Matthew Parnell, Principal Consultant
Matthew Parnell is a building industry professional with over 25 years experience and a particular interest in the practice of sustainability in the built environment. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Building from the University of New South Wales, he has gained extensive experience in project and construction management in housing, multi-residential, large CBD projects, office re-fits, heritage refurbishment and remote area developments. He also has experience at management level in commercial, academic and non-government sectors. He is a published author, researcher and educator, with over 10 years experience as a University lecturer in building technology and sustainable development at the University of Tasmania School of Architecture and the Technology Education Course at Southern Cross University. He has worked on sustainability projects in urban, rural, regional and remote Australia. Current areas of activity include sustainability services in green building, energy assessment, education and cultural change through partnerships with designers, developers and local government. He is nearing completion of a PhD through Murdoch University, investigating sustainability culture and its implications for sustainability practice.
Qualifications
University of NSW, Faculty of Architecture, School of Building:
Bachelor of Building, 1979
Murdoch University, School of Sustainability, Institute of Sustainability and Technology Policy:
Doctor of Philosophy, in progress, due to complete late 2009
Southern Cross University, School of Education:
Graduate Diploma of Education, in progress, on hold.
Southern Cross University, Norsearch
Certificate IV Assessment and Workplace Training, 2005
Professional Accreditations
Green Building Council of Australia, Sydney
Accredited Green Building Professional, December 2004
NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, Sydney
Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Accredited Assessor, February 2005; NABERS Accredited Assessor, February 2006
Office of Fair Trading, NSW Department of Consumer Affairs, Sydney
Building Consultant’s Licence no. BC749
Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA), Sydney
Accredited House Energy Rating Assessor, June 2005; updated to National Short Course in Building Thermal Performance and AccuRate Accreditation, 2007
Australian Institute of Airconditioning Refrigeration and Heating (AIRAH), Melbourne
Accredited Energy Auditor, March 2009
Professional Associations
Sustainability Practitioners Association
Association of Building Sustainability Assessors.
Career Highlights, prior to Greensynergy
Built Environment
Housing and Infrastructure Technologist, Centre For Appropriate Technology, Cairns Qld, 1998-1999.
Projects Manager of housing and infrastructure projects across Central Australia, Development Services Unit, Centre For Appropriate Technology, Alice Springs NT, 1995-1997.
Project Engineer/Quantity Surveyor, Leighton Contractors: Pittwater Palms Retirement Village, Avalon; Sydney Cricket Ground Clive Churchill Stand, 1986; Commonwealth Bank Refurbishment Project, Martin Place, Sydney, 1986-1990.
Consultant in Earth Building and Appropriate Technology, Earthways, Wollombi NSW 1981-1984.
Research
Researcher, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre – Southern Cross University Research Project: Developing Lifecycle Models for Sustainable Investment in Desert Communities, 2003-2008
Researcher, Aged Service Learning and Research Collaboration (ASLaRC), Southern Cross University: Investigating Models of Affordable Housing for Older People and People with Disabilities in the Mid North Coast Region of New South Wales, 2006
Contributor, Water in the Community, Australian National training Authority, Rio Tinto and Centre For Appropriate Technology, 1998.
Researcher, National Technology Resource Centre, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission based at Centre For Appropriate Technology Alice Springs + Cairns 1995-1999.
Author, Australian Solar Houses (with Gareth Cole), Second Back Row Press, 1983.
Researcher, Application of Solar Energy in NSW Schools, Solarch Research Unit, Graduate School of the Build Environment, Faculty of Architecture, UNSW, 1979.
Education for Sustainability
Lecturer in Technology Education, School of Education, Southern Cross University, tenured academic 2003-2004, casual academic 2005 to the present.
Sustainability Inductions, Coffs Harbour City Council, 2006, as part of the Sustainability Culture Project.
Building Technology in Design Stream Co-ordinator, School of Architecture, University of Tasmania,1999-2002.
Lecturer in Built Environment and Sustainable Development, School of Architecture, University of Tasmania 1991-1994 and 1999-2002.
Co-ordinator, UTAS School of Architecture Display, Alternative Home Expo, Hobart, Tasmania, 2001 and 2002.
Facilitator, Earth Building and Community Planning Workshop, Nalingu Aboriginal Corporation, Mitchell Queensland, 1999
Facilitator, Earth Building Workshop, Coen Regional Aboriginal Corporation Cultural Centre, Coen, Queensland 1998.
Information Officer, Solar Energy Information Centre, NSW Government, 1981-1982.
Community-Based Workshop Facilitator, Environmental Building, Earthways, Wollombi NSW, 1983-1985.
Sustainability Project Management and Facilitation
Design Process Facilitator, Sawtell Rotary Club Centenary Clock Project, Sawtell NSW 2004-2006.
Project Facilitator, Mt Arthur Centre Planning Workshops and Healing Space Project, Lilydale Tasmania, 2001-2002
Team Member and Facilitator, Mona Mona: Planning For A Healthy Community, Mona Mona Aboriginal Corporation and Centre For Appropriate Technology Cairns, Queensland, 1998-1999.
Team Member and Facilitator, Planning Workshop with Traditional Owners and the Kowanyama Land and Natural Resources Management Office for Kowanyama Homelands and Outstations, Kowanyama, Queensland, 1998.
Project Manager, Centre For Appropriate Technology, Alice Springs: Gloria Lee Environmental Learning Centre, Arrillhjere Aboriginal Corporation, Iwuputaka Land Trust.