Coates
      Brendan Coates

      Economic Policy Program Director, Grattan Institute

    • Sam Tsiaplias
      Sam Tsiaplias

      Principal Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne

    • Laura Mahoney
      Laura Mahoney

      Chief Impact Officer, Launch Housing

    • Mitra Anderson-Oliver
      Mitra Anderson-Oliver

      Senior Manager, Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation. Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Victorian Government

    • Flora Samuel
      Flora Samuel

      Professor of Architecture in the Built Environment, University of Reading

    • Nicole Kalms
      Nicole Kalms

      Associate Professor, Department of Design and Founding Director of the Monash University XYX Lab

    • Cina
      Cina

      Founder and Facilitator of Melbourne Homeless Women's Peer Support Group

    • Erika Martino
      Erika Martino

      Research Fellow and PhD Candidate in Healthy Housing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne

    • Claire Stacey
      Claire Stacey

      Manager, Homes Victoria

    • Cameron Quinn
      Cameron Quinn

      Associate Director, Assemble Communities

    • Christian Grahame
      Christian Grahame

      Head of Home, HOME

    • Sean Ryan
      Sean Ryan

      Director, Development, Greystar

    • Philip Goad
      Philip Goad

      Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor and Chair of Architecture

    • Catherine Townsend
      Catherine Townsend

      Investigator Hallmark Affordable Housing Initiative and PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne

    • Kate Tregloan
      Kate Tregloan

      Associate Professor Teaching and Learning; Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) and Director – Built Environments Learning + Teaching (BEL+T), Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning,University of Melbourne

    • Libby Callaway
      Libby Callaway

      Associate Professor, Occupational Therapist & Independent Living Stream Lead Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University

    • Lisa Garner
      Lisa Garner

      Co-Directors, Lian Architects

    • Andrej Vodstrcil
      Andrej Vodstrcil

      Co-Directors, Lian Architects

    • Andy Fergus
      Andy Fergus

      Head of Urban Design at Assemble Communities, Co-director of Melbourne Architours, Contributing Editor of Architecture Australia and Sessional Teacher at Melbourne School of Design and Monash University

    • Ian Gilzean
      Ian Gilzean

      Chief Architect, Scottish Government and Fellow of the RIAS

    • Ilan Wiesel
      Ilan Wiesel

      Associate Professor in Urban Geography, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Science Faculty, University of Melbourne

    • Jonathan Bredin
      Jonathan Bredin

      Founder of Jonathan Bredin

    • Margaret Ward
      Margaret Ward

      Co-Convenor, Australian Network for Universal Housing Design

    • Gehann Perera
      Gehann Perera

      Partner, MinterEllison

    • Ben Gauntlett
      Ben Gauntlett

      Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

    • Dana Cuff
      Dana Cuff

      Professor, Architecutre and Urban Design, UCLA; Director, cityLAB

    • Toby Pond
      Toby Pond

      Senior Associate, KTA

    • Kerstin Thompson
      Kerstin Thompson

      Principal and Design Director, KTA

    • Thomas Gilbert
      Thomas Gilbert

      Principal, Hayball

    • Alison McDonald
      Alison McDonald

      Architect, neuro-architecuter consultant, BEEhive Brain + Enriched Environments Lab; Research Fellow and Industry Fellow Adjunct, Menzies Health Institute and Cities Research Institute, Griffith University

    • Louisa Borland
      Louisa Borland

      Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) student, the University of Melbourne

    • Matthew Borg
      Matthew Borg

      Senior Adviser, OVGA

    • Amy Mak
      Amy Mak

      Manager, Places and Precincts, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

    • Jack Davies
      Jack Davies

      Adviser, Design and Architecture, OVGA

    • Cara Wiseman
      Cara Wiseman

      Senior Adviser, OVGA

    • Pooja Agrawal
      Pooja Agrawal

      Co-founder, Public Practice

    • Paul Karakusevic
      Paul Karakusevic

      Founder, Karakusevic Carson Architects

    • Andrew Mackenzie
      Andrew Mackenzie

      Director, Citylab

    • Fernando Brunel
      Fernando Brunel

      Partner and Lead Architect, Balparda Brunel Oficina de Arquitectura (BBOA)

    • Tomás Balparda
      Tomás Balparda

      Partner and Lead Architect, Balparda Brunel Oficina de Arquitectura (BBOA)

    • Jeremy McLeod
      Jeremy McLeod

      Founder & Design Director at Breathe and Founder & Managing Director at Nightingale Housing

    • Marc Frohn
      Marc Frohn

      Co-Founder, FAR frohn&rojas

    • Michelle Cobelens
      Michelle Cobelens

      Director, MSM & Associates Pty Ltd

    • Luke Bo'sher
      Luke Bo'sher

      Executive Director, Strategy, Partnerships & Governance at Homes Victoria (DFFH)

    • Ramon Bosch
      Ramon Bosch

      Co-Founder, Bosch Capdeferro Architecture

    • Bet Capdeferro
      Bet Capdeferro

      Co-Founder, Bosch Capdeferro Architecture

    • Sophie Dyring
      Sophie Dyring

      Owner and Director,Schored Projects

    • Jessica Ivory
      Jessica Ivory

      Associate Director, MSM & Associates Pty Ltd

    • Michael Bleasdale
      Michael Bleasdale

      Executive Officer, RIA

    • Jenny Weller-Newton
      Jenny Weller-Newton

      Director of the Rural Health Academic Network/Principal Research Fellow, Department of Rural Health, The University of Melbourne

    • Julie Miao
      Julie Miao

      Senior Lecturer in Property and Economic Development, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

    • Zhiyuan Li
      Zhiyuan Li

      PhD candidate in Property and Economic Development in the Melbourne School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning

    • Jill Garner
      Jill Garner

      LFRAIA, Victorian Government Architect, OVGA

    • Maryam Gusheh
      Maryam Gusheh

      Maryam Gusheh, Associate Professor in Architecture, Monash University

    • Emma Appletonh
      Emma Appleton

      Director, Portfolio Development, Future Projects and Planning, Homes Victoria

    Session Moderators

    • Alan Pert
      Alan Pert

      Deputy Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne; Chair of the Affordable Housing Hallmark Research Initiative and Lens Leader, Design Innovation

    • Djordje Stojanovic
      Djordje Stojanovic

      Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

    • Paul Walker
      Paul Walker

      Professor of Architecture, Interim Director, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne

    • Rory Hyde
      Rory Hyde

      Associate Professor in Architecture (Curatorial Design and Practice), University of Melbourne

    • Georgia Warren-Myers
      Georgia Warren-Myers

      Senior Lecturer in Property, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

    • Hélène Frichot
      Hélène Frichot

      Director, Bachelor of Design and Professor of Architecture and Philosophy, University of Melbourne

    • Katrina Raynor
      Katrina Raynor

      Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Affordable Housing, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

    • David Harris
      David Harris

      Head of Department, Professor of Econometrics, University of Melbourne

    • Michele Acuto
      Michele Acuto

      Associate Dean (Research), Professor of Global Urban Politics and Director, Melbourne Centre for Cities

    • Stefan Preuss
      Stefan Preuss

      Office of the Victorian Government Architect

Details on the Symposium Event Platform

  • How do I login to the event platform?

    You will receive your unique password to enter the platform one week prior to the event. You are not required to re-register.

  • How do I update my profile?

    When logged on to the platform, use the following steps:

    • Click on your image icon in the top right-hand corner
    • Click on 'My Profile' tab
    • Click 'Edit' on the right-hand side
    • From here you can update your profile picture, edit your name and position
    • Remember to click 'Done’
  • Can other attendees see my profile?

    Yes, when you first log on other attendees will be able to see your profile. You can hide your profile by following the below steps:

    • Click on the 'My Profile’ tab
    • Click 'Edit' on the right-hand side
    • From here you can update your profile picture, edit your name and position
    • There is an option at the bottom ‘Visible to others’, update this accordingly
    • Remember to click 'Done’
  • How do I navigate through the platform?
    • Click on the 'Virtual Lobby' tab - this is your central location to the platform
    • From here, you can click on the different dates to see what is happening on each day.
    • You can then click the sessions to enter the various “rooms” - the start time is listed on each session.
    • Once you enter a room, you will be notified whether the session has started or not.
    • You can see a small red 'LIVE' icon beside the session(s) that has started
  • What do I do in a session?
    • Each session will be run slightly differently
    • In each you will be able to pose questions using the Question function, which will be moderated by the session facilitator.
    • You can use the chat function to also post links relevant to the discussion for others to see (we have seen some excellent “side” conversations during virtual events between the audience on the topics that the speakers are covering).
    • Within each session you can choose to chat to other delegates watching under 'Chat’.
    • To do this you navigate to the 'People's tab to see who is in the room and to select who you want to chat to privately or arrange to catch up later in a networking session. To chat privately click on the attendee’s name and select ‘send message’
    • Some sessions will be using the polling function - you can participate in 'Polls' which can be found next to the 'Chat' function tab.
  • How do I chat to other attendees?

    Option 1)

    You can choose to connect privately with other attendees by searching for their name in the ‘Inbox’ at the top of the platform.

    Search their name, then click ‘Find people to chat’

    Option 2)

    You can also click ‘Networking’ at the top of the platform.

    Search and click their name and either ‘Send message’ or ‘Ask to meet’.

  • How will I know when to move to a new session?

    Check the program for sessions times and breaks.

    Notifications will also be sent through to alert you when the next session is about to start. This will have a ping sound and will pop up on your top righthand corner.

    You can always head back to the Virtual Lobby to see the program, and to see which sessions are currently live.

  • Will the Symposium have closed captioning?

    Auslan interpreters will be live on screen during the Welcome session. Closed captioning will be added to sessions following the live event. These will be made available to delegates 48 hours following the event.

  • What do I do if I am having technical difficulties?
    • First head to the ‘Help Desk’ tab on the left-hand side menu and read the ‘Access Requirements’
    • If you are still having issues Head to the ‘Inbox’ at the top of the platform
    • Search ‘Tech support’ to message one of our staff members
    • An event staff member will reply to you as soon as they can
    • If the platform closes, you will need to re-enter using your password and email address
  • Who do I contact if I have an event question?

    You can contact us via email at msd-events@unimelb.edu.au

    If the matter is urgent call us at +61 487 727 335

  • How do I install a virtual background?

    To install a virtual background, you will need to download the OBS Studio program.

    To see full instructions, please follow this link.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I register my attendance?

    Registration will be taken through Eventbrite. To register your attendance, please go to the following link: click here.

  • How much does it cost to attend the symposium?

    Tickets are available for the full three-day virtual symposium.

    General admission $50.00 AUD
    Concession admission $30.00 AUD

    Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning: Staff free, see Deans weekly newsletter for code.

    Note: Concession rates are available to students, those who are working part-time, on a career break, or otherwise require a concession to enable them to attend. An email will be sent to gain proof of your concession.

  • Will I need proof of concession?

    Please note, all concession delegates must be able to provide current concession or student ID.

  • Can I register for only one day?

    The symposium does not offer one day registrations only full three-day virtual ticket. We encourage participants to attend the full programme, but of course you can just join when you can.

  • What platform is being used?

    We will inform you on how to access the digital symposium and detailed user instructions and technical recommendations closer to the event date.

  • Will the sessions be recorded?

    Yes. All keynotes, responding panels, breakout session and pre-set networking session will be recorded. One on one networking sessions will not be recorded.

  • Where can I re-watch the recordings?

    All sessions will be made available for viewing after the live event in the virtual platform.

  • What happens if I want to watch two sessions that are streaming simultaneously?

    All breakout sessions will be recorded and made available for viewing 24 hours after the live event.

  • What time zone is shown on the program?

    The program shows Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEST).

  • What is the Hallmark research initiative for affordable housing?

    Melbourne, Australia, is facing rapid population growth and a severe housing affordability crisis. Home purchase is among the least affordable in the world, and there is an acute shortage of low-cost rental housing. The Affordable Housing initiative was created to address these challenges. Challenges that can’t be solved by one discipline alone. You can check out more details at the link below.

    Click here [https://research.unimelb.edu.au/research-at-melbourne/multidisciplinary-research/hallmark-research-initiatives/affordable-housing]

  • Who are the key partners and supporters?
    • Architecture, Building, and Planning – University of Melbourne
    • Hallmark research initiative for affordable housing
  • Who can I contact if my question is not answered here?

    Please email: msd-events@unimelb.edu.au

A selection of sessions across the three days of the Housing Assembly were visually scribed by Zahra Zainal. Thank you to Zahra for illustrating these discussions.

International Panel on National Housing Strategies

Illustration of panel discussion

Moderator:

Michele Acuto - Associate Dean (Research), Professor of Global Urban Politics and Director, Melbourne Centre for Cities

Panellists:

Hal Pawson - Professor of Housing Research and Policy, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW

Kwan Ok Lee - Dean’s Chair Associate Professor, Urban Planning at the NUS Business School, National University of Singapore

David Hulchanski - Dr. Chow Yei Ching Chair in Housing and Professor in Urban Planning, University of Toronto

Watch the timelapse:

The Social Value of Affordable Housing

Illustration of panel discussion

Moderator:

Katrina Raynor - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Affordable Housing, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Panellists:

Mitra Anderson-Oliver - Senior Manager, Melbourne Arts Precinct, Transformation Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions

Laura Mahoney - Chief Impact Officer, Launch Housing

Flora Samuel - Professor of Architecture in the Built Environment, University of Reading

Watch the timelapse:

Housing as an Infrastructure of Care

Illustration of panel discussion

Moderator:

Hélène Frichot - Director, Bachelor of Design and Professor of Architecture and Philosophy at University of Melbourne

Keynote:

Emma Power - Senior Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University

Panellists:

Cina - Founder and Facilitator of Melbourne Homeless Women's Peer Support Group

Nicole Kalms – Associate Professor, Department of Design and Founding Director of the Monash University XYX Lab

Claire Stacey – Manager, Social Housing Reform at Homes Victoria

Erika Martino - Research Fellow in Healthy Housing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne

Watch the timelapse:

Accessibility, Affordability, Agency: Housing for People with a Disability

Illustration of a panel discussion

Facilitators:

Ilan Wiesel - Associate Professor, Faculty of Urban Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne

Kate Tregloan - Associate Professor & Assistant Dean (Teaching Quality), Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne

Libby Callaway - Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University

Panellists:

Ben Gauntlett - Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Alison McDonald - FRAIA, Architect, Neuroarchitecture Consultant, Industry Fellow, Ambassador

Margaret Ward, Co-Convenor, Australian Network for Universal Housing Design

Michelle Cobelens - Director, MSM & Associates Pty Ltd

Luke Bo'sher - Executive Director - Strategy, Partnerships & Governance at Homes Victoria (DFFH)

Adrian Pisarski - Executive Office, National Shelter Inc.

Jonathan Bredin - Founder of Jonathan Bredin

Michael Bleasdale - Executive Officer, R&IA

Jessica Ivory -  Associate Director Registered LHA assessor, MSM & Associates Pty Ltd

Watch the timelapse:

Architecture versus Housing: The Local Context

Illustration of panel discussion

Illustration of panel discussion

Moderator:

Andrew Mackenzie - Director, Citylab

Panellists:

Toby Pond - Senior Associate, KTA

Kerstin Thompson -  Principal and Design Director, KTA

Thomas Gilbert - Principal, Hayball

Andy Fergus - Assemble Communities

Jeremy McLeod - Founder and Design Director, Nightingale Housing

Sophie Dyring - Director, Schored Projects

Emma Appleton - Director, Portfolio and Development, Homes Victoria

Watch the timelapses:

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